LOCATION BUTTES CA

Established Series
IRD PNL/WRR/SBS
12/2022

BUTTES SERIES

The Buttes series consists of moderately deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in very gravelly residuum and colluvium derived from conglomerate rock sources. Buttes soils are on mountains. Slope ranges from 30 to 50 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 59 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, thermic Mollic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Buttes gravelly sandy loam. (Colors given are for dry conditions unless otherwise stated.)

A1--0 to 2 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; weak, fine subangular bolcky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 20 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.

A2--2 to 7 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate, fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; 30 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.

Bt--7 to 12 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) very gravelly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; moderate, fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine and medium and few coarse tubular pores; 40 percent pebbles; few clay films between sand grains; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.

BCt--12 to 19 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) very gravelly sandy clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak, fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium and few coarse roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; 40 percent pebbles; many clay films between sand grains and on ped faces; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.

C--19 to 24 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) very gravelly sandy loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and medium roots; few fine interstitial pores; 45 percent pebbles; many clay films between sand grains; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary.

Cr--24 inches: weathered conglomerate rock

TYPE LOCATION: Colusa County, California; about 1 mile west of Leesville CA; about 1800 feet east and 600 feet south of the northwest corner of section 5, T. 15 N., R. 5 W., MDB&M; 39 degrees, 11 minutes, 30 seconds north latitude and 122 degrees, 26 minutes, 25 seconds west longitude; USGS Leesville CA topographic quadrangle.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 58 degrees to 60 degrees F. Coarse fragments of rounded gravel 2mm to 2 cm range from 35 to 60 percent. The 7 to 19 inch soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from June 1 to October 31 and moist in some or all parts from November 1 to May 31.

The A horizons have colors of 10YR 6/3, 5/4; 7.5YR 4/4,4/3 and moist colors of 10YR 4/3, 3/4, 3/3; 7.5YR 3/4, 3/3. Texture is sandy loam, sandy clay loam or loam. Clay content ranges from 15 to 26 percent. Reaction is slightly acid to neutral.

The Bt and BCt horizons have colors of 10YR 5/4; 7.5YR 4/6, 4/4 and moist colors of 10YR 4/4, 3/4; 7.5YR 4/6, 4/3. Texture is sandy clay loam, loam or clay loam. Clay content ranges from 24 to 35 percent. Reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline.

The C horizon has colors of 10YR 5/6, 5/3; 7.5YR 4/6 and moist colors of 10YR 4/6; 7.5YR 4/6. Texture is sandy clay loam, sandy clay loam or clay loam. Clay content ranges from 15 to 30 percent. Reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Agua Dulce, Akad and Frogwoman series. Agua Dulce soils are deep to a paralithic contact of conglomerate. Akad soils have precipitation 10 to 12 inches. Frogwoman soils are developed from sandstone or graywacke and have precipitation of 30 to 60 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Buttes soils developed in very gravelly residuum and colluvium from conglomerate rock. These soils occur on mountains. Slope ranges from 30 to 50 percent. Buttes soils occur at elevations of 1380 to 2200 feet. The climate is semiarid with relatively hot, dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 22 inches. Mean January temperature is 43 degrees F., mean July temperature is 76 degrees F, mean annual temperature ranges from 58 degrees to 60 degrees F. Frost-free season is 185 to 210 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Buttes soils are geographically associated with Livermore, Leesville, Millsholm and Venado soils. Livermore soils are very deep and on alluvial fans. Leesville soils have Ca:Mg ratios greater than 1:1 and are on alluvial fans. Millsholm soils are shallow. Venado soils are have fine textured particle control sections, have Ca:Mg ratios greater than 1:1 and are in basins.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. Runoff is medium. Permeability is moderately rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: Livestock grazing, vegetation is annual grasses, forbs and oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coast Ranges in Northern California. The Buttes series is not extensive. MLRA 15.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Colusa County, California, 1996.

REMARKS:

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.