LOCATION CAPERIDGE CA

Established Series
Rev. JTW/SAA/ET
07/2016

CAPERIDGE SERIES

The Caperidge series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone, mudstone, and metasedimentary rocks. Caperidge soils are on mountains and have slopes of 5 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1520 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 11 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, isomesic Typic Humustepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Caperidge gravelly loam; on an east facing convex slope of 37 percent under Douglas-fir, grand fir, California laurel, tanoak, and western swordfern. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.) When described on June 7, 2007, the soil was dry throughout.

Oi--0 to 2 centimeters; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) slightly decomposed plant material, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; about 90 percent fiber, 80 percent rubbed; common very fine roots throughout; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary.

A1--2 to 30 centimeters; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate very fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine, common medium, fine, and very coarse roots throughout; many very fine irregular, and common very fine tubular pores; 20 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary.

A2--30 to 50 centimeters; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine and common fine and medium roots throughout; many very fine irregular and common very fine tubular pores; 35 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 25 to 100 centimeters)

Bt1--50 to 80 centimeters; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; many very fine irregular and common very fine tubular pores; few faint clay films on top surfaces of rock fragments and few faint clay films on all faces of peds; 40 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary.

Bt2--80 to 110 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; many very fine irregular and common very fine tubular pores; few faint clay films on top surfaces of rock fragments and few faint clay films on all faces of peds; 37 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary.

Bt3--110 to 140 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; common very fine irregular pores; few faint clay films on all faces of peds; 45 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary.

Bt4--140 to 180 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3), brown (10YR 4/3) extremely gravelly loam moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, and few fine roots throughout; common very fine irregular pores; few faint clay films on all faces of peds; 60 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2). (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 100 to 175 centimeters)

TYPE LOCATION: Humboldt County, California; USGS Capetown Quadrangle, CA; 40 degrees 26 minutes 23.00 seconds north, 124 degrees 15 minutes 51.00 seconds west longitude; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 40.4397222 latitude and -124.2641667; UTM zone 10, 392783mE, 4477353mN; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture: The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for 90 or more cumulative days in normal years and moist in some part for 180 cumulative days per year or for 90 or more consecutive days. The soils have an ustic moisture regime.

Soil Temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 centimeters is 9 to 11 degrees C. The difference between mean summer and winter temperature is less than 6 degrees C.

Surface Fragments: 0 to 14 percent gravel, 0 to 1 percent stones

Umbric Epipedon: is 25 to 75 centimeters thick
Particle size control section (weighted average):
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent gravel, 0 to 25 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Clay content: 15 to 25 percent

A horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, 1 or 2 moist
Texture of fine earth: loam
Clay content: 10 to 23 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 50 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: moderately to slightly acid

Bw or Bt horizons:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture of fine earth: sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam
Clay content: 12 to 26 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 59 percent gravel, 0 to 25 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: strongly to moderately acid

Some pedons have a C horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture of fine earth: sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam.
Clay content: 8 to 26 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 89 percent, 0 to 59 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: strongly to moderately acid

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series at this time.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Caperidge soils are on slightly concave to slightly convex shoulder and backslope positions on ridges and mountain slopes. Slopes are 5 to 75 percent. Elevations are 5 to 855 meters. These soils formed in residuum and colluvium from strongly to very strongly cemented sandstone, mudstone, and metasedimentary rocks. Mean annual precipitation is 1140 to 2280 millimeters. The mean annual temperature is 10 to 12 degrees C. Frost free season is about 240 to 330 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Northbear and Taylorpeak soils. Northbear soils have less than 35 percent gravel in the particle size control section and are on linear to slightly concave or convex summit, shoulder, and backslope positions. Taylorpeak soils have bedrock with cracks closer than 10 centimeters at 70 to 100 centimeters and are on convex summit and shoulder positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; moderate to high runoff; moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for timber production, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Natural vegetation includes Douglas-fir, grand fir, California laurel, tanoak, oceanspray, western swordfern, evergreen huckleberry, thimbleberry, gooseberry, and Douglas iris. Where this series occurs at higher elevations and in its interior and southernmost extent, grand fir is absent. In its interior location, the natural vegetation can include black oak and canyon live oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coastal Redwood Belt 4B. The series is not extensive.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Humboldt County, Central Part, California Soil Survey Area, 2010. The name is from Cape Ridge.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
1. Umbric epipedon: The zone from 2 to 50 centimeters (A1 and A2 horizons).
2. Cambic Horizon: The zone from 50 to 180 centimeters (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, and Bt4 horizons)
3. Particle size control section: The zone from 27 to 102 centimeters averages 23 percent clay by weight and 37 percent gravel by volume. (A1, A2, Bt1, and Bt2 horizons)

ADDITIONAL DATA:

Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 12th edition.

NASIS User Pedon ID 07CA600026

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.