LOCATION CEBOLIA COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic Abruptic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Cebolia loam - grassland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 12 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong fine and very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 15 inches thick)
A2--12 to 17 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/2) moist; weak thin platy structure that parts to very fine subangular blocks; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
B2t--17 to 30 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure that parts to medium angular blocks; slightly hard, very friable, very sticky and very plastic; peds are extremely hard, very firm; continuous clay films in root channels and pores; 5 percent gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 26 inches thick)
B3--30 to 38 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) light clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; peds are extremely hard, very firm; few patchy clay films on some peds and in root channels and pores; 5 percent gravel; noncalcareous; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)
Cca--38 to 60 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) light gray, reddish brown (5YR 5/4) moist; massive; extremely hard, very firm, sticky and plastic; 5 percent gravel; visible secondary calcium carbonate in large nodules one to two inches in diameter or in seams and streaks; calcareous; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Saguache County, Colorado; SE 1/4 of Sec. 30, T. 47 N., R. 2 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Base saturation ranges from 60 to 100 percent and increases as depth increases. Depth to uniformly calcareous material usually ranges from 10 to 40 inches, and is not deeper than the upper boundary to the C horizon if the solum is thicker than 40 inches. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 15 to 50 inches. Rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent by volume in a major part of the solum and C horizon above depth of 50 inches and range from 1/8 to 10 inches in diameter. The mean annual soil temperature is 40 degrees F, and mean summer soil temperature is 51 degrees F.
The A1 horizon has hue of 10YR through 5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. It ranges from medium acid to mildly alkaline.
The A2 horizon has hue of 10YR through 5YR, value of 5 through 8 dry, 4 through 7 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. It ranges from medium acid to mildly alkaline.
The B2t horizon has hue from 5YR through 10R, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 1 through 6. It is typically heavy clay loam or clay and has 35 to 55 percent clay, 10 to 40 percent silt, and 15 to 50 percent sand, more than 15 percent being fine or coarser sand. This horizon ranges from medium acid to moderately alkaline.
The C horizon normally has hue of 5YR through 10R. It is typically heavy clay loam or clay and has more than 35 percent clay to a depth in excess of 50 inches. It is moderately or strongly alkaline and has 3 to 14 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cabarton, Eyerbow, and Waters series. Cabarton soils are noncalcareous throughout, and have hue of 7.5YR or yellower. Eyerbow soils have hue yellower than 5YR and have mixed mineralogy. Waters soils lack A2 horizons and an abrupt textural boundary.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Cebolia soils are on gently sloping to steep alluvial fans, till plains, mountainsides, and valley side slopes. The soils formed in alluvial fan or similar sediments derived primarily from sedimentary rocks. At the type location the average annual precipitation is 18 inches with peak periods of precipitation during the spring and summer. The mean annual temperature is 36 degrees F, mean summer temperature is 51 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Powderhorn and Sunshine soils. Powderhorn soils lack an abrupt textural AB boundary and are noncalcareous. Sunshine soils lack an abrupt textural AB boundary and have more than 35 percent rock fragments.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used as native pastureland and for recreational purposes. Native vegetation is mainly sagebrush, Thurber fescue, nodding brome, and mountain bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountain areas of central Colorado. This series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Saguache County, Colorado, 1974.
REMARKS: Last updated by the state 2/75.