LOCATION CHAMITA NM+CO WY
Established Series
Rev. MWR-LWH-KLS
02/2018
CHAMITA SERIES
The Chamita series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from shale, sandstone and metamorphic rock. Chamita soils are on flood plains, valley floors and low stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 508 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 5.6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Chamita loam - meadow. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 18 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary.
A2--18 to 41 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) redox concentrations; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; many very fine, fine, and few medium roots; many fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary.
A3--41 to 64 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) redox concentrations; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine, fine, and few medium roots; common fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary.
A4--64 to 91 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; many medium and coarse distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) redox concentrations; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and medium roots; few fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of A1, A2, A3 and A4 horizons - 66 to 144 cm)
Cg1--91 to 140 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; common coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) redox concentrations; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and medium roots; few fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 64 cm thick)
Cg2--140 to 152 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; few fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) redox concentrations; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; 30 percent fine pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico; about 5 kilometers north and 4 kilometers west of Chama; New Mexico state plane coordinates 660,477 meters north and 118,220 meters east; Lat. 36 degrees 57 minutes 17 seconds north; Long. 106 degrees 37 minutes 48 seconds west, NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture - These soils are saturated at or near the surface for at least one month during most years, mainly during early spring. In late summer the water table drops below a depth of 30 to 91 cm.
Mean annual soil temperature - 5.6 to 8.3 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon - thickness ranges from 61 to 114 cm
Depth to redox concentrations - 18 to 36 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content - 18 to 35 percent
A horizon(s)
Value: 4 or 5 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Reaction (pH): 6.6 to 7.3
C horizon(s)
Value: 4 through 6 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam, gravelly sandy loam or gravelly loamy sand
Clay content: 5 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent gravel below 100 cm
Reaction (pH): 6.6 to 7.3
COMPETING SERIES:
Cometcrik (MT) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Eagleton (MT) - are stratified throughout the particle-size control section
Eastdale (CO) - have free carbonates below 38 cm
Eastwalker (CA) - have skeletal material below 100 cm
Kerkhoven (MN) - have free carbonates below 75 cm
Kovich (UT) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Lakepark (MN) - have free carbonates below 60 cm
Lobe (CO) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Mannixlee (MT) - have skeletal material below 100 cm
Marshbrook (SD) - have free carbonates below 100 cm
Marshdale (ID) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Nohope (CA) - have free carbonates in the upper part of the A horizons
Nythar (MT) - have cambic horizons and are very poorly drained
Sibannac (OR) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Welch (NV) - have a high component of vitric pyroclastic material in the particle-size control section
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - flood plains, valley floors and low stream terraces
Elevation - 2,380 to 2,650 meters
Slope - 0 to 3 percent
Parent material - alluvium derived from shale, sandstone and metamorphic rocks
Mean annual air temperature - 4.4 to 7.2 degrees C.
Mean annual precipitation - 460 to 640 mm
Precipitation pattern - frequent flooding may occur during the months of April and May; seasonal water table at 0 to 100 cm during the months of March through June.
Frost-free period - 80 to 100 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; very slow to slow runoff; moderate or moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is sedges, rushes, timothy, bluegrass, and sagewort.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and southcentral Wyoming; LRR D, E; MLRA 36, 48A; moderate extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, 1989.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 91 cm
Redox concentrations - 18 to 152 cm
Reduced matrix - 91 to 152 cm
Chamita soils are in a frigid temperature regime with an aquic soil moisture class and a typic subclass.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab Data: NSSL S81NM039-12
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.