LOCATION CHARETTE NM
Established Series
Rev. SLS/GWA
01/2023
CHARETTE SERIES
The Charette series consists of deep, well drained, slowly permeable soils that formed in alluvial sediments derived dominantly from basalt with modification by eolian material. These soils are in basalt flows and have slopes from 0 to 8 percent. Mean annual temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is 14 to 18 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Charette loam, on a west-facing slightly concave, lower side slope position with a slope of 2 percent in an area of extensive rangeland at 7,170 feet elevation. When described, the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise stated)
A1--0 to 2 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine and very fine granular structure; loose, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; many fine and very fine interstitial pores; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches)
B1--2 to 12 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/2) heavy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium and coarse granules; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and plastic; many fine, very fine and medium tubular pores; very few thin clay films on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
B21t--12 to 19 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; very weak medium and coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocks; slightly hard, slightly firm, sticky and plastic; few fine and common very fine roots; many fine, very fine, medium and coarse tubular pores; common and many thin clay films on faces of peds and in pores; mildly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 18 inches thick)
B22t--19 to 29 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) heavy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate and strong medium and coarse subangular blocks; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine and common very fine roots; many fine and very fine, common medium, and few coarse tubular pores; many thin and few moderately thick clay films on faces of peds and in pores; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)
B23t--29 to 39 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) heavy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate and strong medium and coarse subangular blocks; very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine and common very fine roots; many fine and very fine and common medium tubular pores; many thin clay films on faces of peds and in pores; trace of basalt pebbles; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 20 inches thick)
B24t--39 to 51 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) heavy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate and strong medium and coarse subangular blocks; very hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; common very fine roots; many fine and very fine and few medium tubular pores; common and many thin clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 5 percent basalt pebbles; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
IIB31--51 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate and strong medium and coarse subangular blocks; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; many few very fine roots; many fine and very fine and medium tubular pores; few and common thin clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 8 percent basalt pebbles and trace of cobble fragments; slight effervescence; 2 percent calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
IIB32--60 to 70 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak and moderate medium and coarse subangular blocks; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; many fine and very fine and common medium tubular pores; 8 percent basalt pebble and cobble fragments; slight effervescence; 4 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Mora County, New Mexico; about 16 miles west northwest and 6 miles south of Wagon Mound, New Mexico, N1/2 sec. 28, T. 22 N., R. 19 E., in the Mora Land Grant.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum thickness is typically greater than 40 inches thick and ranges to 60 inches or more. Depth to pedogenic lime ranges from 30 to 60 inches. The solum is neutral or mildly alkaline in the upper part and mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline in the lower part.
A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 through 5 dry, 2 to 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It commonly is loam, but the range includes silt loam and clay loam.
The B1 horizon has the same color range as the A horizon. It is clay loam or loam.
The B2t horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is clay loam, silty clay loam, clay or silty clay. It ranges from 20 to 40 inches thick. This horizon has 5 to 10 percent pebbles and cobble fragments in the lower part.
The IIB3 horizon is lacking in some pedons. It has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 5. It is clay loam, loam, or sandy clay loam. It contains 0 to 10 percent pebble and cobble fragments. Calcium carbonate content ranges up to 14 percent in the lower part of this horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Abrazo,
Carnero,
Concho,
Cueva,
Falfa,
Partri,
Quivera,
Remunda, and
Philmont series. The Abrazo, Carnero and Cueva soils have bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Concho soils have an argillic horizon that is 15 to 20 inches thick. Falfa soils have hue of 5YR through 10R in the B2t horizon. Partri soils have a calcic horizon at a depth of 20 to 36 inches. Quivera soils have 15 to 30 percent gravel in the B2t horizon. Remunda soils do not have basalt pebbles or cobbles in the lower B2t horizon. Philmont soils have pedogenic lime at a depth of 16 to 30 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Charette soils are on nearly level to gently sloping side slopes in basalt flows. The slope gradient commonly is 1 to 5 percent, but the range is 0 to 8 percent. The soils formed in alluvial sediments derived dominantly from basalt with modification by eolian material. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 7,500 feet. Mean annual temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 18 inches. The frost-free season is 140 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Apache,
Ayon,
Capulin,
La Brier, and
Tricon soils. Apache and Ayon soils are on steeper positions and have stony or cobbly surfaces. Capulin soils are on slightly convex areas and have fine-loamy control sections. La Brier soils are in swales and have vertic Characteristics. Tricon soils are on slightly elevated areas and have petrocalcic horizons at depths of 20 to 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Slow or medium runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: All areas of the Charette soils are used for rangeland. Vegetation is blue grama, western wheatgrass, sideoats grama, galleta mountain muhly, and ring muhly.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Charette soils are of moderate extent in northern New Mexico.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mora County, New Mexico, 1981.
REMARKS:
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab sample numbers 79P2021-2028.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.