LOCATION CHICKENHILL WY
Tentative Series
Rev. JGM-RJS
10/2013
CHICKENHILL SERIES
The Chickenhill series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium over residuum derived from interbedded sandstone and shale. These soils occur on hills. Slopes are 10 to 30 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 340 mm and mean annual air temperature is about 5.5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aridic Calciustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Chickenhill loam, in rangeland (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 9 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, and few fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine dendritic tubular pores; 10 percent subangular gravel; finely disseminated calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 15 cm thick)
Bw--9 to 22 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; common very fine and few fine dendritic tubular pores; 10 percent subangular gravel; finely disseminated calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 15 cm thick)
Bk1--22 to 41 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) gravelly loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few medium and fine roots and common very fine roots; common very fine and few fine dendritic tubular pores; 15 percent subangular gravel; 3 percent, fine, light gray (10YR 7/2), irregular, carbonate masses, in matrix, and finely disseminated calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary.
Bk2--41 to 66 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) gravelly loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine and fine dendritic tubular pores; 20 percent subangular gravel; 5 percent fine light gray (10YR 7/2) irregular carbonate masses in matrix, and finely disseminated calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bk1, Bk2 horizons - 40 to 75 cm)
C--66 to 200 cm; light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; massive; 20 percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) mottles; moderately hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine dendritic tubular pores; finely disseminated calcium carbonate; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Lincoln County, Wyoming; 41 degrees 49 minutes 41.10 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 45 minutes 5.30 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 5.5 to 7.5 degrees C.
Depth to calcic horizon - 15 to 25 cm
Thickness of calcic horizon - 40 to 80 cm
A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bw horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry; 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk1, Bk2 horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry; 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 25 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.6
C horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 to 5; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, clay
Clay content: 30 to 45 percent
Parafragments: 0 to 5 percent paragravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 5 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 3 to 8 percent
Reaction: 8.0 to 8.6
COMPETING SERIES:
Redrock (CO) - have a calcic horizon greater than 120 cm thick
Redsage (MT) - have a calcic horizon greater than 75 cm thick
Rootel (MT) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Whitesage (MT) - have less than 35 percent clay below the calcic horizon
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - hills
Elevation - 2,070 to 2,380 meters
Slope - 10 to 30 percent
Parent material - colluvium over residuum derived from interbedded sandstone and shale
Climate - long, cold winters; short, cool summers; peak precipitation occurs from March to June
Mean annual precipitation - 300 to 380 mm
Mean annual air temperature - 4.5 to 6.5 degrees C
Frost-free period - 60 to 90 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Chickenhill soils are primarily used as rangeland and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation may include alkali sagebrush, stemless mock goldenweed, Hood's phlox and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Chickenhill soils are of small extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA - 46.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES PROPOSED: Lincoln County, WY, 2013. The series name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 9 cm (A horizon)
Calcic horizon - 22 to 66 cm (Bk1, Bk2 horizons)
Particle size control section - 25 to 100 cm (part of Bk1, Bk2, part of C horizons)
Chickenhill soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime bordering on aridic.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.