LOCATION CHUGCITY WY

Established Series
JSH-MS-RVS
12/2022

CHUGCITY SERIES

The Chugcity series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils formed in residuum and eolian material derived from sandstone and siltstone. Chugcity soils are on hillslopes and terraces. Slopes are 0 to 6 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 13 inches and mean annual temperature is about 47 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplocalcids

TYPICAL PEDON: Chugcity fine sandy loam -- on a southeast facing slope of 2 percent, utilized for livestock grazing. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 7 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak very fine subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common fine and few medium roots; common very fine and few fine continuous random irregularly shaped pores; 5 percent calcium carbonate equivalence; strong effervescence, calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)

Bk1--7 to 21 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few fine roots; many very fine continuous random irregularly shaped pores; 13 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violent effervescence, calcium carbonate disseminated and few fine irregularly shapes of soft masses and threads of calcium carbonate: moderately alkaline (pH 8.3); gradual wavy boundary.

Bk2--21 to 28 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine continuous random irregularly shaped pores; 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violent effervescence, few fine irregularly shaped soft masses of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary.

Bk3--28 to 35 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard; very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; 8 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violent effervescence, common fine irregularly shaped soft masses of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Bk horizon is 10 to 30 inches.)

Cr--35 inches; weakly consolidated siltstone moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Platte County, Wyoming; 10 miles east of Wheatland, about 200 feet south and 100 feet west of the northeast corner of Section 21, T. 24 N., R. 66 W. 42 degrees 2 minutes 42 seconds north latitude and 104 degrees 46 minutes 11 seconds west Longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Chugcity soils have bedrock between 20 and 40 inches. Depth to the calcic horizon is typically less than 20 inches, but ranges to 30 inches. The moisture control section is dry more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F. or warmer, but is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days from July 15 to October 25 and for at least 90 cumulative days during this period. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F.

The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam or loam. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent. Reaction is moderately alkaline.

A Bw horizon is present in some pedons. It has a similar range in characteristics as the A horizon.

The Bk horizon has value of 5 through 8 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Textures are fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, silt loam, and loam. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 8 to 30 percent. Reaction is moderately or strongly alkaline. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent.

The Cr horizon is typically slightly hard Brule siltstone.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Thumbrock series. Thumbrock soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Chugcity soils are on hillslopes, plateaus, ridges and terraces. They formed in residuum and eolian material derived dominantly from sandstone and siltstone. Slopes are 0 to 6 percent. Elevations are 4300 to 5700 feet. The mean annual temperature ranges from 45 to 49 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 15 inches. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Featherlegs, Keeline, Recluse, Treon, and Turnercrest soils. Featherlegs and Recluse soils are very deep and have a fine-loamy argillic horizon. Keeline soils are very deep and lack a calcic horizon. Treon soils have bedrock between 6 and 20 inches. Turnercrest soils do not have a calcic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are utilized for wildlife habitat, grazing domestic livestock, and for dryland cropland and hayland. The native vegetation is needleandthread, western wheatgrass, blue grama, threadleaf sedge, Indian ricegrass, prairie junegrass, penstemon, prairie clover, and milkvetch. Wheat and oats are the principle crops grown under cultivation.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Chugcity soils occur in eastern Wyoming. The series is of limited extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas.

SERIES PROPOSED: Platte County, Wyoming, 1987.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon - 0 to 7 inches (Ap)

Calcic horizon - 7 to 35 inches (Bk1,Bk2,Bk3)

Paralithic contact - 35 inches (Cr)

SIR - WY1011

MLRR - G

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.