LOCATION COUNTYLINE UT

Established Series
Rev. KWC
10/2018

COUNTYLINE SERIES

The Countyline series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium derived from sedimentary rock. Countyline soils are on fan remnants, terraces, and hillslopes. Slopes range from 4 to 35 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches (432 mm) and the mean annual temperature is about 44 degrees F (6.7 degrees C).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcidic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Countyline sandy loam-rangeland (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A--0 to 4 inches (0 to 10 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), moist; 13 percent clay; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; common irregular and interstitial pores; 5 percent gravel; noneffervescent; moderately alkaline, pH 8.2; clear wavy boundary (4 to 6 inches, 10 to 15 cm thick).

Bt--4 to 14 inches (10 to 36 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), moist; 24 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, common fine, and common medium roots throughout; common tubular and common irregular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; very slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline, pH 8.2; clear wavy boundary (7 to 15 inches, 18 to 37 cm thick).

Btk--14 to 25 inches (36 to 64 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4), moist; 26 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common irregular and tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; finely disseminated carbonates and common carbonate masses in matrix; 15 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline, pH 8.4; clear wavy boundary (8 to 13 inches, 20 to 32 cm thick).

Bk1--25 to 34.5 inches (64 to 88 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4), moist; 25 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common irregular pores; finely disseminated carbonates and common carbonate masses in matrix; 20 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline, pH 8.6; clear wavy boundary (9 to 20 inches, 24 to 52 cm thick).

Bk2--34.5 to 60.5 inches (88 to 154 cm); yellow (10YR 7/6) gravelly clay loam, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6), moist; 30 percent clay; massive; loose, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common irregular pores; common carbonate masses and finely disseminated carbonates; 30 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline, pH 8.6.

TYPE LOCATION: Kane County, Utah; about 1.6 miles north of Long Valley Junction, approximately 1100 feet (340 m) west of Hwy 89; lat. 37 degrees 30 minutes 29 seconds N. and long. 112 degrees 29 minutes 38 seconds W., NAD 83

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture: the soils are dry for 90 cumulative days or more in most years in some part of the soil moisture control section but are not continuously dry in this part for as long as 60 consecutive days in most years; aridic ustic moisture regime

Mean annual soil temperature: 42 to 47 degrees F (5.6 to 8.0 degrees C)
Depth to argillic horizon: 2.5 to 8 inches (6 to 20 cm)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 5.5 to 14 inches (14 to 36 cm)

A Horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 2.5 to 5 moist, 3 or 4 dry
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist, 3 or 4 dry
Texture: sandy loam, loam, fine sandy loam
Clay: 13 to 23 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravels
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline (6.6 to 8.4)

Bt Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 moist, 4 dry
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam
Clay: 20 to 29 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent gravels
Reaction: moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline (7.9 to 9.0)

Btk Horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 2.5 to 4 moist, 2.5 to 5 dry
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist, 3 or 4 dry
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam, clay loam
Clay: 21 to 30 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 10 to 30 percent gravels, cobbles
Reaction: slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (7.4 to 9.0)

Bk Horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 to 7 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6, dry or moist
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay: 16 to 30 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 15 to 45 percent gravels, cobbles
Reaction: moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline (7.9 to 9.0)

C horizon where present
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5, dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, loam, clay loam
Clay: 15 to 35 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Rock fragments: 15 to 45 percent gravels
Reaction: slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (7.4 to 9.0)

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Beavwan(MT) Cortyzack(CO), Emlin(CO), Morval(NM), Notter(UT) Nuley(MT), Thunderhead(MT), Varney(MT), and Villa Grove(CO) series. Beavwan, Cortyzack, and Emlin soils have 25 percent decline in precipitation in July and August rather than an increase. Morval soils have a lithologic discontinuity and exhibit the soil forming factors of the High Intermountain Valleys (MLRA 51). Notter soils average more than 35 percent rock fragments in the Bk horizon. Nuley soils are deep, formed in material derived from metamorphic and igneous rock, and a lower MAP of 10 to 14 inches (254 to 356 mm). Thunderhead soils have bedrock at depths of 22 to 40 inches (56 to 102 cm). Varney soils have a moist spring and a lower MAP of 10 to 14 inches (254 to 356 mm) Villa Grove soils have a horizon of gypsum accumulation below 44 inches (112 cm), have exchangeable sodium percentage of 5 to 20 percent in the argillic horizon and a lower MAP of 7 inches (178 mm).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Countyline soils are on fan remnants, terraces, and footslopes of hillslopes at elevations of 7,130 to 8,000 feet (2170 to 2320 meters). Slopes range from 4 to 35 percent. The soils formed alluvium and slope alluvium from sedimentary rocks. Mean annual precipitation is 15 to 17 inches (355 to 432 mm) and mean annual temperature is 41 to 45 degrees F (5 to 7.2 degrees C). Frost-free period is 100 to 119 days. April, May and June are the driest months, with monsoonal pattern rainfall in August, September, and October. Light to moderate rainfall and snowfall occur during the winter months.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Foy(UT), Utecaloll(UT) (T), and Whitesage(UT) series. The Foy soils are on shoulders of hillslopes and dissected fan remnants and are loamy-skeletal. The Utecaloll soils are on summits and backslopes of hillslopes, usually higher in the landscape than the Countyline soils, and have lithic contact between 40 and 60 inches. Whitesage soils are on backslopes and do not have a mollic epipedon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: well drained, moderately low runoff, moderate permeability, not flooded

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils primarily are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is black sagebrush, rabbitbrush, Rocky Mountain juniper, twoneedle pinyon, bottlebrush squirreltail, Sandberg bluegrass, antelope bitterbrush, and Gambel oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Foothill areas of southern Utah; LRR E, MLRA 47; minor extent

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: BOZEMAN, MONTANA

SERIES PROPOSED: Soil Survey of Kane County, Utah. July 2017

REMARKS: The series name Countyline originates from the typical pedon and the map units containing the Countyline series at time of establishment are near the Kane and Garfield County lines in southern Utah.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Particle-size control section: The zone from 4 to 25 inches (10 to 64 cm) (Bt, Btk horizons)

Mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 14 inches (0 to 36 cm) (A, Bt horizons)

Argillic horizon: The zone from 4 to 25 inches (10 to 64 cm) (Bt, Btk horizons)

Calcic horizon: the zone from 25 to 60 inches (64 to 154 cm) (Bk1 and Bk2 horizons)

The assignment of the cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.

Classified according to Soil Taxonomy, Second Edition, 1999; Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.