LOCATION CUDDIGAN CO
Established Series
Rev.. DAD/JCK
04/2019
CUDDIGAN SERIES
The Cuddigan series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium or colluvium derived from igneous and metamorphic rock. Cuddigan soils are on mountain slopes. Slopes are 3 to 30 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 457 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Pachic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Cuddigan very fine sandy loam on a 6 percent slope in native range at an elevation of 2,530 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 15 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/3) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and non-plastic; many very fine and fine roots and common medium and coarse roots; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 60 cm thick)
Bt1--15 to 53 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/3) moist; weak fine, medium and coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots and few medium and coarse roots; few faint clay films on face of peds and on bottom of rock fragments; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 40 cm thick)
Bt2--53 to 91 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots and few medium and coarse roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds and on bottom of rock fragments; 5 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (30 to 70 cm)
C--91 to 152 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and non-plastic; few fine and medium roots; 15 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION:
Montrose County, Colorado; about 396 meters north and 427 meters east of the southwest corner of section 22, T. 49N, R. 7W. Latitude 38 degrees, 29 minutes, 13.3 seconds N, longitude 107 degrees, 39 minutes, 9.5 seconds W. NAD 1927
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 5 to 8 degrees C
Mollic epipedon thickness - 40 to 75 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content - 12 to 18 percent clay
Rock fragment content - 10 to 30 percent; 10 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
A horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3, 4, 5, or 6 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy loam or loam
Clay content: 8 to 12 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent; 0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.4 to 7.2
Bt horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4, 5 or 6 dry; 3, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 12 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 30 percent; 10 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.4 to 7.2
C horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4, 5 or 6 dry; 3, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 6 to 12 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 40 percent; 5 to 40 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles; 0 to 10 percent stones
Reaction pH 6.4 to 7.2
COMPETING SERIES:
Yahmore (NM) - have less than 5 percent rock fragments
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes
Elevation - 2,073 to 2,743 meters
Slope - 3 to 30 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium or colluvium derived from igneous and metamorphic rock
Mean annual air temperature - 4.4 to 7.2 degrees C
Mean annual precipitation - 406 to 508 mm
Precipitation pattern - evenly distributed throughout the year with peak periods in spring and early summer
Frost-free period - 80 to 110 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Cuddigan soils are used mainly for rangeland and recreation. Native vegetation is mountain big sagebrush, Arizona fescue, mountain brome, Letterman's needlegrass, Columbia needlegrass, slender wheatgrass and mountain muhly.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cuddigan soils are of small extent in western Colorado. MLRA 48A.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Montrose County, Colorado - Ridgway Area, Colorado, Parts of Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, and Ouray Counties, 2019.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 53 cm (A and Bt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - 15 to 91 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - 15 to 65 cm (Bt1 and part of Bt2 horizons)
Cuddigan soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.