LOCATION DALMATIAN COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Dalmatian loam, on a southwest facing, simple, 2 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of 7,420 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) Described on July 2, 1985.
A--0 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown ( 10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine continuous pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)
AB--2 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown ( 10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few fine roots; many very fine and few medium continuous pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bw1--13 to 25 inches; dark grayish brown ( 10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few fine roots; many very fine continuous pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.
Bw2--25 to 39 inches; dark brown ( 10YR 3/3) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; few fine roots; many very fine continuous pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.
Bw3--39 to 45 inches; dark grayish brown ( 10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; few fine roots; many very fine continuous pores; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron concentrations; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Bw horizons is 20 to 40 inches thick)
Bg1--45 to 49 inches; dark gray ( 10YR 4/1) sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; many very fine continuous pores; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron concentrations; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary.
Bg2--49 to 60 inches: dark gray ( 10YR 4/1) gravelly sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; very hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 20 percent gravel, 10 percent cobble; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron concentrations; neutral (pH 6.8). (combined thickness of the Bg horizons is 4 to 16 inches)
TYPE LOCATION: Montezuma County, Colorado; about 10 miles southeast of Dolores; located about 1,600 feet east and 2,200 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 25, T. 37 N., R. 14 W.; Millwood USGS quad; lat. 108 degrees 26 minutes 18 seconds N. and long. 37 degrees 20 minutes 53 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 41 to 47 degrees F.
Mean annual soil temperature: 60 to 65 degrees F.
Depth to redox concentrations: 40 to 60 inches
Depth to redox depletions: 40 to 60 inches
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 20 to 60 inches
Depth to endosaturation: 36 to 72 inches in May and June.
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3 dry or moist
Bw horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent
Bg horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: Sandy loam, Loam, Sandy clay loam
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent
COMPETING SERIES: Current competitors are the Nutriosa and Straw series. Previous competitors prior the Seventh Edition, 1996 version of Keys to Soil Taxonomy are the: Brycan, Cordeston, Enbar, Frolic, Jodero, McGaffey, an Pineridge series.
Brycan, Cordeston, Frolic, Jodero, McGaffey, Pineridge and Straw: do not have gleyed horizons.
Enbar: have a lithologic discontinuity at 40 to 60 inches.
Nutriosa: do not have a cambic horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Dalmatian soils.
Parent material: alluvium derived from mixed sources.
Landform: valley floors, flood plains and low terraces.
Slopes: 0 to 5 percent
Elevation: 7,000 to 8,500 feet
Mean annual air temperature: 41 to 45 degrees F.
Mean annual precipitation: 15 to 20 inches.
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with July and August being slightly wetter and June being slightly dryer.
Frost-free period: 75 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Apmay and Schrader series. Both are on river terraces and alluvial valley floors.
Apmay soils have substrata of extremely gravelly sand or extremely gravelly loamy sand within a depth of 40 inches and are somewhat poorly drained.
Schrader soils are poorly drained and have 5 to 18 percent clay in the particle size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained, low runoff, moderate permeability. These soils are rarely flooded for short periods during the months of May and June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, hay production, and recreation. Native vegetation consists of western wheatgrass, tufted hairgrass, sedge, mountain brome, iris, and cottonwood trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado. LRR E, MLRA 48A. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cortez Soil Survey Area, Colorado, 1997. The type location is in the Animas-Dolores Area, Colorado.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 49 inches. (A, AB, Bw1, Bw2, Bw3, and Bg1 horizons)
Cumulic feature: The soil has an irregular decrease of organic matter.
Endosaturation: Inferred from the reduced colors in the zone from 45 to 60 inches (Bg1 and Bg2 horizons).
Particle-size control section: The zone from 10 to 40 inches. (AB, Bw1, Bw2, and Bw3 horizons)
Soil Taxonomy: Second Edition, 1999