LOCATION DECOLNEY WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Decolney fine sandy loam-on a north facing slope of 3 percent utilized as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 3 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and very fine roots; common fine pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bt1--3 to 14 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots; common fine pores; many faint dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--14 to 22 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium and fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few fine and very fine roots; few fine pores; few faint dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds and in pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (Combined Bt horizons 6 to 35 inches thick)
C1--22 to 43 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine and very fine roots; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 21 inches thick)
C2--43 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and very fine roots; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Campbell County, Wyoming; about 1800 feet north and 2300 feet west of the southeast corner of section 7, T. 41 N., R. 71 W. USGS Teckla SW topographic quadrangle; 43 degrees 32 minutes 20 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees 25 minutes 55 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon is 10 to 30 inches. Depth to carbonates is greater than 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F. The soil is usually dry at a depth of 20 inches when the temperature is 41 degrees F. The moisture control section is dry for at least 60 consecutive days and 90 cumulative days between July 15 and October 25. The soil temperature is 41 degrees F. or greater for 175 to 192 days. Rock fragments range from 0 to 10 percent.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, sandy clay loam or loam. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is sandy clay loam. It has 20 to 35 percent clay and more than 35 percent fine or coarser sand in the particle-size control section. It is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam or sandy clay loam with 10 to 24 percent clay and more than 35 percent fine or coarser sand. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Balon, Blancot, Bowbac, Buckle, Cambria, Cerrillos, Cushman, Doakum, Forkwood, Gapmesa, Hagerman, Hagerwest, Los Alamos, Mentmore, Oelop, Olney, Palacid, Penistaja, Pokeman, Potts, Pugsley, Quagwa, Redpen, Spangler, Spenlo, Sundance and Teckla series. It is assumed the Gaddes and Yenlo are competing pending an update of the classification. Balon series has a MAST of 56 degrees F. or warmer. Blancot, Cambria, Doakum, Forkwood, Los Alamos, Mentmore, Oelop, Olney, Penistaja, Potts, Spenlo, Sundance, Teckla and Yenlo series have either Bk or Ck horizons or carbonates above 40 inches. Bowbac, Cerrillos, Cushman, Gaddes, Gapmesa, Hagerman, Hagerwest, Pokeman, Pugsley and Spangler soils have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches. Buckle and Palacid soils have a Bt with depths greater than 30 inches. Cambria soils have Bt horizons whose base is less than 10 inches. Quagwa soils have annual soil temperatures of 54 to 57 degrees F and are driest during May and June. Redpen soils have 2.5YR hue. Teckla soils have discontinuities with more than 35 percent rock fragments between 15 and 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Decolney soils are on stabilized dune topography including alluvial fans, fan remnants, pediments, terraces, plateaus, ridges and hills. They formed in eolian or alluvium deposits derived from mixed sedimentary bedrock. Slopes are 0 to 20 percent. Elevations range from 3,500 to 5,200 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches, about half of which falls as rain or snow from late March through June. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 44 to 49 degrees F. The frost-free period is estimated to range from 105 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Bowbac and Forkwood series and the Hiland series. Hiland soils are calcareous within depths of 40 inches. Forkwood and Hiland soils are on similar positions as the Decolney soils. Bowbac soils are on shoulders and summits of hills and ridges.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; low and medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are utilized for rangeland, wildlife habitat, and limited nonirrigated cropland, hayland and pasture. The native vegetation is mainly Indian ricegrass, needleandthread, prairie sandreed, and western wheatgrass. Winter wheat and alfalfa are the principal cultivated crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Decolney soils occur in north central and northeastern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sheridan County Area, Wyoming; 1987.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 3 inches (A)
Argillic horizon - 3 to 14 inches (Bt)
SIR- WY1071
LRR- G