LOCATION DEIGHT WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Deight very fine sandy loam -- on a north facing two percent slope, in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap1-- 0 to 2 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; neutral (pH 7.3); abrupt smooth boundary.
Ap2-- 2 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Ap horizon is 7 to 12 inches)
Bt-- 8 to 16 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium, coarse and very coarse prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 13 inches thick)
Bk-- 16 to 30 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; violent effervescence, calcium carbonate disseminated and as common medium irregularly shaped soft masses, 16 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 40 inches thick)
C-- 30 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; violent effervescence, calcium carbonate disseminated, 9 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Platte County, Wyoming; 15 miles east-northeast of Wheatland, about 2200 feet south and 1800 feet west of the northeast corner of Section 21, T. 25 N., R. 65 W. Register Cliff Quadrangle. 42 degrees 7 minutes 42 seconds north latitude and 104 degrees 39 minutes 30 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon ranges from 7 to 16 inches thick. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 11 to 20 inches. Depth to continuous accumulations of calcium carbonate ranges from 7 to 20 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. It is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days during the 90 day period following the summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 2 or 3. Textures are very fine sandy loam or silt loam.
The Bt horizon has value of 3 through 5 moist and chroma of 2 through 4.
The Bk horizon has value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 10 to 20 percent. Some pedons have a Btk horizon with basic properties similar to the Bk horizon.
The C horizon, when present, has value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Deight soils are on nearly level or gently rolling hills, plateaus and terraces. They formed in alluvium derived dominantly from fine-grained effervescent sandstone. Slopes are 0 to 6 percent. Elevations are 4300 to 5700 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 15 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 46 to 48 degrees F. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Alice, Cedak, Graystone, Keeline, Phiferson, Recluse, and Snilloc soils. Alice and Graystone soils lack an argillic horizon. Cedak and Phiferson soils have bedrock between 20 and 40 inches. Keeline and Snilloc soils lack a mollic epipedon and an argillic horizon. Recluse soils have a fine-loamy argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; low or medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are utilized for wildlife habitat, domestic livestock grazing, dry cropland and hayland. The native vegetation is blue grama, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, threadleaf sedge, prairie junegrass, penstemon, and milkvetch. Wheat and oats are the principle crops grown under cultivation.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Deight soils occur in eastern Wyoming. The series is of limited extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES PROPOSED: Platte County, Wyoming, 1987.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 16 inches (Ap1,Ap2,Bt)
Argillic horizon - 8 to 16 inches (Bt)
Calcic horizon - 16 to 30 inches (Bk)
SIR- WY1014
MRR-G