LOCATION DESHLER IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, mesic Pachic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Deshler silty clay loam - on a west slope of 6 percent under bunchgrass at an elevation of 3,740 feet. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on May 9, 1962, the soil was dry throughout.)
A1--0 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) light silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak thin platy structure in the upper 4 inches and weak thick platy in lower part; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores in upper 4 inches and few in lower part; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
A2--8 to 15 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky plastic; common fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
Bt1--15 to 25 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) heavy silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; very weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, plastic, sticky; few very fine and fine roots; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (10 to 12 inches thick)
Bt2--25 to 30 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) clay, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist with dark brown (10YR 4/3) coatings; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine angular blocky; hard, firm, very sticky, very plastic; thick continuous clay films on surfaces of peds and pores; few very fine and fine roots; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--30 inches; siltstone or micaceous semiconsolidated lacustrine sediments that contain volcanic tuffaceous material.
TYPE LOCATION Washington County, Idaho; about 20 miles northeast of Weiser; 2,420 feet west and 160 feet north of the southeast corner, sec. 33, T. 12 N., R. 2 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to paralithic contact - 20 to 40 inches
Mean annual soil temperature - 47 to 52 degrees F.
Mollic Epipedon thickness - 20 to 30 inches.
Base saturation - 80 to 100 percent.
A horizons:
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 1 to 3
Reaction - neutral or slightly acid
Bt horizons:
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma - 2 to 4
Textures - CL, SICL, or C
Clay content - 35 to 60 percent
Structure grade - moderate or strong
Clay films thickness - medium or thick
Cr horizon - may have a few igneous rock fragments
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Denbar (T), Deter, Jacknife, Medford, Mindego, and Nebeker series. All these soils are more than 40 inches deep to bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Deshler soils are on rolling hills and have slopes of 0 to 60 percent. Elevations are 2,500 to 5,200 feet. The soils formed in residuum from siltstone or semiconsolidated sediments that may contain volcanic tuff. In some areas, the soils occupy mounds. The average annual precipitation is about 13 to 16 inches. The average annual air temperature is about 45 to 50 degrees F, and the frost-free season is about 90 to 145 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bakeoven, Deven, Glasgow, Newell, and Reywat soils. Bakeoven soils are less than 10 inches deep to basalt. Deven and Reywat soils are 10 to 20 inches deep to bedrock. Glasgow soils have an ochric epipedon. Newell soils have calcareous C horizons and are more than 60 inches deep to bedrock.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium or rapid runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for rangeland and for dryland crops. Native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, lupine, Sandberg bluegrass, squirreltail, some big sagebrush, and bitterbrush. Present vegetation is mainly cheatgrass and modusahead rye.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The soil is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mann Creek Area of Washington County, Idaho, 1992.
REMARKS: Sampled SCS National Soil Survey Laboratory No. S791D-087-002.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from the surface to 25 inches (A1, A2, and Bt1 horizons).
Argillic horizons - from 15 inches to 30 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
Paralithic contact - occurs at 30 inches (Cr).