LOCATION DOCPAR             WY
Established Series
Rev. LKM/PSD
11/2005

DOCPAR SERIES


The Docpar series consists of very deep, well drained soils with stratified substrata on river terraces. They formed in alluvium from mixed sources. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 12 inches, and the mean annual temperature is about 47 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustifluventic Haplocambids

TYPICAL PEDON: Docpar loam-Urban lot. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)

Ap--0 to 6 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)

Bw--6 to 18 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (11 to 16 inches thick)

Bk--18 to 25 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few medium soft masses; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 16 inches thick)

2C--25 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam stratified with thin layers of loamy fine sand and sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; City of Casper; 2,000 feet west and 580 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 17, T. 33 N., R. 79 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to stratified substrata ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 47 to 52 degrees F. The particle-size control section is complex with finer materials overlying coarser, stratified substrata. When mixed, the texture is loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam. Prorated clay content ranges from 20 to 30 percent and sand from 35 to 55 percent fine sand or coarser in the control section.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or clay loam with 24 to 35 percent clay. Rock fragments, mainly small rounded pebbles, range from 0 to 10 percent.

The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or clay loam with 24 to 35 percent clay. Rock fragments, mainly small rounded pebbles, range from 0 to 10 percent. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 5 to 15 percent, of which about half is pedogenetic. EC is less than 2 mmhos. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.

The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR through 5Y, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. This horizon is highly stratified but when averaged is typically a fine sandy loam above a depth of 40 inches with 12 to 20 percent clay. Rock fragments, mainly rounded pebbles, are variable but range from 0 to 15 percent above 40 inches. The thin strata are sandy loam, loam, loamy sand, and sand. The organic carbon content is erratic and decreases irregularly with depth. EC is less than 4 mmhos. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Docpar soils are on river terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. They formed in alluvium from mixed sources. Elevation is 5,000 to 5,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches, the mean annual temperature is 46 to 51 degrees F., and the frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Clarkelen, Haverdad, Hiland, and Zigweid soils. Clarkelen and Haverdad soils are stratified throughout and do not have a cambic horizon. Also, Clarkelen soils are coarse-loamy. Hiland soils have an argillic horizon. Zigweid soils do not have a stratified substratum.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Docpar soils are used mainly for urban development, irrigated hay and pasture, livestock grazing, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly western wheatgrass, needleandthread, blue grama, and big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.