LOCATION DOME CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Dome gravelly loam, forested. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
0--2 to 0 inches; dead and decomposing pine needles, twigs and bark; forest duff.
A--0 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse and medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium granular; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; few very fine and fine tubular and common very fine and fine interstitial pores; 15 percent very fine and fine gravel; medium acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Bw--7 to 28 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many medium and coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; 15 percent very fine and fine gravel; medium acid (pH 6.3); gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 24 inches thick)
C--28 to 50 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) gravelly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many medium and coarse roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; 15 percent very fine and fine gravel; medium acid (pH 6.3); clear smooth boundary. (19 to 47 inches thick)
Cr--50 to 55 inches; highly weathered granitic rock that retains original rock structure but disperses by shaking in water; grades to unweathered bedrock at an undetermined depth.
TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California; Sequoia National Forest, Cannell Meadow Ranger District. On Bartolas Road, approximately .15 mile south of intersection of Forest Service Road 24S13 and Bartolas Road, and 50 feet west of road in NE1/4, section 35, T.24 S., R.34 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to a paralithic contact of weathered granitic rock ranges from 40 to greater than 60 inches. The soil between depths of about 8 to 24 inches usually becomes moist in all parts in late October or November and remains moist until mid-May or June. The soil is dry in all parts the rest of the year. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 54 degrees F. Rock fragment content ranges from 5 to 30 percent by volume. Rock fragments on glacial outwash positions are gravelly in the surface horizons becoming cobbly with depth. When this soil is forming in place the cobbly textures are not evident. Texture of the control section is coarse sandy loam, sandy loam or loamy coarse sand with less than 18 percent clay. Base saturation is assumed to be less than 60 percent in all parts between 10 and 30 inches. Mollic colors do not extend below a depth of 9 inches.
The A horizon has a color value of 4 to 6 dry, 3, 4, 5 or 6 moist, and chromas of 2 to 4 in hue of 10YR and 7.5YR. It has a weak medium or coarse subangular blocky to moderate fine or medium granular structure. Reaction is slightly acid or medium acid.
The Bw horizon has a dry color value of 5, 6 or 7, and chromas of 3 through 8 in hue of 10YR, 7.5YR or 2.5YR. Moist colors are 10YR, 5YR or 7.5YR 4/4, 4/6, 5/4, 5/6, 5/8, 6/4, 6/6 or 6/8. It has moderate fine or medium subangular blocky structure. Reaction is medium or strongly acid.
The C horizon has a color value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 7 moist, and chromas of 3 through 5 in hue of 10YR, 7.5YR or 5YR. It has weak subangular blocky structure, or is massive. The Cr material grades into hard granitic rock at varying depths. Reaction is medium or strongly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Chaix, Elwha, Gilligan, Loper, Tethrick, Ulicher, and Vader series. Chaix, Loper, and Elwha soils are all 20 to 40 inches deep to a paralithic contact. Gilligan soils have silt loam or very fine sandy loam in the control section and have less than 15 percent rock fragments. Tethrick soils are only dry for 60 to 80 days following the summer solstice. Ulricher soils have mean annual soil temperature of 47 to 50 degrees F. In addition they formed from metamorphic rock and are influenced by volcanic material.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These nearly level to steep soils occur on mountain slopes at elevations of 4,800 to 7,400 feet. The soils formed in material weathered from Mesozoic granitic rock, principally granodiorite. The climate is characterized by cool moist winters and warm dry summers. Mean annual precipitation is 24 to 60 inches, mean annual air temperature varies from 46 degrees to 50 degrees F, and the frost-free season is about 125 to 225 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chawanakee series as well as the competing Chaix series. Chawanakee soils have a parlithic contact at a depth of less than 20 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for timber production, but are also used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Native vegetation is Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, white fir, black oak, and mountain shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The southern mountain area of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of California. The soils are moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sequoia National Forest Area, Tulare County, California, 1975.
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL Pedon S92CA-043-104 and a dystric taxadjunct S92CA-043-103 (may have ash influence)..