LOCATION DOUGCLIFF          MT
Established Series
Rev. DES-JAL
03/1999

DOUGCLIFF SERIES


The Dougcliff series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in organic materials. These soils are in depressional areas on broad alluvial fans, flood plains and stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, frigid Typic Haplofibrists

TYPICAL PEDON: Dougcliff mucky peat, marsh (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).

Oi1--0 to 3 inches; black (10YR 2/1) and black (10YR 2/1) rubbed and pressed, mucky peat; about 80 percent fiber and raw herbaceous plant material, and 70 percent rubbed; massive; nonsticky and nonplastic; 75 percent Lycopodium mosses and 25 percent herbaceous; neutral (pH 7.2 in water); clear boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)

Oi2--3 to 14 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) and dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) rubbed and pressed, mucky peat; about 90 percent fiber, about 80 percent rubbed; massive; nonsticky and nonplastic; 90 percent herbaceous and 10 percent Lycopodium mosses; neutral (pH 7.0 in water); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 20 inches thick)

Oi3--14 to 38 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) and dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) rubbed and pressed, mucky peat; about 85 percent fiber, about 80 percent rubbed; massive; nonsticky and nonplastic; neutral (pH 7.2 in water); gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 30 inches thick)

Oi4--38 to 60 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) and dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) rubbed and pressed, mucky peat; about 75 percent fiber rubbed; massive; nonsticky and nonplastic; 95 percent herbaceous; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4 in water).

TYPE LOCATION: Teton County, Montana; 2,500 feet west and 800 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 13, T. 24 N., R. 8 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 38 to 47 degrees F.

Depth of organic material - greater than 51 inches.

Depth to water table - 0 to 6 inches.

Some pedons have mineral materials at depths of 51 to 60 inches. Some pedons have an Oe horizon.

Oi1 horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR

Value: 2 or 3 moist

Chroma: 1 or 2

Fiber content: 80 to 90 percent unrubbed; 65 to 75 percent rubbed

Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8

Oi2 horizon - Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, or 5YR

Value: 2 or 3 moist

Chroma: 1 or 2

Fiber content: 85 to 95 percent unrubbed; 75 to 85 percent rubbed

Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8

Oi3 horizon - Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, or 5YR

Value: 2 or 3 moist

Fiber content: 80 to 90 percent unrubbed; 70 to 80 percent rubbed

Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Oi4 horizon - Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, or 5YR

Value: 3 moist

Fiber content: 75 to 85 percent unrubbed; 60 to 75 percent rubbed

Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8

COMPETING SERIES:

There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform - depressional areas on broad alluvial fans, flood plains and stream terraces.

Elevation - 3,500 to 6,200 feet.

Slope- 0 to 2 percent.

Parent material - fibrous materials derived mainly from herbaceous vegetation.

Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; warm summers.

Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 19 inches.

Mean annual air temperature - 36 to 45 degrees F.

Frost-free period - 70 to 105 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Dougcliff soils are used only for wildlife. Potential native vegetation is mainly of mosses, sedges, rushes, and bulrushes.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Dougcliff soils are of limited extent in central Montana along the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains and in intermountain valleys.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Teton and Pondera Counties, 1991. Series proposed in Teton County, Montana, 1980.

REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT0459. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a histic epipedon (organic material) 60 inches thick (Oi, Oi2, Oi3, Oi4 horizons); a water table at or near the surface during most of the year; a control section from the surface to 60 inches (all horizons). Dougcliff soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.