LOCATION ECCLES UT+IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Calcixerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Eccles fine sandy loam, nonirrigated cropland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure that parts to fine and medium granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
A1--6 to 11 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; thick platy in the upper 2 inches; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; common very fine pores; strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (1 to 6 inches thick)
Bw--11 to 18 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots; many very fine pores; strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 14 inches thick)
Ck1--18 to 28 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine pores; strongly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Ck2--28 to 45 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine pores; strongly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); gradual wavy boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)
Ck--45 to 62 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) very fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) moist; few fine distinct mottles of yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; massive; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; strongly calcareous; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Box Elder County, Utah; Hansel Valley; 2,000 feet east and 1,700 feet north from the SW corner, section 27, T.13N., R.8W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 49 to 51 degrees F. The mean summer temperature at 20 inches depth is about 73 degrees F. The soil moisture regime is xeric bordering on aridic.
The combined thickness of the A and Bw horizon and depth to the calcic horizon is 10 to 30 inches. Organic matter content averages more than 1 percent to a depth of 15 inches. Gravel size rock fragments range from 0 to 5 percent. Many thin crusted soft shells, ranging from 5 to 10 mm in size are found throughout the profile in some pedons.
The A horizon has a value of 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is moderately to strongly alkaline and slightly to strongly calcareous. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 20 to 35 percent.
The Bw horizon has value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. It has weak to moderate fine to coarse subangular blocky structure. It is moderately to strongly alkaline and moderately to strongly calcareous. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 20 to 35 percent.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 7 or 8 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is fine sandy loam and loamy sand with the loamy sands occurring at depths below 40 inches. It is strongly to very strongly alkaline. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 30 to 45 percent with the particle size control section averaging less than 40 percent. It is strongly to very strongly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 7 or 8 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is fine sandy loam and loamy sand with the loamy sands occurring at depths below 40 inches. It is strongly to very strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Eccles soils occur on nearly level to strongly sloping lake terraces with south and west aspects. Elevation ranges from 4,550 to 4,900 feet. Parent material is lacustrine deposits derived from a wide variety of parent rocks, consisting mostly of limestone and sandstone. The climate is dry subhumid, with a mean annual precipitation of 12 to 14 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 50 degrees F. The frost free season is 100 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hansel, Sanpete, Stingal, Thiokol, and Windmill soils. Hansel soils have argillic horizons and have more than 18 percent clay in the control section. Sanpete soils have more than 40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent and more than 35 percent rock fragments in the control section. Stingal soils have a cambic horizon. Thiokol soils have more than 18 percent clay in the control section. Windmill soils have more than 35 percent rock fragments and have a cambic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow runoff; moderately rapid to rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: About 80 percent is used for nonirrigated cropland with the remainder used as rangeland. Nonirrigated crops are small grain and alfalfa. Rangeland vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass and big sagebrush with some Indian ricegrass, threeawn, and cheatgrass. In Utah this series is correlated with Upland range sites.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Hansel and Curley Valleys in Northern Utah. It is inextensive. MLRA 28A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Box Elder County (East Box Elder Area), Utah, 1969.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon include:
Calcic horizon - the zone from 18 to 45 inches (Ck1 and Ck2 horizons). The Ck horizon designation is based on the 1971 horizon designation of Cca.
The classification is based on the "Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eighth Edition, 1998". Field review of the type location is needed to verify and the existance of a calcic horizon.