LOCATION ECON UT

Established Series
Rev. TAD-JLH-RLT
12/2025

ECON SERIES

The Econ series consists of deep, well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils. These soils formed in residuum and alluvium derived from shale and interbedded sandstone on tablelands, hills and mountainsides. Slopes range from 4 to 50 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 16 inches (405 mm) and the mean annual air temperature is about 43 degrees F (6 degrees C).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calcixerepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Econ loam--rangeland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A1--0 to 2 inches (0 to 5 cm); dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) dry; moderate fine platy structure parting to moderate fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; slightly calcareous; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) thick)

A2--2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm); dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; common fine, tubular pores; slightly calcareous; slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 7 inches (0 to 18 cm) thick)

Bk1--5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 5/4) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; moderately calcareous; carbonates are disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 cm) thick)

Bk2--10 to 17 inches (25 to 43 cm); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay loam, light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) dry; strong medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; strongly calcareous; carbonates are disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) thick)

Bk3--17 to 21 inches 43 to 53 cm); reddish brown (5YR 5/4) clay loam, pink (5YR 7/4) dry; strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; strongly calcareous; carbonates are disseminated and in filaments; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches (8 to 18 cm) thick)

Bk4--21 to 27 inches (53 to 69 cm); reddish brown (5YR 5/4) clay loam, pink (5YR 7/4) dry; strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; strongly calcareous; carbonates are disseminated and veined; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches (0 to 25 cm) thick)

Bk5--27 to 41 inches (69 to 104 cm); reddish brown (5YR 5/4) clay loam, pink (5YR 7/4) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; strongly calcareous; carbonates are in filaments; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 14 inches (0 to 36 cm) thick)

Cr--41 inches (104 cm); sandstone.

TYPE LOCATION: Summit County, Utah, about 18 miles northeast of Echo, Utah, 2,000 feet south and 600 feet east of the northeast corner, sec. 3, T. 4 N., R. 7 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to soft bedrock is 40 to 60 inches (100 to 150 cm). The particle size control section averages 27 to 35 percent clay. The sand size is predominantly very fine sand with less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Depth to carbonate accumulation ranges from 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm). The moisture control section is moist in all parts for 45 or more consecutive days following the winter solstice, and is dry for 45 or more consecutive days within the 4 months that follow the summer solstice in 6 out of 10 years.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR to 5YR, value of 3 or 4 moist, 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 to 4. This horizon is neutral to slightly alkaline.

The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR to 2.5YR, value of 3 to 5 moist, 5 to 7 dry, and chroma of 4 to 6. Textures are clay loam and silty clay loam. Reaction ranges from moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline and moderately calcareous to strongly calcareous.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family at this time. Similar series are Bluffdale, Hillfield, Murphy and Richsum. Bluffdale soils have more than 35 percent clay in the particle size control section, a mesic temperature regime, and are very deep. Hillfield soils have less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section, a mesic temperature regime, and are very deep. Murphy soils have more than 35 percent clay in the particle size control section and are very deep. Richsum soils have 18 to 27 percent clay and greater than 15 percent fine sand by weight in the particle size control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Econ soils are on tablelands, hills and mountainsides at elevations of 6,000 to 7,200 feet (1820 to 2180 m). Slopes are 4 to 50 percent. Econ soils formed mainly in residuum and valley side alluvium from sandstone and shale. The climate is dry subhumid. The mean annual air temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F (6 to 7 degrees C). The average annual precipitation is 14 to 18 inches (355 to 455 mm). The freeze-free period is 60 to 90 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Richsum, Redcan, Hades, Ant Flat and Manila soils. Richsum soils are in the fine-loamy family. Redcan soils are less than 20 inches (50 cm) to bedrock. Hades, Ant Flat and Manila soils have an argillic horizon and a mollic epipedon and are on the higher landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to very rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for rangeland, wildlife habitat and recreation. The native vegetation is dominantly alkali sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Utah. The series is not extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Summit County, Utah, (Summit Soil Survey Area), 1987.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 25 to 100 cm

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon -the zone from the surface of the soil to 5 inches (A1, A2 horizons).
Calcic horizon -the zone of carbonate accumulation (Bk1, Bk2, Bk3, Bk4 horizons).
Xerollic feature -the soil is usually moist, but is dry for at least 45 consecutive days within the four months following the summer solstice in most years.

Econ was changed from Echo which was proposed and circulated 5/85.

Added metric depths and checked competing series 12/2025. -JBB

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.