LOCATION EIELSON                 AK

Established Series
DKM, DKS/MJM/DLM
12/2022

EIELSON SERIES

Depth class: very deep
Drainage class: somewhat poorly
Parent material: stratified silty and sandy alluvium
Landform: floodplains
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Mean annual temperature: is about 26 degrees F
Mean annual precipitation: is about 12 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid Aquic Cryofluvents

TYPICAL PEDON: Eielson very fine sandy loam - on less than 1 percent slope in white spruce forest. (all colors are for moist soil)

Oi-- 0 to 3 inches (0 to 8 cm); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) slightly decomposed plant material; slightly decomposed moss, leaves, twigs and other woody debris; common very fine to coarse roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 6 inches (2 to 15 cm) thick)

C-- 3 to 5 inches (8 to 14 cm); dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt loam; massive; very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary.

Oeb-- 5 to 7 inches (14 to 17 cm); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moderately decomposed moss and leaves; many very fine to coarse roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches (1 to 20 cm) thick)

Bw-- 7 to 9 inches (17 to 22 cm); dark brown (10YR 3/3) very fine sandy loam; weak coarse platy structure; friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common medium distinct dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) redoximorphic depletions; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual smooth boundary.

BC-- 9 to 28 inches (22 to 70 cm); dark olive brown (2.5Y 3/3) very fine sandy loam; weak medium platy structure; friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common medium distinct dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) redoximorphic depletions; neutral (pH 6.8); diffuse smooth boundary.

C'-- 28 to 65 inches (70 to 165 cm); olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) and dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) stratified very fine sandy loam and sand; massive; firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) redoximorphic concentrations; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

Cg-- 65 to 69 inches (165 to 175 cm); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silt loam; massive; firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Fort Wainwright Area, Alaska; about 11 miles south east of Fairbanks; in the NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4, section 17, T. 4 S., R. 5 W.; Fairbanks (C-2) 1:63,360 quad; Fairbanks Meridian; UTM north 7179644 and UTM east 452704, zone 6

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the organic mat: 1 to 6 inches (2 to 15 cm)
Depth to sand and gravel: greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
Organic carbon: decreases irregularly with depth
Texture of the control section: stratified silt loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam and very fine sand
Particle size control section: weighted average of more than 15 percent fine sand or coarser and less than 18 percent clay
Mica content: has significant amounts of mica but less than 25 percent
Thin buried organic horizons: may occur throughout the profile

O horizon:
Hue of 10YR or 7.5YR; value of 2 to 5; and chroma of 1 to 4
Reaction class: strongly acid to neutral

C horizon:
Hue of 2.5Y or 5Y; value of 3 to 6; and chroma 2 or 3
Texture: stratified with textures including very fine sandy loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, and fine sand
Reaction class: slightly acid or neutral.

Ob horizon:
Hue of 10YR, value of 2, and chroma of 1 or 2
Texture: slightly to strongly decomposed plant material
Reaction class: slightly acid or neutral

Bw horizon:
Hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4
Texture: stratified textures that include silt loam, very fine sandy loam, and fine sandy loam
Reaction class: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

C' horizon:
Hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma 2 or 3
Texture: stratified with textures including very fine sandy loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, and fine sand
Coarse fragments: less than 5 percent
Reaction class: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

Cg horizon:
Hue of 10YR, 2.5Y and N, value of 3 to 6, and chroma 1 or 2
Texture: stratified with textures including very fine sandy loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, fine sand, and may have stratified black organic material
Coarse fragments: less than 5 percent
Reaction class: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

2C horizon (where present):
Texture: sand to extremely gravelly sand is present below a depth of 40 inches

COMPETING SERIES: none in the same family

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Depth class: very deep
Drainage class: somewhat poorly
Parent material: stratified silty and sandy alluvium
Landform: floodplains
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Climate: is subarctic continental with long, cold winters and short, warm summers
Mean annual temperature: 25 to 28 degrees F
Mean annual precipitation: 10 to inches.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chena, Piledriver, Stratify, and Salchaket. Chena and Stratify soils are less than 20 inches (50 cm)to sand and gravel. Piledriver soils are less than 40 inches (100 cm) to sand and gravel. Chena and Salchaket soils are on higher terraces and do not have low chroma redoximorphic depletions within 20 inches (50 cm) of the surface.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. A water table is present at a depth of 3 to 6 feet for some period in most summers, allowing capillary rise of water into the soil profile. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate in the control section. Subject to rare to occasional flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are in native forest consisting of white spruce, cottonwood and quaking aspen with alder shrubs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 229 Interior Alaska Lowlands. The series is of minor extent

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Greater Fairbanks Area, Alaska 2002

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon include: low chroma redoximorphic depletions from 7 to 65 inches; and irregular decrease in organic carbon.

If undisturbed for a long period, buildup of the O horizon reduces soil temperatures and can lead to permafrost formation. Gray soil matrix colors in the lower part of the profile are due to saturation by groundwater.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.