LOCATION ELKHEIGHTS WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Elkheights loam - pasture, on a 5 percent southwest-facing slope at an elevation of 2,200 feet. (When described on October 21, 1992, the soil was dry throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated).
Ap--0 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium platy structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few coarse roots; many fine irregular pores; neutral (ph 5.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
BAt1--8 to 19 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common fine and medium and few coarse roots; many fine and common fine interstitial and tubular pores; few faint clay films lining pores and on faces of peds; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 13 inches thick)
Bt2--19 to 28 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine tubular and many fine interstitial pores; few faint clay films lining pores and on faces of peds; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--28 to 41 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; common fine tubular and many fine interstitial pores; common distinct clay films lining pores and on faces of peds; 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary.
2Bt4--41 to 56 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; many fine and interstitial pores; common distinct clay films lining pores and on faces of peds; 25 percent pebbles and 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined Bt2, Bt3 and 2Bt4 horizons are 39 to 50 inches thick)
3Cd--56 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) dense glacial till that breaks to very gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive structure; extremely hard, extremely firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; very few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; common black (10YR 2/1) manganese stains throughout; many yellowish-brown (10YR 5/8) iron stains throughout; common yellow (10YR 7/6) silica coats throughout; 40 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles and 2 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.9).
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 4.5 miles northwest of Thorp, WA, about 2,700 feet east and 2,000 feet south of the northwest corner, section 30, T. 19 N., R. 17 E.; lat. 47 degrees 06 minutes 36 sections N. and long. 120 degrees, 45 minutes, 38 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 47 to 52 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The particle-size control section averages 19 to 25 percent clay in the fine earth fraction and averages 5 to 15 percent rock fragments by volume. The depth to the very gravelly dense glacial till layer is 45 to 60 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 15 to 19 inches thick, organic matter is estimated to range from 1 to 3 percent. Although dark colors occur below the mollic, the organic carbon content is less than 1 percent.
The Ap horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.
The BAt1, Bt2 and Bt3 horizons have value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.
The 2Bt4 horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4 dry or moist. It has 5 to 15 percent rock fragments.
The 3Cd horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, and 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. It is a dense glacial till that breaks to a very gravelly sandy clay loam or very gravelly sandy loam. The upper part is massive or platy.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Boyleston, Buckbay (T), Colma, Duzel, Facey, Farrot, Foehlin, Hatspring, Immiant, Jauriga (T), Ladd, Lobitos, Los Gatos, Mehlhorn, Pittville, Taneum, Tieton and Tweedy series. Boyleston soils lack contact with a dense glacial till layer and have 0 to 5 percent rock fragments by volume. Buckbay (T) soils have a paralithic contact between 20 and 40 inches and have 15 to 30 percent coarse fragments. Colma soils are more than 40 inches to consolidated marine sediments and have a mean annual soil temperature of 55 to 58 degrees. Duzel soils have a paralithic contact between 20 and 40 inches, have 15 to 35 percent coarse fragments and are dry 90 to 100 days following the summer solstice. Facey soils have a lithic contact between 40 and 60 inches and secondary lime accumulations in some pedons. Farrot soils have a lithic contact between 20 and 40 inches and have clay loam textures in the particle-size control section. Foehlin soils lack a contact with dense glacial till, have a mean annual soil temperature of 52 to 56 degrees F. and have clay loam textures in the particle-size control section. Hatspring soils are 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact, have 15 to 35 percent rock fragments and are dry 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Immiant soils have a lithic contact between 20 and 40 inches and have 25 to 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction. Jauriga (T) soils have a lithic contact between 40 and 60 inches, are dry 105 days after the summer solstice and have 15 to 25 percent coarse fragments. Ladd soils lack a contact with dense glacial till, have an A horizon high in volcanic ash and have clay loam textures in the particle-size control section. Lobitos soils have a lithic contact between 24 and 40 inches, mean annual soil temp of 56 to 59 degrees F. and clay loam textures in the particle-size control section. Los Gatos soils have a lithic contact between 24 and 40 inches and are dry approximately 150 days following the summer solstice. Mehlhorn soils have a lithic contact between 20 and 40 inches, a stony surface and average 15 to 35 percent coarse fragments in the particle-size control section. Pittville soils have 20 to 30 percent clay, 0 to 5 percent coarse fragments and sand or sandy textures in the particle-size control section. Taneum soils have a lithic contact after 40 inches, have 27 to 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Tieton soils have a lithic contact after 40 inches, have a BC horizon and are dry 95 to 105 days following the summer solstice. Tweedy soils have a paralithic contact between 20 and 40 inches, sandy clay or clay loam textures and are dry for 140 to 150 days following the summer solstice.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elkheights soils are on hillslopes and have slopes of 5 to 15 percent. These soils formed in loess and alluvium over glacial till and sidestream alluvium. Elevation is 1,800 to 2,900 feet. Climate is semiarid with warm, dry summers and cool moist winters. The average precipitation is 15 to 16 inches. Average January temperature is about 25 degrees F.; average July temperature is about 69 degrees F., and average annual temperature is about 47 to 49 degrees F. Frost-free season is 110 to 140 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Qualla, Swauk and Lablue soils. Qualla soils have an E horizon and have 25 to 30 percent clay in the fine earth fraction. Swauk soils have a dense glacial till Cd horizon between 20 and 40 inches. Lablue soils are very shallow to a duripan.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow runoff; +moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and limited crop production. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and bitterbrush, lupine and arrowleaf balsamroot.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Washington. The soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, 1990. The name is derived from the Elkheights community located on the Thorp Prairie near Thorp, WA.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 19 inches (Ap and BAt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - 8 to 56 inches (BAt, Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 and 2Bt4 horizons)
PSCS - zone from 8 to 28 inches (BAt and Bt2 horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: Partial laboratory data is available for this soil. NSSL pedon number 93P0203.