LOCATION ELKSEL IDEstablished Series
The Elksel series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in
colluvium and residuum from andesite, latite, and basalt. Elksel soils
are on mountain sides and have slopes of 30 to 60 percent.
Permeability is slow. The average annual precipitation is about 14
inches, and the average annual temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, frigid Ultic Argixerolls
Argixerolls.
TYPICAL PEDON: Elksel very cobbly loam on a 40 percent southwest
facing slope at an elevation of 5,650 feet in rangeland. When
described, the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil
unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very cobbly loam, very
dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure;
soft, very friable; common very fine, fine and medium roots; many very
fine interstitial pores; about 25 percent cobbles and 10 percent
pebbles; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
A2--3 to 10 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly loam,
dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft,
friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine,
and medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; about 35 percent
cobbles and 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt wavy boundary.
(5 to 8 inches thick)
AB--10 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly clay
loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky
structure; slightly hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine
roots; many very fine interstitial pores; about 40 percent cobbles and
10 percent pebbles; few thin clay films in pores, neutral (pH 6.8);
abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bt1--13 to 17 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very cobbly clay, dark
yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong fine subangular blocky
structure, very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very
fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; about 45 percent cobbles and
10 percent pebbles; common moderately thick clay films in pores;
neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 9 inches thick)
Bt2--17 to 33 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely cobbly
clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist, strong fine angular blocky
structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very
fine tubular pores; about 60 percent cobbles and 10 percent pebbles;
many thick clay films in pores; neutral (pH 7.2) gradual irregular
boundary. (10 to 18 inches thick)
Bt3--33 to 45 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely cobbly
sandy clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong fine angular
blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic;
few very fine tubular pores; about 60 percent cobbles and 15 percent
pebbles; many thick clay films in pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual
irregular boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)
R--45 inches; fractured andesite bedrock with Bt3 material in
cracks 1 to 4 mm wide; few very fine roots in cracks.
TYPE LOCATION: Blaine County, Idaho, about 2 miles east and 4 miles
north of Carey; 800 feet west and 100 feet south of the northeast
corner of section 35, T. 1N R. 21 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock - 40 to 60 inches
Average annual soil temperature - 42 to 46 degrees F.
Base saturation above 30 inches - 50 to 75 percent
Reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
A horizon
Value- 4 or 5 dry
Chroma- 2 or 3, dry or moist
Texture - GR-L or CBV-L
Bt1 and Bt2 horizons
Hue- 10YR or 7.5 YR
Value- 3 through 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma- 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - CBV-CL, CBV-C, CBX-C, GRV-C, GRX-SC, and GRX-C
Clay content - 35 to 55 percent.
Rock fragments - 35 to 75 percent.
Bt3 horizon
Hue- 10YR or 7.5YR
Value- 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma- 4 through 6 dry or moist
Texture - CBX-SC, CBX-C, or GRX-C
Clay Content - 35 to 55 percent
Rock fragments - 45 to 75 percent
Bqm horizon - are present in some pedons below a 40 inch depth.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cavanaugh and Howcree series.
Cavanaugh soils are moderately deep to bedrock. Howcree soils have
silica cementation above 40 inches and lack cobbles in the argillic.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elksel soils are on mountainsides. Slopes range
from 30 to 60 percent. Elevation ranges from 4,700 to 7,500 feet. The
soil formed in colluvium and residuum from andesite, latite, and basalt
bedrock. The average annual precipitation is 12 to 18 inches, most of
which falls as snow and early spring rain. The average annual
temperature is about 40 degrees to 44 degrees F. The frost-free season
is 60 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Starhope, Friedman,
Mulshoe, Winridge, and Winu soils. Starhope and Mulshoe soils have
bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Friedman, Winridge, and Winu
soils have an average summer soil temperature less than 59 degrees F
and are on north-facing and east-facing slopes. Starhope and Mulshoe
soils are on south and west-facing slopes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium to very
rapid. Permeability is slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly used for rangeland. Vegetation is Mountain
big sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush, bitterbrush, bluebunch
wheatgrass, Basin wildrye, Nevada bluegrass and needlegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Idaho. These soils are
inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Blaine County, Idaho, 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this series
are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to
approximately 13 inches (A1, A2, and AB horizons).
Argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 13 to 33 inches (Bt1 and
Bt2 horizons).
Percent clay is greater than 35 and percent rock fragments in this
horizon is also greater than 45.
National Cooperative Soil Survey