LOCATION EMBERTON IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, mesic Xeric Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Emberton loamy fine sand - on a slope of 2 percent under rangeland vegetation at 3,800 feet elevation. When described on May 5, 1980, the soil profile was slightly moist from 0 to 34 inches and moist below. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 8 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy fine sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; single grain; loose; common roots; many very fine irregular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
C1--8 to 32 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; loose; common roots; many very fine irregular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 29 inches thick)
C2--32 to 39 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; mildly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
3R--39 inches; basalt.
TYPE LOCATION: Jerome County, Idaho; about 9 miles northeast of Twin Falls, Idaho; in the southwest 1/4, southwest 1/4, northeast 1/4 section 23, T. 9 S., R. 18 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average clay percent in control section - 5 to 10
Depth to bedrock - 20 to 40 inches
Average annual soil temperature - 52 to 54 degrees F.
A and C horizons
Color value, dry - 5 or 6 value, moist - 3 or 4
Chroma - 2 through 4 dry or moist
pH - slightly acid or neutral
2Chorizon
Color value, dry - 6 or 7
Chroma, moist - 2 through 4
Texture - FSL, SL
Gravel - 0 to 10 percent
pH - neutral or mildly alkaline
Other features - 2Bk horizon present in some pedons
COMPETING SERIES: These are Feltham and Tindahay series. Feltham and Tindahay soils are deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Emberton soils are on terraces. The slope ranges from 1 to 6 percent. The soils formed in wind modified alluvium from mixed sources. Elevations are 3,500 to 4,000 feet. The average annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 10 inches. The average annual temperature is 50 to 52 degrees F. The frost free season is 130 to 140 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Banbury, Harsan, Kecko, and Paulville soils. Banbury soils occur on lower terraces, and are shallow to bedrock. Harsan soils occur on the same landscape, are deep, and fine-loamy. Kecko soils occur on higher terraces are deep, and coarse-loamy. Paulville soils occur on lower terraces, are deep, and fine-loamy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained, slow runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Emberton soils are used for rangeland. Native vegetation is Indian ricegrass, needleandthread and basin big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Emberton soils are of small extent in south central Idaho.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Jerome County, Idaho, 1980. The name is from a view point along the Snake River.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 8 inches (the A horizon)