LOCATION EMYD MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Oxyaquic Ustifluvents
TYPICAL PEDON: Emyd loam, in rangeland (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots, few medium roots; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
A2--3 to 9 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots and few fine and medium roots; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 7 inches thick)
C1--9 to 23 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam consisting of strata of sandy loam, fine sandy loam and loamy sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (14 to 28 inches thick)
2C2--23 to 60 inches; variegated very gravelly loamy sand; massive; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; 40 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Gallatin County, Montana; 2100 feet north and 1600 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 18, T.3N., R.3E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 45 to 47 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 12 and 35 inches.
Depth to 2C horizon: 20 to 40 inches.
Depth to seasonal high water table - 42 to 60 inches.
Note- The A horizon will not meet the thickness requirements of a mollic epipedon.
A1, A2 horizons - Value: 4, 5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
C1 horizon - Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Texture: loam consisting of fine stratification of sandy loam, fine sandy loam and loamy sand with less than 50 percent fine or coarser sand
Clay content: 10 to 25 percent, averages less than 18 percent clay when mixed
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent pebbles
Sodium adsorption ratio: 13 to 30
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 8.5 to 9.6
2C horizon
Texture: loamy sand or sand
Clay content: 0 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 75 percent -- 35 to 50 percent pebbles, 5 to 25 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - floodplains.
Elevation - 3,900 to 4,200 feet.
Slope- 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - mixed alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 14 inches.
Mean annual air temperature - 43 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 100 to 120 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; moderate permeability to the 2C2 horizon, rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Emyd soils are used mainly for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation may include bluebunch wheatgrass, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, sedges, hairy goldenaster, phlox and pussytoes as well as other grasses, forbs, sedges and woody shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Emyd soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gallatin County, Montana, 1997.
REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT1456. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: an ochric epipedon from the surface to 7 inches (A1, A2 horizons); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (C1, 2C2 horizons); a lithologic discontinuity at 23 inches (2C2 horizon). The Emyd soil has a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.