LOCATION ELVE MT+CO
Established Series
Rev. BDD-KTS-RJS
04/2011
ELVE SERIES
The Elve series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in alluvium, colluvium or till derived from igneous rocks. These soils are on mountain slopes, hills, moraines, or alluvial fans. Slopes are 4 to 85 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 25 inches and mean annual air temperature is about 40 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Ustic Haplocryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Elve very cobbly loam, forested (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Oe--0 to 1 inch; forest litter of moderately decomposed needles, twigs, and cones. (1 to 2 inches thick)
A--1 to 3 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very cobbly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine pores; 30 percent angular gravel, 25 percent angular cobbles; moderately acid (pH 5.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 9 inches thick)
E--3 to 18 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) very cobbly loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine pores; 25 percent angular gravel, 30 percent angular cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.5); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 25 inches thick)
Bw1--18 to 34 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) extremely cobbly loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine pores; 30 percent angular gravel, 35 percent angular cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Bw2--34 to 47 inches; yellow (10YR 7/6) extremely cobbly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine pores; 30 percent angular gravel, 35 percent angular cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 20 inches thick)
BC--47 to 60 inches; yellow (10YR 7/6) extremely cobbly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots; common fine irregular pores; 40 percent angular gravel, 45 percent angular cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Fergus County, Montana; 1,400 feet west and 200 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 30, T. 17 N., R. 20 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 38 to 45 degrees F.
Note: Some pedons may have an E/Bw, Bw/E or EB horizon.
A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 7 dry; 2 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, coarse sandy loam or loam
Clay content: 10 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 60 percent--5 to 55 percent gravel, 0 to 30 percent cobbles and stones
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 7.3
E horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 85 percent--20 to 45 percent gravel, 10 to 40 percent cobbles, 0 to 25 percent stones
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 7.3
Bw horizons
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 50 to 85 percent--25 to 60 percent gravel, 15 to 40 percent cobbles and stones
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 7.3
BC or C horizon
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 8 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam or loam
Clay content: 5 to 22 percent
Rock fragments: 60 to 85 percent--35 to 65 percent gravel, 10 to 40 percent cobbles and stones
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 7.3
COMPETING SERIES:
Ellena (MT) - is moderately deep to a lithic contact
Hiore (MT) - does not have an E horizon
Mawspring (MT) - does not have an E horizon
Pergrin (CO) - is moderately deep to a lithic contact
Rubick (MT) - have less than 25 percent gravel in the cambic horizon (Bw)
Scout (UT) - have a udic moisture regime
Shadow (MT) - have 15 to 40 percent mica in the control section
Taglake (WY) - does not have an E horizon
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes, hills, moraines or alluvial fans
Elevation - 4,400 to 8,600 feet
Slope - 2 to 85 percent
Parent material - alluvium, colluvium or till derived from igneous rocks
Climate - cold winters; moist springs; and dry summers
Mean annual air temperature - 35 to 43 degrees F.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 30 inches
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Elve soils are used mainly for forest products, watershed, and recreation. Potential native vegetation is mainly lodgepole pine with a sparse understory of kinnikinnick, white spiraea, Oregon-grape, common juniper, and grouse whortleberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Elve soils are of limited extent in the mountains of central and southwestern Montana, and Colorado. MLRAs - 43B, 44B, 46.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fergus County, Montana, 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 8 inches (Oe, A, part of E horizons)
Cambic horizon - from 18 to 47 inches (Bw1, Bw2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 11 to 41 inches (part of E, Bw1, part of Bw2 horizons)
Elve soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime that borders on udic.
Additional Information: The 3/2008 description reflects a change in classification from Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Ustic Eutrocryepts to Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Ustic Haplocryepts due to revision of the cryepts great groups and subgroups. The competing series section was not updated and should be reviewed after all the cryepts have been re-classified.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation record - MT0339.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.