LOCATION FARMER WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Vitrandic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Farmer ashy fine sandy loam - cropland on a nearly level slope at 2,920 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Ap--0 to 11 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) ashy fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; strong medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; few fine irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent ash, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. in diameter; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
BA--11 to 19 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) ashy fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common fine irregular pores; 20 percent ash, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. in diameter; 5 percent pumice, 2 to 5 mm. in diameter; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
2Bt1--19 to 28 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few fine irregular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent ash, 0.5 to 2.0 mm in diameter; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual smooth boundary.
2Bt2--28 to 40 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine irregular and few fine tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 5 percent ash, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. in diameter; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 20 to 30 inches)
3Bt3--40 to 52 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) silt loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few fine irregular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.3); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)
3Bt4--52 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) silt loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common fine irregular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Douglas County, Washington; about 3 1/2 miles north of Waterville; about 70 feet south and 300 feet west of the northeast corner of section 4, T. 26 N., R. 22 E. (Latitude 47 degrees 41 minutes 59 seconds N, Longitude 120 degrees 03 minutes 48 seconds W)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The average annual soil temperature is 49 to 51 degrees F. These soils are usually moist in the moisture control section but are dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches and has an estimated moist bulk density of 1.10 to 1.35 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 30 to 60 percent, including 10 to 30 percent pumice, 0.5 to 2.0 mm. in diameter, acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one half of the acid oxalate extractable iron of 0.15 to 0.35 percent, 15-bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent, 0 to 5 percent pebbles, and an apparent field estimated clay content of 5 to 14 percent. One or more horizons in the top 30 inches of the profile, including the surface horizon in all cases, has a base saturation of 75 to less by sum of bases. The particle-size control section has 10 to 18 percent clay and less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Some pedons have accumulations of secondary lime below 44 inches. When present, depth to a weak or moderately cemented duripan is 40 to 60 or more inches.
The A horizon has chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.
The BA horizon has chroma of 3 or 4 dry. It is ashy fine sandy loam, ashy loam or ashy silt loam.
The 2Bt horizon has chroma of 3 or 4 moist. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The 3Bt horizon reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Dougville series. The Dougville series has a mollic epipedon 20 to 30 inches thick and has a mantle of volcanic ash and pumice mixed with loess 20 to 40 inches thick.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Farmer soils are on nonglaciated plateaus. Elevation is 2,400 to 3,200 feet. These soils formed in post-Wisconsin age loess mixed with volcanic ash overlying pre-Wisconsin age loess. Slopes are 0 to 30 percent. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. Average annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. Average January temperature is about 26 degrees F.; average July temperature is about 70 degrees F., and average annual air temperature is 47 to 49 degrees F. Frost-free season is 110 to 165 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Dougville soils and the Nemire and Norax soils. Dougville soils are on side slopes of uplands. Nemire soils are in drainageways and depressions, are ashy, and have a mollic epipedon more than 20 inches thick. Norax soils are on knoll tops and shoulder slopes of uplands, have an ochric epipedon, and are fine silty.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; very slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for dryland crop production. Wheat and barley are the principal crops. The potential native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and threetip sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Douglas County, Washington. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Douglas County, Washington, 1998.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are a mollic epipedon from 0 to 11 inches and 5 to 25 percent pumice with an estimated 30 to 60 percent volcanic glass from the surface to 19 inches, and a coarse-silty argillic horizon from 19 to 60 inches. Base saturation by sum of bases is 56 percent from the surface to 11 inches. The particle size control section is the upper argillic horizon from 19 to 39 inches (the 2Bt1 and most of the 2Bt2 horizons). The particle-size control section averages 13 percent clay and 83 percent silt plus very fine sand. Coarse silt is the dominant fraction.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Partial NSSL laboratory data is available NSSL pedon number 89P0205.