LOCATION FIFESRIDGE WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, isotic Andic Haplocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Fifesridge ashy sandy loam - forestland, on a 24 percent northeast-facing slope at 3,200 feet elevation. (When described on 11/16/92 the profile was moist from the mineral surface to 27 inches. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed forest litter mixed with a small amount of 1980 Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
A--1 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) ashy sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 30 percent pumice less than 2 mm in size; NaF pH 10.1; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
2Bw--8 to 14 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine and common medium roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 5 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.6; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
2Bt1--14 to 21 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine and few medium roots; common very fine and fine irregular and few tubular pores; few faint dark brown (7.5YR) clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.2; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual smooth boundary.
2Bt2--21 to 31 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine and coarse roots; common fine irregular and few fine tubular pores; few faint brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary.
2Bt3--31 to 41 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine irregular and few fine tubular pores; few distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary.
2Bt4--41 to 52 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine irregular and few very fine tubular pores; common distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary.
3Bt5--52 to 61 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine and fine irregular and few fine tubular pores; common distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4). (Combined thickness of Bt horizon is 25 to 50 inches)
TYPE LOCATION: Yakima County, Washington; about 3.5 miles northwest of Cliffdell, Washington; about 2,300 feet south and 1,800 feet west of the northeast corner of section. 5, T. 17 N., R. 14 E.; latitude. 46 degrees 59 minutes 00 seconds N. and longitude. 121 degrees 07 minutes 05 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches ranges is 42 to 44 degrees F. The estimated mean summer soil temperature is 44 to 47 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Thickness of andic soil material ranges from 7 to 14 inches and it has estimated moist bulk density of 0.75 to 0.90 g/cc, glass content of 20 percent or more, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of acid-oxalate extractable iron of 0.8 to 1.25 percent, phosphate retention of 25 to 40 percent and 15-bar water retention of 3 to 5 percent for air dried samples. The particle-size control section averages 18 to 27 percent clay, 5 to 20 percent rock fragments and 5 to 15 percent pararock fragments.
The A horizon has a hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7 dry and chroma of 2 to 4 dry, 3 or 4 moist. Some pedons have an A2 horizon.
The 2Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7 dry and chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. Texture is loam or gravelly loam.
The 2Bt horizon has a hue of 2.5Y, 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 to 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 3 to 6 dry and moist. Texture is loam, clay loam, or gravelly sandy clay loam. Rock fragments range from 5 to 25 percent. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
The 3Bt horizon has a hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist. Texture is gravelly loam or gravelly clay loam. Rock fragments range from 15 to 30 percent.
A C horizon may be present in some pedons within a depth of 60 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. A soil with a similar mixed mineralogy is the Culdecole series. Culdecole soils have 27 to 35 percent clay in the particle size control section and a udic soil moisture regime.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Fifesridge soils are on mountain slopes at elevations of 3,000 to 5,400 feet. They formed in colluvium from basalt or andesite with a mantle of volcanic ash. Slopes are 10 to 55 percent. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 40 to 60 inches. The average January temperature is about 24 degrees F. and the, average July temperature is about 62 degrees F. and the mean annual air temperature is 41 to 43 degrees F. The frost-free season is 40 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Fiscus and Pileup soils. Fiscus soils are on mountain slopes and are ashy over loamy-skeletal. Pileup soils are on mountain slopes and are loamy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for timber production, wildlife habitat and recreation. Native vegetation is grand fir, western hemlock, Douglas fir, western white pine and western larch with an understory of Oregon grape, twinflower, huckleberry, princes pine, vanilla leaf, sidebells pyrola and elk sedge.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Yakima County, Washington. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wenatchee National Forest, Yakima County, Washington, 2003.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Ochric epipedon - 1 to 8inches (A horizon)
Andic soil properties - 1 to 8 inches (A horizon)
Cambic horizon - 8 to 14 inches (2Bw horizon)
Argillic horizon - 14 to 61 inches (2Bt1, 2Bt2, 2Bt3, 2Bt4 and 2Bt5 horizons)
PSCS - zone from 14 to 34 inches (2Bt1, 2Bt2 and 2Bt3 horizons)
Cryic soil temperature regime.
Xeric soil moisture regime.
Diagnostic horizons and features are measured from the top of the first mineral layer.
More investigation is needed as to this series having a udic soil moisture regime based on the presence of western hemlock, twinflower and vanilla leaf.