LOCATION FIVEOH WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Haplocalcids
TYPICAL PEDON: Fiveoh sandy loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; vesicular-like crust upper half inch, remainder is weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; strongly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Bw--2 to 11 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; strongly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Bk1--11 to 23 inches; pink (7.5YR 7/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; violently effervescent, lime disseminated and as common soft masses, filaments, and threads; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); gradual wavy boundary.
Bk2--23 to 30 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent, lime disseminated and as common soft masses; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (Combined Bk horizons are 12 to 30 inches thick)
C--30 to 60 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) sandy loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.5).
TYPE LOCATION: Sweetwater County, Wyoming; center of SW1/4 of sec. 24, T. 13 N., R. 105 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils typically are calcareous to the surface but are leached up to 3 inches in some pedons. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 59 to 63 degrees F. The particle size control section is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam with 8 to 18 percent noncarbonate clay and more than 15 percent fine or coarser sand. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent throughout. EC ranges from 2 to 4 mmhos.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR through 5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is mildly alkaline through strongly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5YR, value of 5 through 8 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. The lower values are a result of red carbonates. When the Bw is absent, the upper part of the Bk horizon typically has a moderate grade of subangular blocky structure to a depth of 10 inches or more. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 40 percent of which two-thirds appear to be pedogenic. This horizon is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The C horizon when present has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. Authigenic carbonates range from 7 to 25 percent. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline. Some pedons have a 2Bk or 2C substratum that has gravelly or cobbly modifiers.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Amesha, Cryluha, Kalsted, Kappes, and McFadden series. These soils have hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y throughout.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Fiveoh soils are on high alluvial terraces, fan aprons, and broad toeslopes. These soils formed in mixed, calcareous alluvium derived from sedimentary redbeds. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Elevations are 6,000 to 7,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 14 inches with about half falling as snow and less commonly as rain in April, May, and early June. The mean annual temperature ranges from 39 to 44 degrees F. The frost-free season is estimated to range from 60 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brownsto, Castello, Thermopolis, and the competing McFadden soils. Brownsto soils are loamy-skeletal. Castello soils have carbonatic mineralogy. Thermopolis soils are shallow and have no diagnostic subsurface horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium or slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of needleandthread, thickspike wheatgrass, big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Indian ricegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Wyoming. These soil are of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and properties recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon--0 to 2 inches (A)
Calcic horizon--11 to 30 inches (Bk1,Bk2)
Borollic feature--Organic carbon and temperature regime meet requirements for borollic.