LOCATION FOOLHEN MT
Established Series
Rev. ADI-KTS-RJS
04/2011
FOOLHEN SERIES
The Foolhen series consists of very deep, poorly and very poorly drained soils that formed in mixed alluvium. These soils are on flood plains, stream terraces, alluvial fans, outwash plains, drainageways and closed depressions. Slopes are 0 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 19 inches, and mean annual air temperature is about 37 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Typic Cryaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Foolhen loam, 0 to 4 percent slopes, in rangeland (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 2 inches; partially decomposed organic matter. (0 to 8 inches thick)
A--2 to 9 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Bw--9 to 20 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; many medium distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) and olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) dry redox concentrations; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (3 to 11 inches thick)
Cg1--20 to 27 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam with lenses of loamy sand 1 to 2 inches thick, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; many medium distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) and olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) dry redox concentrations; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary.
Cg2--27 to 46 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) gravelly loam, olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) dry; many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) dry redox concentrations; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary.
Cg3--46 to 60 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) gravelly loam, yellow (2.5Y 7/6) dry; many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) dry redox concentrations; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few fine irregular pores; 30 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8). (combined thickness of the Cg horizons - 36 to 53 inches)
TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; 1,400 feet east and 2,400 feet south of the NW corner of section 12, T. 5 N., R. 14 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Temperature - 36 to 41 degrees F.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 10 to 19 inches
Depth to a seasonal high water table - ponded to 24 inches
Note: Some pedons may have a Bg.
A horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y; dry or moist
Value: 2 to 5 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam, mucky loam or mucky silt loam
Clay content: 14 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 20 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.3
Bw horizon
Value: 2 or 4 moist; 4 to 7 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2; dry or moist
Texture: silt loam, loam, sandy loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
Cg1 horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5 moist; 5 to 7 dry
Chroma: 2 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 8.4
Cg2 and Cg3 horizons
Hue: 5Y, 2.5Y, 10YR, 5GY or 10GY; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 moist; 5 to 7 dry
Chroma: 1 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 55 percent--0 to 40 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Blackwell (ID) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Furniss (ID) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Haydenfork (UT) - is moderately or slightly acid in the C2 horizon
Retaw (NM) - does not have a Bw and/or Bg horizon
Vensora (WY) - have a lithologic discontinuity
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - flood plains, stream terraces, alluvial fans, outwash plains, drainageways, landslides and closed depressions
Elevation - 4,700 to 8,800 feet
Slope - 0 to 8 percent
Parent material - alluvium
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 32 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 34 to 40 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly and poorly drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Foolhen soils are primarily used for rangeland. The potential native vegetation is mainly sedges, rushes, willows and shrubby cinquefoil
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Foolhen soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana. MLRAs - 43B, 44B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County, Montana, 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 2 to 20 inches (A, Bg horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 12 to 42 inches (part of Bw, Cg1, part of Cg2 horizons)
Foolhen soils have a cryic temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation record - MT1477.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.