LOCATION FUERTES COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Fuertes sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rangeland; (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted). The surface is covered by about 15 percent subrounded gravel derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist.
A--0 to 8 centimeters; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 10 percent clay; weak fine granular structure; very friable, soft, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and medium roots throughout; common very fine irregular pores; common fine distinct mica flakes throughout; 10 percent gravel; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary.
Bt--8 to 18 centimeters; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 19 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine and medium roots throughout; common very fine dendritic tubular pores; common distinct clay films on all faces of peds; common fine distinct mica flakes throughout; 10 percent gravel; very slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary.
Btk--18 to 56 centimeters; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 19 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common very fine dendritic tubular pores; common faint clay films on all faces of peds; common fine distinct threadlike carbonate masses in cracks and common fine distinct carbonate masses around rock fragments; 3 percent fine distinct mica flakes throughout; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent, 6 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--56 to 102 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 21 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine dendritic tubular pores; common faint clay films on all faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist, masses of oxidized iron throughout; common fine distinct mica flakes throughout; 5 percent gravel; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--102 to 137 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 14 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, soft, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common very fine dendritic tubular pores; common faint clay films on all faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; many coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron throughout and associated clay depletions throughout; common percent fine mica flakes throughout; 10 percent gravel; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual wavy boundary.
2C--137 to 203 centimeters; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 1 percent clay; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine irregular pores; many coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron throughout; common fine distinct mica flakes throughout; 40 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Costilla County, Colorado; USGS Sanchez Reservoir topographic quadrangle; 37 degrees 1 minute 33.62 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees 25 minutes 32.18 seconds west longitude; UTM 462144 meters E, 4097842 meters N, zone 13, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: The soil moisture regime is ustic.
Mean annual soil temperature: 41 to 46 degrees F (5 to 7.8 degrees C)
Mean summer soil temperature: 63 to 66 degrees F (17.2 to 18.9 degrees C)
Thickness of Mollic epipedon: 7 to 25 inches (18 to 64 centimeters)
Thickness of Argillic horizon: 24 to 51 inches (61 to 130 centimeters)
Depth to argillic horizon: 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 centimeters)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 centimeters)
Depth to lithologic discontinuity: 40 to 60 inches (102 to 152 centimeters)
Depth to Redox concentrations: 20 to 40 inches (51 to 102 centimeters)
Depth to endosaturation: 18 to 42 inches (46 to 107 centimeters) during the months of April to June
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Sand content: 26 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent subrounded indurated gravel
A horizon(s)
Hue: 7.5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 27 percent
Sand content: 26 to 60 percent
Silt content: 30 to 48 percent
Fragment content, total: 0 to 15 percent
Fragment size and content: 0 to 15 percent indurated gravel derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 1 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 7.8
Organic matter content: 1.5 to 6.0 percent
Bt horizon(s)
Hue: 7.5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 2 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam, clay loam, gravelly clay loam
Clay content: 14 to 35 percent
Sand content: 26 to 50 percent
Silt content: 28 to 48 percent
Fragment content, total: 0 to 35 percent
Fragment size and content: 0 to 35 percent indurated gravel derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Organic matter content: 0.0 to 1.5 percent
Btk horizon(s)
Hue: 7.5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 2 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam, clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Sand content: 26 to 50 percent
Silt content: 28 to 48 percent
Fragment content, total: 0 to 15 percent
Fragment size and content: 0 to 15 percent indurated gravel derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Organic matter content: 0.5 to 1.5 percent
2C horizon(s)
>Hue: 7.5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: very gravelly sand, very gravelly loamy sand
Clay content: 0 to 7 percent
Sand content: 80 to 100 percent
Silt content: 0 to 20 percent
Fragment content, total: 35 to 60 percent
Fragment size and content: 35 to 45 percent indurated gravel
0 to 15 percent indurated cobbles derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 2 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Organic matter content: 0.0 to 0.5 percent
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Chivers,
Groveland and
Voldseth series.
Chivers soils: does not have a lithologic discontinuity at 40 to 60 inches..
Groveland soils: does not have a lithologic discontinuity at 40 to 60 inches and has a calcic horizon with 15 to 25% calcium carbonate equivalent.
Voldseth soils: have a calcic horizon with 15 to 40% calcium carbonate equivalent.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: fine-loamy alluvium derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist
Landform: stream terraces
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Elevation: 7,500 to 8,500 feet (2,286 to 2,591 meters)
Mean annual air temperature: 39 to 43 degrees F (4.0 to 6.0 degrees C.)
Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305 millimeters)
Precipitation pattern: Precipitation peaks in July and August occurring as intense summer thunderstorms
Frost-free period: 85 to 100 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Kibin,
Stunner,
Eastdale, and
Ventero soils.
Kibin soils lack endosaturation
Stunner soils have a calcic horizon
Eastdale soils do not have an argillic horizon
Ventero soils have histic epipedon
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained, low runoff, moderate or moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally as native pastureland and for irrigated meadows. Occasionally, some areas are used for small grains. Principal native plants are sedges, rushes, saltgrass, and other water-tolerant grasses and plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: High intermountain valleys of south central Colorado, LLR E, MLRA 51. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Costilla County, Colorado, Costilla soil survey area, 2009. The name is coined.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 22 inches. (A, Bt and Btk horizons)
Argillic horizon: The zone from 3 to 40 inches. (Bt,Bt1, Btk, and Bt2 horizons)
The assignment of the cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.
Taxonomic Version: Tenth Edition, 2006