LOCATION GARVAL             ID
Established Series
Rev. DJT/ALH/RWL
04/2006

GARVAL SERIES


The Garval series consists of moderately deep, excessively drained soils with rapid permeability that formed in colluvium and residuum from granitic rocks. Slopes range from 35 to 90 percent in mountains and canyons. The average annual precipitation is about 23 inches and the average annual temperature is about 47 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Entic Ultic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Garval fine gravelly loamy coarse sand, forested -- on a 65 percent convex southeast-facing slope at 3,525 feet elevation. When described on September 11, 1998, the soil was moist to 8 inches and dry below. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Oi--0 to 1 inch; partially decomposed pine needles.

A1--1 to 5 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine gravelly loamy coarse sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium, few coarse roots; common very fine and fine, few medium irregular pores; 15 percent fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear smooth boundary.

A2--5 to 13 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine gravelly loamy coarse sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium, few coarse roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 15 percent fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear smooth boundary. (combined A horizon - 4 to 13 inches thick)

AC--13 to 19 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly coarse sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; few very fine and fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)

C--19 to 29 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly coarse sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine, fine, medium and coarse roots; 65 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 26 inches thick)

R--29 inches; moderately fractured granodiorite.

TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; about 2 miles southwest of Crouch; 2,600 feet south and 1,650 feet east of the northwest corner of section 20, T.9 N., R.4 E.; USGS Banks Quadrangle; Latitude - 44 degrees, 05 minutes, 56 seconds N. and Longitude - 116 degrees, 00 minutes, 40 seconds W.; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 15 inches
Depth to bedrock - 20 to 40 inches
Base saturation - 50 to 75 percent
Particle-size control section - 2 to 7 percent clay; 35 to 85 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 50 degrees F.

A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 15 to 35 percent gravel
Reaction - moderately acid or slightly acid

C horizon
Hue - 10YR or 2.5Y
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - LCOS or COS
Clay content - 2 to 6 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent stones, 5 to 35 percent cobbles, 15 to 65 percent gravel and 35 to 85 percent total
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Foxlane, Shimo and Winthrop series. Shimo soils do not have an O horizon. Foxlane soils are very deep and moderately well drained. Winthrop soils are very deep and dry 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Garval soils are on exposed steep to very steep mountain slopes and canyon walls at elevations of 2,800 to 6,550 feet. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum from granitic rocks. Slopes range from 35 to 90 percent. The average annual precipitation is 20 to 26 inches. The average annual temperature is 45 to 48 degrees F. The frost-free period is 90 to 125 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kisky soils. Kisky soils are shallow and on similar geomorphic positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; very rapid runoff; rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Garval soils are used mainly for timber production and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is ponderosa pine, antelope bitterbrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho. MLRA 43. Garval soils are not extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boise County Area, Idaho, Parts of Ada and Boise Counties, 2005.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - zone from mineral soil surface to 13 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)
Lithic contact - at 29 inches (R)
Particle-size control section - zone from 11 to 29 inches
Soil moisture regime - xeric

All depths to diagnostic horizons and features listed in the range of characteristics are measured from the top of the first mineral horizon.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Partial laboratory data available for pedon # 99P061, sample # S98ID-015-005; NSSL, Lincoln, NE 4/99.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.