LOCATION GROVELAND MT

Tentative Series
Rev. DJP/EMM
12/2012

GROVELAND SERIES

The Groveland series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium or colluvium derived from sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rock. These soils are on stream terraces, fan remnants and valley floors in intermontane basins. Slopes are 0 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 400 mm, and mean annual temperature is about 5 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Groveland loam, 2 percent slope in irrigated cropland at an elevation of 1652 meters (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Ap--0 to 12 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, few medium roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 16 cm thick)

Bt--12 to 28 cm; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular and interstitial pores; 60 percent distinct clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (14 to 46 cm thick)

Btk--28 to 60 cm; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 40 percent distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly effervescent; 5 percent fine carbonate masses in matrix, 8 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 10 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 35 cm thick)

Bk--60 to 102 cm; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; strongly effervescent, 15 percent fine carbonate masses in matrix and 15 percent finely disseminated carbonates, 15 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; 10 percent gravel; 15 percent fine prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) redox concentrations and 10 percent fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (38 to 74 cm thick)

BC--102 to 152 cm; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to massive; slightly hard, very friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots in upper section; common very fine and fine irregular pores; very slightly effervescent; 15 percent gravel; 15 percent fine prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) redox concentrations and 15 percent fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Meagher County, Montana; about 8.5 miles southwest of Martinsdale; located about 2,620 feet south and 1,514 feet west of the NE corner of sec. 14, T. 7 N., R. 10 E; Lebo topographic quad; lat. 46 degrees 22 minutes 1 seconds N. and long. 110 degrees 26 minutes 5 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: The soil moisture control section is moist December to August from natural precipitation events and from irrigation practices; driest September to November; ustic moisture regime.
Mean annual soil temperature: 4 to 7 degrees C.
Depth to anthric saturation: 60 to 90 cm from June to August. Seepage from irrigation canals is the source of the water.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 20 to 30 cm.
Depth to Bk horizons: 35 to 65 cm.

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Clay content: 16 to 28 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles and stones
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.6

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 3, dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 22 to 34 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent-- 0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.8 to 7.8

Btk horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 24 to 35 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.4

Bk horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 8 dry; 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam or loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.6

BC horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 to 8 dry; 4 to 7 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 12 to 28 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.4

COMPETING SERIES:
Chivers (UT) - has hues redder then 10YR.
Fuertes (CO) - does not have a calcic horizon.
Millburne (WY) - has an aridic soil moisture regime that borders on ustic.
Voldseth (MT) - has a loamy-skeletal subsoil.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: alluvium or colluvium derived from sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock
Landform: stream terraces, fan remnants, and valley floors
Slope: 0 to 8 percent
Elevation: 1,350 to 1,950 meters
Climate: long, cold winters; moist springs; short summers
Mean annual temperature: 3 to 7 degrees C.
Mean annual precipitation: 350 to 480 millimeters
Precipitation Pattern: Precipitation falls most during spring and early summer
Frost-free period: 70 to 90 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Voldseth, Hereimcreek, Martinsdale, and Meagher soils. The Voldseth soils have a loamy-skeletal subsoil and are on similar positions. The Hereimcreek soils have gleyed horizons and are on terrace treads and drainageways. Martinsdale and Meagher soils do not have redox features.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained, low runoff, moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Groveland soils are used for rangeland and irrigated and nonirrigated cropland. The potential native vegetation is mainly rough fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, green needlegrass, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, prairie junegrass, forbs, and shrubs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Groveland soils are of small extent in west-central Montana. MLRA 44B, 46

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES PROPOSED: Meagher County, Montana 2007. The Groveland name is a named railway stop on the Groveland Topographic Quadrangle.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 28 cm (Ap and Bt horizons)
Argillic horizon from 12 to 60 cm (Bt and Btk horizons)
Calcic horizon from 60 to 102 cm (Bk horizon)
Particle-size control section from 12 to 60 cm (Bt and Btk horizons)

Groveland soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.

Redoxomorphic features attributed to irrigation practices.

Taxonomic Version: Eleventh Edition, 2010.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.