LOCATION GODDING CO+AZEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, frigid Pachic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Godding stony loam - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) stony loam, black (5YR 2.5/1) moist; strong very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent pebbles, 5 percent cobbles, 5 percent stones; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)
A2--3 to 17 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) stony loam, black (5YR 2.5/1) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure porting to strong fine granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 10 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones, 4 percent boulders; neutral (pH 7.2) gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 18 inches thick)
Bt1--17 to 33 inches; dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) very stony clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common prominent clay films on ped faces; 15 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones, 5 percent boulders; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (14 to 18 inches thick)
Bt2--33 to 48 inches, reddish brown (5YR 5/3) very stony sandy clay, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; few distinct clay films on ped faces; 20 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent stones, 5 percent boulders; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (14 to 18 inches thick)
C--48 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) very stony sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; 20 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones; 5 percent boulders; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Mesa County, Colorado; along Colorado highway 65 near the northeast corner of the SW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 22, T. 11 S., R. 96 W. U.S.G.S. Mesa Lakes quad.; Latitude: 39 degrees, 04 minutes, 44 seconds N.; Longitude: 108 degrees, 06 minutes, 46 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F. Godding soils are generally noncalcareous throughout but may be slightly calcareous in the C horizon in some pedons. Rock fragments range from 35 to 80 percent, dominantly stones and cobble, with 0 to 15 percent boulders. Clay content ranges from 35 to 55 percent in the particle-size control section. The moisture control section is dry from June 1 to July 15 when the soil temperature at 20 inches is greater than 41 degrees F. It is moist in some part for 45 cumulative days from August 15 through October 15. The mollic epipedon ranges from 16 to 30 inches thick.
The A horizons have hue of 5YR through 10YR with value 3 or 4, and 2 or 3 moist, with chroma of 1 through 3. Texture is clay loam or stony loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bt and C horizons have hue of 5YR through 10YR with value of 3 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, with chroma of 2 through 6. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline. Textures are clay, clay loam, sandy clay, or sandy clay loam with clay ranging up to 55 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dalcan (UT), Des Moines (NM), Golime (CO), and Gordonpoint (UT) series. Dalcan soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Des Moines soils are slightly warmer with a frost-free period of 90 to 140 days and have moisture control sections that are usually moist from June 1 to July 15 when the soil temperature at 20 inches is greater than 41 degrees F. Golime soils have Bk horizons. Gordonpoint soils have rock fragments in the particle-size control section that are mostly gravel.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Godding soils are on mesas, structural benches, ridges, and fan terraces, and on sideslopes of mountains, valleys, mesas, and structural benches. Slopes are 1 to 65 percent. The soil formed in slope alluvium, colluvium, residuum, and till from basalt, andesite, rhyolite, and breccia over interbedded sandstone and shale or shale. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 9,200 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 25 inches received mostly as late summer rains and winter snow. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. Frost-free period ranges from 70 to 90 days. In Arizona, frost-free period may be up to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Delson and Kolob series. Delson soils have mollic surface layers less than 16 inches thick and are not skeletal. Kolob soils have mollic surface layers less than 16 inches thick.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used as rangeland and wildlife habitat. The principal native vegetation is Gambel oak, Utah serviceberry, and common snowberry with big bluegrass, Letterman needlegrass, slender wheatgrass, nodding brome, elk sedge, aspen peavine, and various forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountain areas of west central Colorado and possibly parts of Utah. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mesa County (Douglas-Plateau Soil Survey Area), Colorado, 1988.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: a pachic epipedon; an argillic horizon from 17 to 48 inches; more than 35 percent rock fragments in the texture control section; an ustic moisture regime; and a frigid temperature regime. The soil name is taken from an old grade trail nearby.