LOCATION HALFWAY OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, smectitic, mesic Typic Haploxererts
TYPICAL PEDON: Halfway clay - on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 4 inches; black (10YR 2/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; strong fine granular structure; hard, friable, very sticky and very plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
Bss1--4 to 16 inches; black (10YR 2/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; strong coarse prismatic structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common pressure faces; few slickensides; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)
Bss2--16 to 22 inches; black (10YR 2/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; strong coarse prismatic parting to strong coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; many intersecting slickensides; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 11 inches thick)
BC--22 to 34 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; strong medium prismatic parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
C1--34 to 44 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)
C2--44 to 60 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Baker County, Oregon; located about 1 mile west of Halfway, in the center of the SW1/4SE1/4, sec. 7, T. 8 S., R. 46 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The profiles have cracks that open and close once each year and remain open for 60 consecutive days or more. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F. The particle-size control section averages 60 to 70 percent clay. Depth to the C horizon is 30 to 50 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches.
The A and Bss horizons have value of 2 or 3 moist, 3 or 4 dry and chroma of 1 or less moist and dry. It is 15 to 30 inches thick.
The BC horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 3 or 4 dry and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry.
The C horizon has clay loam or clay with 35 to 60 percent clay. It is neutral to slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Kaskela series. Kaskela soils are 40 to 60 inches to a paralithic contact and are well drained.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Halfway soils are in level to slightly depressional areas on alluvial fans or flood plains. Slopes are 0 to 3 percent. Elevation is 2,700 to 3,400 feet. The soils formed in fine-textured mixed alluvium. The mean annual temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation is 17 to 24 inches. The frost-free period is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Langrell, Catherine, Hershal and Ukiah soils. Langrell soils are loamy-skeletal in the control section. Catherine soils are somewhat poorly drained. Hershal soils are poorly drained. Ukiah soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to volcanic tuff and are fine-textured in the control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; very slow permeability. An apparent high water table is at a depth of 3 to 5 feet from the surface from March through June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Halfway soils are used for irrigated hay and pasture. The main crops grown are tall fescues, orchardgrass, and clovers.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Baker County, Oregon; MLRA 9. The series is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Baker County Area, Oregon; 1941.
REMARKS: The classification was changed from Chromic Pelloxererts to Typic Haploxererts in 5/94.
Diagnostic features recognized in this pedon include:
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (lower 6 inches of the Bss1 horizon, Bss2, BC, and upper part of C1 horizon)
Chroma of 1 or less - the zone from 0 to 22 inches.