LOCATION HANAKER MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Hanaker silt loam, cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
A--8 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
Bt--15 to 25 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silty clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 13 inches thick)
Bk1--25 to 32 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) silt loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine pores; common fine soft masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
Bk2--32 to 42 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) stratified silt loam and very fine sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine pores; common fine soft masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (8.0); gradual smooth boundary (7 to 14 inches thick)
Bk3--42 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) stratified gravelly sandy clay loam and gravelly sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine soft masses of lime; strongly effervescent; 25 percent pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Missoula County, Montana; 2,400 feet north and 1,000 feet west of the SE corner of sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 15 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 42 to 46 degrees F.
Moisture control section - approximately between the depths of 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 13 to 16 inches
Depth to Bk horizon - 18 to 30 inches
Control section - 28 to 35 percent clay
Ap and A horizon - Value: 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Bt horizon - Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk1 horizon - Value: 7 to 8 dry; 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk2 horizon - Value: 7 or 8 dry; 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: mainly silt loam that has thin lenses of very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk3 horizon - Value: 6, 7, or 8 dry; 5 or 6 moist
Texture: mainly sandy clay loam that has thin
lenses of sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 15 to 30 percent pebbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Blackdog, Blackmore, Farland, Granath, Morton, and Xavier series. Blackdog, Blackmore, and Granath soils have a calcic horizon. Farland soils have a neutral or mildly alkaline Bt horizon and a solum less than 35 inches thick. Morton soils have soft shale bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. The Xavier soils have a solum less than 40 inches thick and an argillic horizon that has its base within 10 inches and is more than 35 percent clay.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Hanaker soils are on terraces. Elevations are 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Slopes are 0 to 6 percent. These soils formed in glaciolacustrine deposits. The climate is characterized by long, cold winters; moist springs; and warm summers. Mean annual precipitation is 15 to 19 inches, much of which falls as snow and as spring rain. Mean annual temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 60 to 90 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Hanaker soils are used for irrigated and dryland crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Hanaker soils are inextensive. They are on terraces in mountain valleys in western Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Missoula County, Montana, 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 15 inches (Ap, A horizons); an argillic horizon from 15 to 25 inches (Bt horizon); a particle-size control section that is the argillic horizon. Hanaker soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.