LOCATION JUDELL             MT
Established Series
Rev. BDD-DES-JAL
7/98

JUDELL SERIES


The Judell series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in calcareous alluvium and colluvium derived mainly from limestone. These soils are on stream terraces, alluvial fans and hills. Slopes are 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, carbonatic, frigid Typic Calciustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Judell clay loam, grassland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

A--0 to 7 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and very fine roots and common medium and coarse roots; less than 5 percent limestone pebbles; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)

Bk1--7 to 11 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and very fine roots and common medium and coarse roots; many fine and very fine pores; less than 5 percent limestone pebbles; few fine irregular soft masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches)

Bk2--11 to 28 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and very fine roots and few medium and coarse roots; many fine and very fine pores and few medium pores; less than 5 percent lime coated pebbles; common fine and medium irregular soft masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)

Bk3--28 to 54 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; common fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and very fine roots and few medium roots; many fine and very fine pores; less than 5 percent limestone pebbles; disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (20 to 36 inches thick)

2C--54 to 67 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and very fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; 60 percent pebbles, 5 percent cobbles; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4)

TYPE LOCATION: Fergus County, Montana; 1815 feet west and 660 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 10, T. 15 N., R. 18 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 38 to 46 degrees F.

Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.

Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 10 inches.

Depth to calcic horizon - 5 to 10 inches.

Depth to 2C horizon - 40 to more than 60 inches.

A horizon - Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay loam or loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 45 percent--0 to 20 percent cobbles and stones; 0 to 25 percent pebbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Bk1 and Bk2 horizons - Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 6, 7 or 8 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 30 percent pebbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 40 to 60 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 9.0

Bk3 horizon - Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 6, 7, or 8 dry; 5, 6, or 7 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent pebbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 40 to 60 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 9.0

2C horizon - Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 6, 7, or 8 dry; 5, 6, or 7 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 12 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4

COMPETING SERIES:

Judith (MT) - has loamy-skeletal material above 40 inches.

Trulon (MT) - has a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform - stream terraces, alluvial fans and hills.

Elevation - 3,200 to 6,200 feet.

Slope- 0 to 35 percent.

Parent material - alluvium or colluvium derived mainly from limestone.

Climate - long, cold winter; moist springs; warm summers.

Mean annual precipitation - 14 to 19 inches.

Mean annual temperature - 36 to 45 degrees F.

Frost-free period - 80 to 125 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Judell soils are used mainly for dryland crops and pasture; some areas are used for irrigated crops and rangeland. Potential native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, green needlegrass, western wheatgrass, rough fescue, needleandthread, Idaho fescue, prairie junegrass, forbs, and shrubs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Judell soils are of moderate extent mainly in central Montana.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fergus County, Montana, 1979.

REMARKS: Soil Interpretations Record: MT0308. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the surface to 7 inches (A horizon); a calcic horizon from 7 to 54 inches (Bk1, Bk2, Bk3 horizons); a lithologic discontinuity at 54 inches (2C horizon). Judell soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.