LOCATION JULIUS MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, frigid Alfic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Julius loam, in hayland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Ap1--0 to 4 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic, many fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
Ap2--4 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
Bt/E--8 to 11 inches; Bt part (65 percent) is brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/4) moist; E part (35 percent) is pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many medium and fine roots; common fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick.)
Bt1--11 to 17 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; strong medium columnar structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary (2 to 7 inches thick).
Bt2--17 to 23 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium and many very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 9 inches thick)
Bk--23 to 33 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; disseminated lime, common fine masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--33 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/4) semiconsolidated tuff.
TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; 2,800 feet west and 1,800 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 34, T. 6 N., R. 14 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 41 to 47 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 12 inches.
Depth to Calcic horizon - 19 to 32 inches.
Depth to Cr horizon - 20 to 40 inches.
Ap horizons - Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 60 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles, 0 to 55 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3
Bt/E horizon - Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: B part - 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist; E part - 5 or 6 dry, 3, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: loam or clay loam (mixed)
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Bt1 horizon - Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: clay or clay loam
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles, 0 to 10 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 9.0
Bt2 horizon - Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Bk horizon
Value: 6, 7, or 8 dry, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent pebbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.6
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - alluvial fans; stream terraces; sedimentary plains.
Elevation - 3,600 to 6,200 feet.
Slope- 2 to 60 percent.
Parent material - alluvium or residuum derived from semiconsolidated tuff.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual temperature - 39 to 44 degrees F.
Frost free period - 70 to 90 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: Julius soils are used mainly for hayland. Native vegetation is mainly rough fescue, Idaho fescue, lupine, bluebunch wheatgrass, and shrubby cinquefoil.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Julius soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County, Montana, 1997.
REMARKS: Soil Interpretation Record: MT1405. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 8 inches (Ap1 and Ap2 horizons); a glossic horizon from 8 to 11 inches (Bt/E horizon); an argillic horizon from 8 to 23 inches (Bt/E, Bt1 and Bt2 horizons); a calcic horizon from 23 to 33 inches (Bk horizon); a paralithic contact at a depth of 33 inches (Cr horizon); a particle size control section from 11 to 23 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons). Julius soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.