LOCATION KAIKLI                  AK

Established Series
Rev.RWG/WDL/JPM
05/2022

KAIKLI SERIES

The Kaikli series consists of moderately deep, very poorly drained soils formed from highly decomposed organic material, underlain by bedrock at depths ranging from 21 to 51 inches. Kaikli soils are on valleysides and hillslopes. Slopes range from 0 to 80 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 100 inches and mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic Lithic Cryosaprists

TYPICAL PEDON: Kaikli mucky peat-on a south facing slope of 80 percent at 1260 feet elevation under conifer forest vegetation. (All colors are for moist soils)

Oe--0 to 5 inches; very dusky red (2.5YR 2.5/2 broken face and pressed) mucky peat; 75 percent fibers unrubbed, 30 percent rubbed; few coarse, common medium, and many fine and very fine roots; extremely acid (pH 4.0); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)

Oa1--5 to 15 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) mucky peat; 40 percent fibers unrubbed, 15 percent rubbed; nonsticky and nonplastic; few coarse, common medium, and many fine and very fine roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)

Oa2--15 to 30 inches; black (10YR 2/1) muck; 20 percent fibers unrubbed, 2 percent fibers rubbed; nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine and very fine roots; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick).

C--30 to 32 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) and black (10YR 2/1) organic staining throughout the horizon; massive; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 16 inches thick).

R--32 inches; schist bedrock

TYPE LOCATION: Ketchikan Area, Alaska. NE1/4, SE1/4, Section 25, T.73S., R.92E., Copper River Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: MAST ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. The thickness of the organic material ranges from 16 to 47 inches. Depth to bedrock ranges from 21 to 51 inches. A thin layer of undecomposed forest litter may occur on the soil surface. Where present, the mineral horizon is less than 16 inches thick. pH is extremely acid or very strongly acid in the organic materials; strongly acid or moderately acid in the mineral material. The soil does not freeze below a depth of 2 inches in most years due to maritime influence.

The hue of the O horizons range from 10R to 10YR, the value moist from 2 to 4, and the chroma moist ranges from 1 to 4.

When present, the C horizon has hue from 5GY through 10YR; value moist from 3 to 5; and chroma moist from 1 to 4. Texture is commonly silt loam, but ranges to include coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, loam and sand. Coarse fragments range from 10 to 50 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Sunnyhay and Kitkun series in a similar family. Sunnyhay and Kitkun soils have bedrock within 20 inches of the surface.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Kaikli soils occupy gentle to very steep valleysides and hillslopes that receive seepage from higher areas. The climate is humid maritime with mean annual precipitation of 100 inches. The mean annual air temperature is 43 degrees F and the mean summer air temperature is 58 degrees F. Elevation ranges from 0 to 3000 feet. Slopes range from 0 to 80 percent.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: They include the competing Sunnyhay series, and the Hydaburg, Karta, Kina, Kupreanof, Maybeso, Tolstoi, St. Nicholas, and Wadleigh soils. Hydaburg soils are shallow organic soils composed of hemic sedge peat that are on ridges. Karta, Kupreanof, Tolstoi, St. Nicholas, and Wadleigh soils are mineral soils on valleysides and hillslopes. Kina soils are deep hemic peats that are in valley bottoms and on benches on hillslopes.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Moderately rapid permeability in the organic layers. Runoff is moderate to rapid. The water table is commonly within 12 inches of the surface.

USE AND VEGETATION: The Kaikli soils are in forested muskegs that have a marginal potential for timber production. The soils are also used for wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. Overstory vegetation is predominantly western hemlock and western redcedar with lesser amounts of Sitka spruce and Alaska-cedar. The understory vegetation is mainly blueberry and huckleberry species, skunk cabbage, and marshmarigold.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Alaska. The series is extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chatham Survey Area, Tongass National Forest, Alaska 1992.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this profile include: organic soil material from 0 to 30 inches; sapric material from 5 to 30 inches; a lithic contact at 32 inches; pH of 4.5 (0.01M CaCl2) in the organic matter from 5 to 30 inches; a cryic temperature regime.

The Kaikli series formerly classified in the dysic, shallow family. However, bedrock is deep than 20 inches and the pH (0.01M CaCl2) is 4.5 or more in some part of the organic layers in each pedon.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.