LOCATION KANCAN IDEstablished Series
The Kancan series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately
slowly permeable soils that are formed in mixed alluvium. They are on
coalesced fan terraces. Slopes are 1 to 12 percent. The average
annual precipitation is about 11 inches and the average annual
temperature is about 46 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Calciargidic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kancan gravelly silt loam--rangeland. On a 3 percent
single slope, east aspect, 4700 feet elevation. (Colors are for air
dry soil unless otherwise stated. This profile was described June 5,
1980.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly silt loam, very dark
grayish brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure
parting to strong very fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly
sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and common fine roots; many
very fine irregular pores; 20 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline (pH
7.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
A2--3 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loam, very dark
grayish brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure
parting to strong very fine granular; hard, friable, sticky, and
plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine and few fine irregular
pores; 20 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy
boundary. (3 to 11 inches thick)
Bt--10 to 16 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly clay loam, dark
brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure;
hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common very fine roots; many very
fine and few fine irregular pores; 45 percent pebbles; mildly alkaline
(pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
2Bk--16 to 27 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly
coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very
friable, slightly sticky, and plastic; few very fine roots; many very
fine irregular pores; slightly effervescent; 45 percent pebbles; mildly
alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 11 inches thick)
3Ck1--27 to 33 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very cobbly coarse
sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very
friable; few very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; strongly
effervescent (10 percent calcium carbonate) common fine and medium
irregularly shaped soft lime seams and masses; 20 percent pebbles and
30 percent cobbles; rock fragments coated with lime on all sides;
moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (14 to 20 inches
thick)
3Ck2--33 to 64 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) very cobbly
coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; soft and very
friable; many very fine irregular pores; strongly effervescent (10
percent calcium carbonate) common fine and medium irregularly shaped
soft lime seams and masses; 20 percent pebbles and 35 percent cobbles;
rock fragments coated with lime on all sides; moderately alkaline (pH
8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Cassia County, Idaho; about 2 miles northwest of Malta,
Idaho, 2500 feet south, 200 feet west of the northeast corner of
section 34, T. 12 S., R. 26 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the Mollic epipedon - 7 to 14 inches
Depth to first discontinuity - 9 to 16 inches
Depth to second discontinuity - 16 to 37 inches
Depth to secondary lime - 9 to 27 inches
Control Section - 23 to 32 percent clay, 35 to 50 percent rock
fragments
A horizons
Color value - 5 or 6 dry
Chroma- 2 or 3
Clay content - 15 to 22 percent
Rock fragment content - 15 to 30 percent
Reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
Bt horizon
Color value - 3 or 4 moist
Chroma- 2 or 3
Texture - GRV-CL, GRV-SCL, GRV-L
Clay content - 23 to 35 percent
Rock fragment content - 35 to 55 percent
2Bk horizons
Color value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist
Chroma- 3 or 4
Texture - CBV-L, GRV-L,GRV-COSL, GRX-LCOS
Clay content - 5 to 15 percent
Rock fragment content - 40 to 80 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent - 10 to 25 percent
Reaction - moderately or strongly alkaline
3Ck horizons
Color value - 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist (multicolored in the sandy
textures)
Texture - very cobbly coarse sandy loam through extremely gravelly
coarse sand
Rock fragment content - 45 to 80 percent
Reaction - moderately or strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Mountainville, Pagari, and Red Butte
series. Mountainville soils have rock fragments that are dominantly
stones and they lack discontinuities to coarse material. Pagari soils
have a lithic contact at 40 to 60 inches, and lacks a discontinuity to
coarser material. Red Butte soils are weakly to strongly cemented in
the Bk horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kancan soils are on nearly level to moderately
sloping coalesced fan terraces. Slopes range from 1 to 12 percent.
Elevation ranges from 4400 to 5500 feet. The soil formed in mixed
alluvium with some loess influence. The average annual precipitation
ranges from 10 to 12 inches, the average annual air temperature is
about 45 to 47 degrees F., the frost free season is 90 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Darkbull, Declo, Nibbs
(T), and Womack (T) series. These soils are on coalesced fan terraces.
All of these soils lack mollic epipedons. Darkbull, Declo and Nibbs
soils lack argillic horizons. Declo soils lack a skeletal
discontinuity. Womack soils have a duripan at 20 to 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Moderately slow permeability
through the Bt horizons and moderately rapid to rapid below. Medium
runoff.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kancan soils are used for range, irrigated crops
and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is low sagebrush, bluebunch
wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and rabbitbrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Idaho. The soils of this series
are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cassia County, Idaho, 1986.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon
are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 10 inches (A1 and
Bt1 horizons).
Argillic horizon - The zone from 3 to 16 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
Secondary lime accumulation - The zone from 16 to 64 inches (2Bk1,
3Ck1, and 3Ck2 horizons).
Particle size control section - The zone from 3 to 16 inches (Bt1 and
Bt2 horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey