LOCATION KAYAK WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquandic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kayak gravelly ashy loam- irrigated pasture, on a 1 percent slope at an elevation of 1,425 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; 25 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.5; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary (4 to 10 inches thick)
A--6 to 17 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; 5 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.5; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bw1--17 to 29 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) iron accumulations; 10 percent gravel; NaF pH 8.0; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary.
Bw2--29 to 39 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; many fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) iron accumulations; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual irregular boundary. (Combined Bw1 and Bw2 horizon is 10 to 22 inches thick)
2C--39 to 60 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) extremely gravelly sand, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; single grain; loose; nonsticky and nonplastic; 50 percent gravel and 20 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 5 miles southwest of Kittitas, about 2,300 feet west and 150 feet south of the northeast corner of section 31, T. 17 N., R. 19 E.; lat. 46 degrees 55 minutes 33 seconds N. and long. 120 degrees 30 minutes 24 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 47 to 54 degrees F. These soils are saturated with water for more than 30 days (cumulative) most years, if not artificially drained. Depth to the irrigation-induced water table is 15 to 20 inches. The upper part of the particle-size control section averages 5 to 25 percent coarse fragments, 12 to 18 percent clay and has 15 percent fine sand or coarser. The lower part of the particle-size control section is sand or loamy sand and averages 50 to 75 percent coarse fragments. Depth to the very or extremely gravelly C horizon is 20 to 40 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 20 to 40 inches and includes the Bw horizon. Thickness of the volcanic ash influence is 10 to 20 inches.
The Ap horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. Texture is ashy silt loam, gravelly ashy loam or ashy sandy loam. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. Texture is horizon is loam or gravelly ashy loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizons has value of 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. Texture is fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, gravelly sandy loam or sandy loam. It has distinct or prominent redox features. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4 dry, 1 or 2 moist. Texture is very gravelly loamy sand, extremely gravelly loamy sand or extremely gravelly sand. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kayak soils are on flood plains and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in alluvium on flood plains. Elevation is 1,200 to 1,800 feet. Climate is semiarid with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 12 inches. The average January temperature is about 25 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is about 48 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free season is 130 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nanum, Weirman and Zillah series. Nanum soils are on alluvial fans and terraces and have more than 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction. Weirman soils are on flood plains, well drained, and have more than 35 percent rock fragments. Zillah soils are on flood plains and are saturated within a depth of 12 inches from the surface.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; slow runoff; moderate permeability. This soil has an irrigation-induced water table with its uppermost limit occuring at some time between the mid-May to mid-October growing season. Kayak soils are subject to occasional flooding for brief periods from January to April unless protected.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for livestock grazing, limited crop production, and wildife habitat. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, basin wildrye, cottonwood, and willow. When drained and irrigated, hay is the major crop.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kittitas County, Washington. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington. Name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon (pachic) - 0 to 39 inches (Ap, A, Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)
Redoximorphic features - 17 to 39 inches (Bw1, Bw2 and C horizons)
PSCS - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the A, Bw1 and Bw2 horizon)
Cumulic feature - from 0 to 39 inches with an irregular decrease in organic carbon
Aquic feature - from 17 to 60 inches having due to irrigation induced water table.
Vitrandic feature - from 0 to 17 inches.
Classification revised 9/06 from Vitrandic Haploxerolls to Aquandic Endoaquolls based on aquic conditions within 16 to 20 inches and volcanic ash influence within the upper 17 inches.