LOCATION KEELINE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Keeline sandy loam on east facing shoulder slope of 4 percent utilized as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky and granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Bw--3 to 8 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 7 inches thick)
C1--8 to 17 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (8 to 50 inches thick)
C2--17 to 30 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 25 inches thick)
C3--30 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Converse County, Wyoming; 2,100 feet north and 400 feet west of the SE corner of sec. 29, T. 40 N., R. 75 W. 43 degrees 24 minutes 27 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees 52 minutes 46 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Free carbonates typically occur throughout the profile, but some pedons may be leached as much as 6 inches. The control section averages fine sandy loam or sandy loam with 5 to 18 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent. Some thin strata of coarser material may occur. The soil is dry in the moisture control section more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F., which occurs about April 21-27, and is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days from July 15 to October 25 and for at least 90 cumulative days during this period. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F., and the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F. or more for 175 to 192 days. EC ranges from 0 to 4 mmhos throughout the profile. Bedrock is deeper than 60 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is sandy loam and less commonly loamy sand, fine sandy loam, or loamy fine sand. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bw horizon, when present, has the same properties of the A except for structure which is usually weak subangular blocky.
Some pedons have an AC horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 5Y, value of 4 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture averages sandy loam or fine sandy loam. Some pedons have subhorizons of very fine sandy loam or loamy fine sand. Reaction is moderately or strongly alkaline and some pedons have weak, discontinuous accumulations of calcium carbonate.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cliff, Councelor, Henrieville, Nelman, Nelson, Oterodry, Pedrick, Shedado, Turnercrest, Uendal, Yarts, and Zia series. Nelman, Shedado, and Uendal soils have lithic contacts at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Nelson and Turnercrest soils have paralithic contacts at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Cliff, Councelor, Henrieville, Otero, Pedrick and Zia soils are not dry for 60 consecutive days in the moisture control section from July 15 to October 25. Yarts soils have 2.5YR through 7.5YR hues throughout.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Keeline soils are on terraces, benches, alluvial fans, fan remnants, ridgetop and hillslope positions. Slopes are 0 to 40 percent. These soils formed in moderately coarse alluvium or eolian deposits derived from calcareous sandstone. Elevations are 3,500 to 6,200 feet. The average annual precipitation is 12 inches with over one-half of the annual precipitation falling in April, May, and June and less than one inch falling in each month of July, August, September, and October. Precipitation ranges from 10 to 15 inches. The mean annual temperature is about 46 degrees F. but ranges from 44 to 49 degrees F. The frost-free season is about 105 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Dwyer, Orpha , Tassel, Terro , Tullock, Turnercrest, and Vonalee soils. Dwyer, Orpha, and Tullock soils have sandy control sections. Tassel soils have paralithic bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Terro and Vonalee soils have argillic horizons. Turnercrest soils have paralithic bedrock at 20 to 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well or Somewhat excessively drained; slow runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are dominantly used for grazing. Potential native vegetation is needleandthread, prairie sandreed, Indian ricegrass, and little bluestem.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Powder River Basin and adjacent areas of eastern Wyoming. Series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Converse County, Wyoming, North Part; 1983.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
1. Ochric epipedon - 0 to 3 inches (A)
2. Ustic subgroup - Aridic moisture regime bordering on Ustic.
SIR- WY1293
LRR- G