LOCATION KEGLER OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Haploduridic Durixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kegler fine sandy loam - rangeland, on a 2 percent slope at an elevation of 4130 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary.
BA--7 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A and BA horizons is 7 to 12 inches thick)
2Bw1--10 to 23 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary.
2Bw2--23 to 32 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizons is 13 to 22 inches thick)
3Bk--32 to 37 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak fine blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few roots; common fine tubular pores; many white strongly effervescent carbonate filaments, slightly effervescent matrix; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 14 inches thick)
3Bkqm--37 to 49 inches; white (10YR 8/2) platy indurated duripan, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; very rigid thin opal coating on upper side of plates; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)
3C--49 to 62 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Harney County, Oregon, about 9 miles south of Burns, about 1,500 feet south and 1,800 feet east of the northwest corner of section 33, T. 24 S., R. 31 E., on the Dog Mountain quadrangle. (Latitude 43 degrees, 27 minutes, 2 seconds N, Longitude 119 degrees, 0 minutes, 45 seconds W)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 45 to 47 degrees F. The soil moisture control section is dry for one-half to three-fourths of the time when the soil temperature is above 41 degrees F. The thickness of the solum and depth to an indurated duripan is 25 to 40 inches. The depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Depth to carbonates is 20 to 30 inches. The particle-size control section averages 18 to 27 percent clay.
The A and BA horizon has chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist. Structure in some pedons is single grained. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has values of 5 or 6 dry, 2 or 3 moist or dry, chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is loam or sandy clay loam with 18 to 30 percent clay. It is slightly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has values of 6 through 8 dry, 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 3 or 4 moist or dry. It is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kegler soils are on lake terraces at the margin of the basin and have slopes of 2 to 5 percent. The soils formed in lacustrine sediments. Elevations are 4,000 to 4,500 feet. The climate is characterized by cold, moist winters and hot, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 12 inches. The mean annual temperature is 43 to 45 degrees. The frost free period is 50 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ausmus, Lawen, and Poujade soils. Ausmus and Poujade soils are sodium affected and lack a duripan. Lawen soils are coarse-loamy and lack a duripan.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used for livestock grazing, alfalfa and hay production. Potential native vegetation is basin big sagebrush, needleandthread, and Thurbers bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Pleistocene lake basins of southeastern Oregon; MLRA 23. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harney County, Oregon, 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 10 inches (A, BA horizons)
Cambic horizon - from 10 to 32 inches (2Bw1, 2Bw2 horizons)
Indurated duripan - from 37 to 49 inches (3Bkqm horizon)
Aridic/xeric soil moisture regime
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 37 inches (2Bw1, 2Bw2, 3Bk horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: Partial lab data is available for this soil. Reference sample S78 OR - 1 - 1 through 5 from Harney County, Oregon, Oregon Soil Characterization Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 9/78.