LOCATION KELLYGULCH MT
Established Series
Rev. PEM-JAL-RJS
11/2012
KELLYGULCH SERIES
The Kellygulch series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium or slope alluvium over residuum derived from granite bedrock. These soils are on bedrock-floored plains, hills, ridges, divides, mountains, and escarpments. Slopes are 8 to 70 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 430 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 4.5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Kellygulch coarse sandy loam, in forest (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 5 cm; partially decomposed needles, twigs, and leaves.
A--5 to 18 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine and few fine and medium roots; many very fine and fine, and few medium pores; 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 15 cm thick)
Bw--18 to 38 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine, few fine and medium roots; many very fine and few fine tubular and interstitial pores; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.7); clear wavy boundary. (20 to 36 cm thick)
BC--38 to 69 cm; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) gravelly coarse sandy loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine, few fine and medium roots; many very fine and few fine tubular and interstitial pores; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (25 to 36 cm thick)
Cr--69 to 79 cm; pale olive (5Y 6/3) decomposed granite bedrock (grus) that crushes to very gravelly coarse sand or loamy coarse sand; neutral (pH 7.0). (10 to 38 cm thick)
R--79 cm; hard granite bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Montana; 580 meters north and 825 meters east of the SW corner of sec. 29, T. 9N, R. 2W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 3.0 to 7.0 degrees C.
Depth to a paralithic contact - 50 to 95 cm
Depth to a lithic contact - 58 to 100 cm
Note: A thin E horizon between the A and Bw horizons may occur in some pedons.
A horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 50 percent--5 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles, 0 to 10 percent stones and boulders
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.3
Bw horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 30 percent gravel (mostly less then 7mm in diameter)
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.3
BC horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 35 percent gravel (mostly less than 10mm in diameter)
Reaction: pH 5.8 to 7.3
COMPETING SERIES:
Ramps (UT) - has a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - bedrock-floored plains, hills, ridges, divides, mountains and escarpments
Elevation - 1,370 to 1,825 feet
Slope - 8 to 70 percent
Parent material - colluvium or slope alluvium over residuum derived from granite bedrock
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers
Mean annual precipitation - 380 to 480 cm
Mean annual air temperature - 2.0 to 6.0 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 70 to 105 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kellygulch soils are primarily used for woodland. The potential native vegetation is mainly Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, common juniper, russet buffaloberry, common snowberry, white spiraea, kinnikinnick, rough fescue, Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kellygulch soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana. MLRA - 43B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Montana, 1998.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon - 0 to 18 cm (Oi, A horizons)
cambic horizon - 18 to 38 cm (Bw horizon)
particle-size control section - 30 to 69 cm (part of Bw, BC horizons)
paralithic layer - 69 to 79 cm (Cr horizon)
lithic contact at 79 cm (R horizon).
Kellygulch soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
Additional Information: Soil interpretation records -- MT3063, MT3065.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.