LOCATION KETCHLY OR

Established Series
Rev. GLG/AON/RWL
01/2011

KETCHLY SERIES

The Ketchly series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils that formed in mixed ash and loess over colluvium weathered from andesite. These soils are on uplands and have slopes of 3 to 65 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 30 inches and the average annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Ketchly asy loam, forested. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)

Oi--0 to 1 inch, slightly decomposed fir needles and twigs, grass and deciduous leaves.

A1--1 to 7 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) ashy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel and shot 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary.

A2--7 to 12 inches, dark brown (10YR 3/3) ashy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; weak subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; many fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel and shot, 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 6 to 12 inches)

Bw--12 to 19 inches, brown (7.5YR 4/4) heavy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.7); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)

Bt1--19 to 25 inches, brown (7.5YR 4/4) heavy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; few faint clay films in pores; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary.

Bt2--25 to 43 inches, brown (7.5YR 4/4) heavy loam. light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few to common fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; common faint and few distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bt horizon is 18 to 32 inches)

2C--43 to 46 inches, brown (7.5YR 4/4) very cobbly clay loam, massive; extremely hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine pores.

3R--46 inches, andesite.

TYPE LOCATION: Wasco County, Oregon; 175 feet south of road in the NE1/4 NE1/4 NW1/4 section 2, T.1N., R.11E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 44 to 47 degrees F. The soils are usually moist but are dry for 60 to 80 consecutive days in more than 7 out of 10 years in all parts of the control section. The upper 6 to 12 inches is estimated to have a moist bulk density of 1.10 to 1.20 g/cc, a volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent, and acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent. Base saturation is assumed to be less than 75 percent in some part of the argillic horizon and within 30 inches of the surface. The solum ranges from 30 to 50 inches thick and the depth to basalt and andesite ranges from 40 to 60 inches or more. The umbric epipedon ranges from 10 to 20 inches thick. Hue of the solum is 10YR or 7.5YR.

The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It has weak or moderate granular or subangular blocky structure. This horizon has 3 to 15 percent gravel and 10 to 20 percent shot 1 to 3 mm in diameter.

The Bt horizon has value of 3 or 4 moist, 5 or 6 dry and chroma of 3 or 4 moist or dry. It is heavy loam or clay loam with 18 to 30 percent clay, more than 15 percent coarser than very fine sand and 0 to 30 percent gravel. This horizon has weak or moderate medium to coarse subangular blocky structure.

The 2C horizon is very cobbly clay loam or stony loam and has 25 to 50 percent rock fragments, mostly cobbles and stones.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Nahahum, Nard, and Panak (T) series. The Nahahum soils have an ochric epipedon and an E horizon. Hard soils have an ochric epipedon, an E horizon, and are moderately well drained with aquic conditions at a depth of 20 to 35 inches. Panak soils have an ochric epipedon and are dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Soils with a similar classification have mixed mineralogy include the Kruse, Mcewen, and Seddow series. Kruse soils have an ochric epipedon and have rock fragments derived from granite, gneiss, or mica schist origin. McEwen soils have an ochric epipedon and are 40 to 60 inches to stratified very or extremely gravelly alluvium. Seddow soils have an ochric epipedon, a B/E horizon, and are dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ketchly soils have nearly level to very steep slopes with gradients ranging from 3 to 65 percent and are at elevations of 2,000 to 3,800 feet. The soils formed in volcanic ash mixed with loess over stony moderately fine textured colluvium weathered from andesite. The climate is characterized by cold wet winters and hot dry summers. The average July temperature is 60 degrees F.; the average January temperature is 30 degrees F. The average annual temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation is 25 to 35 inches. The frost free period is 70 to 120 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bald, Bins and Bindle soils. Bald, Bindle and Bins soils lack argillic horizons. Also, Bald soils are on south facing slopes, have mesic soil temperatures, and are loamy, skeletal.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Principal use is timber production. Other uses include livestock grazing, wildlife, and recreation. Vegetation is mainly Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Oregon white oak, hazel and ocean spray. Brush plants include snowberry and trailing blackberry. Grasses are blue wildrye, mountain brome and Kentucky bluegrass. Elk sedge is the predominant ground cover.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Wasco County and Hood River Counties in north central Oregon; MLRA 6. These soils are moderately extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wasco County, Oregon, 1975.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon are:

Umbric epipedon - from 1 to 12 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)

Cambic horizon - from 12 to 19 inches (Bw horizon)

Argillic horizon - from 19 to 44 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)

Particle-size control section - from 19 to 39 inches.

Classificaiton revised 4/92 to Vitrandic Haploxeralfs from Ultic Haploxeralfs based on Andisol Order addition to Soil Taxonomy.

Classification revised 12/2001 to isotic mineralogy based on revision to Soil Taxonomy.

Depths to diagnostic horizons and features are measured from the top of the first mineral horizon.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.