LOCATION KILMERQUE OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kilmerque ashy loam, on a 15 percent convex slope, woodland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 0.5 inch; partially decomposed pine needles and twigs.
A1--0.5 to 2 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) ashy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
A2--2 to 5 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) ashy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Bw1--5 to 12 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) ashy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine to medium and few coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
Bw2--12 to 16 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) dry; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
C--16 to 26 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly coarse sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) dry; massive; hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.9); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 15 inches)
Cr--26 inches; partially decomposed quartz diorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Baker County, Oregon; located about 7 miles northwest of Haines, 50 feet west of the dirt road at the top of the hill in the SE1/4 NW1/4 SW1/4 sec. 22, T. 7 S., R. 38 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the paralithic contact is 20 to 40 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. The soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature is 43 to 47 degrees F. The upper 7 to 14 inches has an estimated moist bulk density of 1.00 to 1.20 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent, and acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent. The amount of rock fragments in the solum ranges from 0 to 25 percent, mostly of gravel size. The soil is slightly acid to neutral throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 or 3 moist and 3 through 5 dry and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It is ashy loam with 10 to 20 percent clay.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5YR, value of 3 or 4 moist and 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 3 through 6 moist and dry. It is ashy loam, ashy sandy loam, loam or sandy loam with 10 to 18 percent clay.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 2.5YR, value of 4 through 6 moist and dry and chroma of 4 through 6 moist and dry. It is gravelly coarse sandy loam with 20 to 35 percent rock fragments.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dinkelman, Lostcreek, and Republic series. The Dinkelman, Lostcreek, and Republic soils lack a paralithic contact at depths of less than 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kilmerque soils are on gently rolling bench tops to moderately steep south aspect side slopes in forested mountains. Slopes range from 1 to 80 percent. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 feet. The soils formed in colluvium weathered from granitic rock types. The mean annual temperatures is 41 to 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation is 17 to 30 inches. The frost-free period is 80 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ladd and the Tolo soils. Ladd soils are deep, fine-loamy and have a mesic soil temperature regime. Tolo soils are very deep and are ashy over loamy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate over moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kilmerque soils are used for woodland. The native vegetation is ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and pinegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon; MLRA 43. The series is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Baker County Area, Oregon; 1942.
REMARKS: This pedon reflects a change in classification from coarse-loamy, mixed, frigid Ultic Haploxerolls based on the Andisol Order.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the mineral surface of the soil to approximately 12 inches (A1, A2, Bw1 horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Reference samples Umatilla County; sample numbers 83T7794-7796.