LOCATION KISKY IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Lithic Ultic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kisky fine gravelly loamy coarse sand -- on a 60 percent convex southwest-facing slope at 3,540 feet elevation in open forestland. When described on August 25, 1998, the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine gravelly loamy coarse sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, few medium roots; many very fine and fine, few medium irregular pores; 30 percent fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear smooth boundary.
A2--4 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loamy coarse sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, few medium roots; few very fine, fine and medium tubular and irregular pores; 35 percent fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (combined A horizon - 7 to 10 inches thick)
C--10 to 16 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine and fine irregular pores; 55 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
R--16 inches; fractured granodiorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; about 1 mile east of Crouch; 2,500 feet north and 600 feet west of the southeast corner of section 14, T.9 N., R.4 E.; USGS Garden Valley Quadrangle; Latitude - 44 degrees, 06 minutes, 48 seconds N. and Longitude - 115 degrees, 56 minutes, 28 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of mollic epipedon - 7 to 10 inches
Depth to bedrock - 10 to 20 inches
Reaction - slightly acid or moderately acid
Base saturation - 50 to 75 percent in some part between 10 and 30 inches
Particle-size control section - 2 to 8 percent clay; 35 to 85 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 53 degrees F.
A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent cobbles, 15 to 35 percent gravel and 15 to 35 percent total
C horizon
Hue - 2.5Y or 10YR
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - LS or LCOS
Clay content - 2 to 8 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 50 percent cobbles, 35 to 75 percent gravel and 35 to 85 percent total
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Martee (T) series. Martee soils are dry 110 to 130 consecutive days and have A horizons directly over a paralithic contact (Cr horizon).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kisky soils are on canyon walls, mountain slopes, and hill slopes and summits at elevations of 2,650 to 6,550 feet. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum from granitic rocks and rhyolite. Slopes range from 8 to 90 percent. Average annual precipitation is 13 to 26 inches. Average annual temperature is 45 to 51 degrees F. Frost-free period is 90 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Deerrun, Drybuck, Garval, Olaton, Roney and Shimo soils. Deerrun and Garval soils are moderately deep to bedrock, have O horizons and on similar geomorphic positions. Drybuck soils are deep to bedrock, have O horizons and on lower backslopes and footslopes. Olaton soils are very deep and on lower backslopes and footslopes. Roney and Shimo soils are moderately deep to bedrock and on similar geomorphic positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; very rapid runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kisky soils are used mainly for wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is xeric big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Thurber needlegrass, arrowleaf balsamroot and in places scattered ponderosa pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho. MLRA 10 and 43b. Kisky soils are moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boise County Area, Idaho, Parts of Ada and Boise Counties, 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - zone from the 0 to 10 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - zone from 10 to 16 inches (PSCS is whole soil when depth to bedrock is less than 14 inches)
Lithic contact - at 16 inches (R)
Soil moisture regime - xeric