LOCATION KITKUN AK
Established Series
Rev. RCH/DJL/JPM
05/2022
KITKUN SERIES
The Kitkun series consists of shallow to bedrock, very poorly drained organic soils underlain by mineral horizons. Kitkun soils are on backslopes, footslopes and toeslopes of mountains and hills. Slopes range from 5 to 75 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F and mean annual precipitation is about 120 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, shallow Lithic Cryosaprists
TYPICAL PEDON: Kitkun peat--on a 25 percent, north facing footslope under mixed conifer forest at 300 feet elevation. (All colors are for moist soil)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) peat (100 percent unrubbed, 90 percent rubbed fiber content); many fine and very fine, common medium roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
Oe1--1 to 4 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) mucky peat (60 percent unrubbed, 40 percent rubbed fiber content); many fine and very fine common medium, few coarse roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
Oe2--4 to 9 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) mucky peat (40 percent unrubbed, 30 percent rubbed fiber content); common fine and very fine, few medium roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
Oa--9 to 15 inches; black (5YR 2/1) muck (10 percent unrubbed, 0 percent rubbed fiber content); many very fine, fine and few medium roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); clear wavy boundary. (1 to 8 inches thick)
C--15 to 16 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam; massive; very friable; slightly sticky, and slightly plastic, 5 percent cobbles, 5 percent gravel, very strongly acid (pH 4.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
R--16 inches; diorite
TYPE LOCATION: Ketchikan Area, Alaska; Prince of Wales Island, 1/2 mile south of Kendrick Bay, 1 mile north of Gardner Bay in the NW 1/4, section 17, T.81 S., R.90 E., Copper River Meridian.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. The combined thickness of the organic horizons ranges from 8 to 18 inches and is at least twice as thick as the mineral horizons. Mineral horizon thickness ranges from 1 to 4 inches. Depth to bedrock ranges from 10 to 20 inches. Reaction is very strongly or strongly acid throughout the profile.
The Oi horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 3.
The Oe horizons have hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma 1 or 2.
The Oa horizon has hue of 5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma from 1 to 3.
A thin A horizon is present in some pedons above the C horizon, with hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma from 0 to 3.
The C horizon has value from 4 to 6, and chroma from 0 to 2. Mottles, if present, have hue of 10YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma from 1 to 4. The texture typically is sandy loam, but ranges from very fine sandy loam to loam. Coarse fragment content ranges from 0 to 35 percent with 0 to 10 percent cobbles and 0 to 25 percent gravel.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Kaikli series in an adjacent family and the
Sunnyhay series in the same family. Kaikli soils have a lithic contact below 20 inches. Sunnyhay soils have stony C horizons.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kitkun soils range in distribution from coastal zones to inland uplands. In inland areas, the soils are on mountain crests and hillslopes. In coastal zones, the soils are on backslopes and footslopes of hills. Slopes range from 5 to 75 percent. The climate is humid maritime with an average annual precipitation of 120 inches. Snow remains on the ground from 6 to 9 months of the year. The mean annual air temperature is about 44 degrees F. Mean summer soil temperature is about 39 degrees F. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1000 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the
Grindall,
Helm,
Hofstad,
Kaikli,
Karheen, McGilvery and
St. Nicholas series. Grindall soils are moderately deep, poorly and very poorly drained soils that overlie bedrock on toeslopes and footslopes of hills. Helm soils are shallow, mineral soils on backslopes. Hofstad soils are moderately deep, poorly drained, mineral soils on footslopes and backslopes of mountains and hills. Kaikli soils are deep, very poorly drained, organic soils on backslopes and footslopes of hills and mountains. Karheen soils are deep, very poorly drained organic soils on uplifted beaches adjacent to tidal waters. McGilvery soils are shallow, well drained soils derived from decomposing litter overlying bedrock on convex hillslopes and backslopes. St. Nicholas soils are shallow, poorly drained mineral soils on backslopes of hills and mountains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Permeability is rapid in the organic horizon and moderate in the mineral horizons. Runoff is slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kitkun soils are used for wildlife habitat, water storage, and watershed protection. The vegetation is dominantly mixed conifer overstory with blueberry and salal understory.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Alaska. The Kitkun series is extensive.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ketchikan Area, Alaska. 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this soil include: a histic epipedon 15 inches thick; sapric material from 12 to 15 inches; assumed cryic temperature regime; a lithic contact at 16 inches; pH of 4.5 (0.01m CaCl2) in at least part of the organic control section.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.