LOCATION KULALIO HI

Established Series
Rev. KH/RTG
08/2012

KULALIO SERIES

The Kulalio series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in volcanic ash deposited over `a`a lava. Slopes range from 2 to 10 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 1,295 millimeters (51 inches), and the mean annual air temperature is about 13 degrees C (55 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial-skeletal, amorphic, isomesic Eutric Pachic Fulvudands

TYPICAL PEDON: Kulalio medial silt loam, 10 percent slope under koa trees and shrubs at an elevation of 1,623 meters (5,340 feet). The soil surface is covered by about 5 percent `a`a stones. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. When described on 9/4/97 the soil was slightly moist throughout. The soil temperature measured on 6/18/98 was 14 degrees C (57 degrees F). at a depth of 10 centimeters (4 inches). All textures are "apparent field textures". pH was measured using electrode in 1:1 water.)

A1--0 to 8 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); medial silt loam, black (7.5YR 2.5/1); strong fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic, weakly smeary; many very fine and fine and common medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; 10 percent subangular `a`a stones; strongly acid (pH 5.1); abrupt wavy boundary. (2.5 to 10 centimeters (1 to 4 inches) thick)

A2--8 to 18 centimeters (3 to 7 inches); cobbly medial silt loam, black (5YR 2.5/1); weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; common very fine to medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores; 30 percent subangular `a`a fragments (20 percent cobbles and 10 percent gravel); strongly acid (pH 5.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 10 centimeters (0 to 4 inches) thick)

Bw1/2C1--18 to 27 centimeters (7 to 11 inches); black (5YR 2.5/1) very gravelly medial loam with 20 percent dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) material in pockets with abrupt broken boundary; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; common very fine to very coarse roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 40 percent subangular `a`a fragments (10 percent stones, 10 percent cobbles, and 20 percent gravel); moderately acid (pH 5.8); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; clear irregular boundary.

Bw2/2C2--27 to 41 centimeters (11 to 16 inches); dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) very extremely gravelly medial loamy sand with 15 percent reddish black (2.5YR 2.5/1) material in pockets that have abrupt broken boundary; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 60 percent subangular `a`a fragments (40 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones); moderately acid (pH 6.0); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; abrupt broken boundary.

2C3/Bw3--41 to 64 centimeters (16 to 25 inches); extremely gravelly ashy loamy sand, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3); massive; loose when dry or moist, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine and few medium and coarse roots; many very fine to coarse interstitial pores; 85 percent subangular `a`a fragments (55 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones); neutral (pH 6.7); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; clear irregular boundary. (Combination Bw/C horizons 0 to 51 centimeters (0 to 20 inches) thick)

32C4--64 to 152 centimeters (25 to 60 inches), lithochromic dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) and 10 percent black (N 2/0) extremely cobbly loamy sand; massive; loose when dry or moist, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine to coarse roots; many very to coarse interstitial pores; 85 percent subangular `a`a fragments (35 percent gravel, 40 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones); neutral (pH 6.7).

TYPE LOCATION: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; from State Hwy. 11 drive 7.5 miles on Mauna Loa Strip Road; turn east (right) onto grass track and go straight 0.05 miles; park; walk left side of pukiawe bush and follow trail about 30 meters (100 feet) to type location; Kilauea Crater Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 28 minutes 28.90 seconds N and long. 155 degrees 21 minutes 32.88 seconds W. (Old Hawaiian Datum measured by GPS/PLGR.)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 12 to 18 degrees C (54 to 59 degrees F).
Depth to bedrock: 150 centimeters (60 inches) or more.
Rock fragments: averages 50 to 90 percent in the control section.

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Texture: Medial loam or medial silt loam.
Structure: Granular or subangular blocky.
Coarse fragments: 0 to 35 percent.

B/C horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR.
Chroma: 1 to 2 moist.
Texture: Loam or silt loam, predominately medial but possibly ashy.
Structure: Subangular blocky or massive.
Rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent.

C horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR, N.
Value: 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 to 3 moist.
Structure: Massive or loose.
Coarse fragments: 65 percent to 90 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Wahi soils are similar. Wahi soils do not have black surface colors, and do not have sandy textures in the lower part of the profile.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kulalio soils are on Mauna Loa `a`a flows 3,000 to 5,000 years old at elevations of 1,372 to 2,134 meters (4,500 to 7,000 feet). Slopes range from 2 to 10 percent. Mean annual rainfall is 1,270 to 1,524 millimeters (50 to 60 inches), with about 75 percent of the rainfall occurring between October and April. Mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1,270 to 1,524 centimeters (50 to 60 inches). The mean annual air temperature is 10 to 15 degrees C (50 to 59 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Haa, Kaholimo, Keamoku, Maunaiu, and Puiwa, series. Haa, Kaholimo, Maunaiu, and Puiwa, soils are non-skeletal and overlie pahoehoe bedrock. Keamoku soils have buried A and B horizons.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is low. Permeability is rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for National park land and pasture. Vegetation is aalii (Dodonaea viscosa), koa (Acacia koa), mamane (Sophora chrysophylla), pukiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), and grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils are within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and neighboring ranches; MLRA 160. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, 2012. Proposed 1998. The name is from Kipuka Kulalio.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Andic soil properties - from the soil surface to 100 centimeters (40 inches).
Umbric epipedon - from the soil surface to 64 centimeters (25 inches) (A1, A2, Bw1/2C, and 2C3/Bw3 horizons).
Soil Temperature - mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures differ by less than 6 degrees C (iso temperature regime).
Soil moisture - not dry in some or all parts for 90 days or more in most years (Udic moisture regime).

Edit Log: 12/03 KH. Added "medial" and "ashy" modifiers to textures.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Kulalio NSSL sample S97HI-001-009 from type location.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.