LOCATION KULANI HI

Established Series
PGN/MRK
05/2012

KULANI SERIES

The Kulani series consists of deep and very deep, well-drained soils that formed in volcanic ash deposited over cinders. Kulani soils are located on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano. Slopes range from 3 to 70 percent but are typically 3 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 2,032 millimeters (80 inches), and the mean annual air temperature is about 13 degrees C (55 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Hydrous, ferrihydritic, isomesic Typic Placudands

TYPICAL PEDON: Kulani hydrous highly organic loam, under forest on a 3 percent slope at an elevation of 1,600 meters (5,250 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. When described on 10/31/02 the soil was moist throughout. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH was measured using organic dyes.) The 2C horizons consist of unconsolidated volcanic tephra (pumice).

Oa--0 to 5 centimeters (0 to 2 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) highly decomposed plant material, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, non sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; non smeary; moderately acid (pH 5.6) abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 9 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) thick)

A--5 to 18 centimeters (2 to 7 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) hydrous highly organic loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 10 percent dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) angular gravel sized pumice; moderately smeary; moderately acid (pH 5.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 14 centimeters (1 to 6 inches) thick)

Bs--18 to 19 centimeters (7 to 7.5 inches); dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) hydrous loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) dry with and with common coarse prominent black (N2/0) moist mottles; massive; slightly hard, firm; slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots in cracks; few fine tubular pores; moderately smeary, semideformable, N2/0 and 5YR 3/3 materials slightly effervescent in 1percent hydrogen peroxide; moderately acid (pH 5.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 4 centimeters (0.5 to 2 inches) thick)

2C1/Bw--19 to 36 centimeters (7.5 to 14 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) extremely paragravelly hydrous loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; 75 percent very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) gravel sized pumice; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 36 centimeters (4 to 14 inches) thick)

2C2--36 to 152 centimeters (14 to 60 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) extremely paragravelly medial loamy coarse sand, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) dry; single grain; loose, loose, non sticky and non plastic; few fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; 70 percent very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) and 25 percent black (10YR 2/1) gravel sized pumice; weakly smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Hawaii county, Hawaii; from the main administrative building at the Kulani honor camp follow the Kulani cone road south 0.35 miles to Quonset hut. At Quonset hut turn west and proceed approximately 0.15 miles to gate on south side of road. Proceed through gate following the fence line 0.1 miles to top of hill. Site location is approximately 20 feet inside forest at Kulani Quadrangle. Lat. 19 degrees 32 minutes 48.4 seconds N and long. 155 degrees 18 minutes 17.6 seconds W. (Old Hawaiian Datum, 12 ft; measured by Garmine GPS)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to placic horizon: 2 inches to 10 inches, this horizon is located directly over highly weathered cinders.
Depth to bedrock: 40 inches to over 60 inches
Rock fragments: Average less than 35 percent in control section
Soil Reaction: Strongly acid in surface horizon and moderately acid to neutral in subsurface horizons
Soil moisture: The soil is typically moist but may experience periodic drying of control section with April to October being the most likely season for drying.

Oa horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist.

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist.
Texture: Hydrous highly organic loam, Hydrous highly organic silt loam or Hydrous highly organic sandy loam

Bs horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 7.5YR.
Value: 2.5 or 3 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 moist.
Texture: Hydrous sandy loam, hydrous loam or hydrous clay loam
Cementation: Extremely weakly cemented to weakly cemented

Bw horizon
Hue: 2.5YR or 7.5YR.
Value: 2.5 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist.
Texture: Loamy sand, sandy loam, silt loam or silty clay loam.
Para rock fragments: 15 to 75 percent gravel sized pumice.

C horizon
Hue: 2.5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 4 moist.
Texture: Coarse sand, coarse loamy sand, coarse sandy loam.
Para rock fragments: 50 to 95 percent gravel sized pumice.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kulani soils are on high, windward mountain slopes of Mauna Loa at elevations of 1,372 to 1,890 meters (4,500 to 6,200 feet). These soils are on cinder cones and associated cinder affected areas 5,000 to 6,000 years old. Slopes range from 3 to 70 percent. Mean annual rainfall is 2,032 to 3,048 millimeters (80 to 120 inches), with about 75 percent of the rainfall occurring between October and April. Mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1,016 to 1,397 millimeters (40 to 55 inches). The mean annual air temperature is 12 to 14 degrees C (54 to 57 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Lalaau and Keamoku. Lalaau is an organic soil and Keamoku is skeletal.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; high runoff; moderately slow or slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing, forestland, and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum), Koa (Acacia koa), ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), olapa (Cheirodendron trigynum), prickly Florida blackberry (Rubus argustus) and hapuu pulu or tree fern (Cibotium glaucum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Puna District, Island of Hawaii; 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 2002.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features (8th edition, Keys to Soil Taxonomy) recognized in this pedon are:
Andic soil properties - from the soil surface to 152 centimeters (60 inches).
Umbric epipedon from 5 to 18 centimeters (2 to 7 inches).
Placic horizon from 18-19 centimeters (7 to 7.5 inches)
Sapric soil material from 0 to 5 centimeters (0 to 2 inches)
Abrupt textural change at 33 centimeters (13 inches)
Isomesic soil temperature regime.
Udic soil moisture regime.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.