LOCATION KUSHNEAHIN AK
Established Series
Rev. EJK/JPM
05/2022
KUSHNEAHIN SERIES
The Kushneahin series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils formed in partially to well decomposed plant material. Kushneahin soils are in depressional areas on lowlands, benches on mountain sideslopes, and broad ridges. Slopes range from 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation is about 130 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic Typic Cryosaprists
TYPICAL PEDON: Kushneahin mucky peat -- on a northwest facing slope of 8 percent in an open muskeg. (All colors are for moist soil)
Oe1--0 to 4 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) broken face, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) rubbed mucky peat; 44 percent fiber unrubbed, 28 percent fiber rubbed; pyrophosphate solubility color 10YR 7/4; fibers mostly of sphagnum sp. and Carex sp. origin; many very fine and fine roots; extremely acid (pH 3.2 CaCl); clear smooth boundary.
Oe2--4 to 14 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/2) broken face and rubbed mucky peat; 36 percent fibers unrubbed, 18 percent rubbed; pyrophosphate solubility color 10YR 7/3; fibers mostly of Carex sp. origin; 5 percent wood fragments; few very fine and fine roots; extremely acid (pH 3.6 CaCl); clear smooth boundary.
Oa1--14 to 35 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) broken face and rubbed muck; 40 percent fibers unrubbed, 10 percent rubbed; pyrophosphate solubility color 10YR 6/3; fibers mostly of Carex sp. origin; 10 percent wood fragments; extremely acid (pH 3.6 CaCl); clear smooth boundary.
Oa2--35 to 60 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) broken face and rubbed muck; 28 percent fibers unrubbed, 14 percent fibers rubbed; pyrophosphate solubility color 10YR 7/2; fibers mostly of Carex sp. origin; 10 percent wood fragments; extremely acid (pH 3.8 CaCl).
TYPE LOCATION: Stikine Survey Area, Tongass National Forest; section 3, T.62S., R.80E., Copper River Meridian.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: MAST ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. The thickness of the organic material is greater than 52 inches. The surface tier is dominantly hemic material with the uppermost layer typically fibric material. The subsurface tier is sapric material with hue ranging from 5YR to 10YR; value moist of 2 or 3 and chroma moist from 1 to 4. Content of coarse woody fragments ranges from 0 to 10 percent throughout. Reaction is very strongly or extremely acid throughout.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Karheen series in the same subgroup. Karheen soils have pH greater than 4.5 (0.01M CaCl) within the control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kushneahin soils are in depressional areas on lowlands, benches of mountain sideslopes, and on broad ridgetops. Slope ranges from 0 to 35 percent, but is dominantly between 2 to 20 percent. The mean annual temperature ranges from 43 to 47 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 60 to over 200 inches. Elevation ranges from sea level to 2500 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the
Kaikli,
Kina,
Kogish, and
Maybeso soils. Kaikli soils have bedrock within a depth of 20 inches and are on steeper convex slopes. Kina and Kogish soils are on similar positions; Kina soils are mainly hemic material and Kogish soils are mainly fibric material. Maybeso soils are on similar landforms but are underlain by loamy till within 52 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Permeability is moderate. Runoff is slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Kushneahin soils are used for wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. The vegetation is dominantly sedges, Sphagnum sp., and hydrophytic forbs, along with stunted lodgepole pine, western hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Alaska. The series is extensive.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chatham Survey Area, Tongass National Forest, Alaska, 1992.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this profile include: sapric material from 14 to 60 inches; pH less than 4.5 (0.01M CaCl) in all subhorizons; cryic temperature regime.
Soils included in the concept of this series were formerly classified and mapped with the Kina series (dysic Typic Cryohemists).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory data is available: NSSL number 83P-504-507.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.