LOCATION LEMETA AK
Established Series
Rev. SR
05/2022
LEMETA SERIES
The Lemeta series consists of very poorly drained organic soils formed in sphagnum moss peat over fibrous sedge peat. The underlying tiers are permanently frozen. Lemeta soils are in fens on broad alluvial plains. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 26 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 12 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, subgelic Typic Fibristels
TYPICAL PEDON: Lemeta peat -- under forest (All colors are for moist soil)
Oi1--0 to 11 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) sphagnum moss peat, pink (5YR 7/3) when pressed; 100 percent fiber after rubbing; loose mat; many roots; extremely acid in water; abrupt smooth boundary.
Oi2--11 to 13 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moss and sedge peat, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) when pressed; 100 percent fiber, 90 percent rubbed; weakly laminated; many roots; very strongly acid in water; abrupt smooth boundary.
Oi3--13 to 23 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sphagnum moss peat, brown (7.5YR 4/4) rubbed, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) pressed; 100 percent fiber rubbed; arranged in thin cohesive layers; no live roots; very strongly acid in water; abrupt smooth boundary.
Oi4--23 to 32 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) sedge peat, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) rubbed, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) pressed; 100 percent fiber rubbed; arranged in thin cohesive layers; no live roots; very strongly acid in water.
Oif--32 to 40 inches; permanently frozen sedge peat.
TYPE LOCATION: Goldstream - Nenana Area, Alaska; in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of section 20, T.1N., R.3W., Fairbanks Meridian.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature is less than 32 degrees F. Depth to permafrost ranges from 14 to 24 inches. The thickness of organic materials is greater than 40 inches.
The upper 24 inches consists dominantly of sphagnum moss peat, though thin layers of sedge peat occur in some pedons. At greater depths the soil consists dominantly of either moss peat or sedge peat. Percent fiber after rubbing ranges from 90 to 100 percent in the moss peat and from 80 to 100 percent in the sedge peat. Woody pieces may occur at any depth.
The Oi horizons have hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value from 2 to 5; and chroma from 3 to 6. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid.
The Oe and Oef horizons have hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 2 or 3; and chroma from 1 to 3. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid
The Oa horizons (when present) have hue of 7.5Y or 10YR; value from 1 to 3; and chroma from 1 to 3. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Lemeta soils occur commonly on broad alluvial plains. The climate is cold continental. Mean annual temperature ranges from 20 to 28 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained with water table at or near surface. Ponded to slow runoff. Moderate saturated hydraulic conductivity above the permafrost, impermeable in the permafrost.
USE AND VEGETATION: Entirely in native vegetation of moss, low-growing shrubs, and in places, stunted black spruce and tamarack.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 229 Interior Alaska Lowlands.. The series is extensive.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fairbanks Area, Alaska. 1961.
REMARKS: Diagnostic layers and features recognized in this profile include: saturated fibric material from 0 to 32 inches; MAST lower than 32 degrees F.; pH greater than 4.5 (0.01M CaCl) in part of the control section.
A detailed description of Lemeta peat is given by Dachnowski-Stokes on p.64 of USDA Technical Bulletin 769, "Peat Resources in Alaska", 1941.
The Lemeta series originally classified in the dysic reaction class. The expanded control section now in use captures the increase in pH with depth and the series now classifies as euic.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.