LOCATION LEVELTON                ID

Established Series
Rev. HRN/GHL
08/2021

LEVELTON SERIES

The Levelton series consists of deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in lacustrine sediments. These soils are in lakebeds and basin areas and have slopes of 0 to 6 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 230 millimeters.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, calcareous, frigid Vertic Endoaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Levelton loam, sedges and foxtail. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Oi--0 to 5 cm; gray (10YR 5/1) mucky sandy clay loam; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak very fine granular structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; 60 percent of horizon is roots; slightly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 8 cm thick)

A1--5 to 23 cm; very pale brown (10YR 8/2) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; few fine distinct dark brown (10YR 3/3) mottles; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, sticky and plastic; many very fine to coarse roots; slightly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); clear wavy boundary. (13 to 25 cm thick)

Bk1--23 to 81 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) silty clay, gray (10YR 5/1) moist; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) mottles; moderate thin platy structure that parts to strong very fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; strongly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (13 to 64 cm thick)

Bk2--81 to 94 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) silty clay, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) mottles; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; strongly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (13 to 51 cm thick)

2Bk3--94 to 112 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy loam, gray (10YR 5/1) moist; many large distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) mottles; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly plastic; common very fine to medium roots; 5 percent basalt fragments; strongly calcareous; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 100 cm thick)

3C--112 to 150 cm; stratified sandy loam and silty clay.

TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Idaho; about 8 km east and 6.4 km north of Terreton; about 395 meters west, 50 meters south of the NE corner of NW 1/4, sec. 34, T.7N., R.35E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 4 to 7 degrees C.
The 25- to 100-cm control section averages 35 to 45 percent clay.
A water table fluctuates between depths of about 30 and 100 cm, being lowest in the late autumn. Prominent or distinct mottles with chroma of 2 through 4 are present.

A1 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 through 8 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: of 2 or 3

Bk horizon
Hue: 5Y through 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2

COMPETING SERIES: This is the McKenzie series. McKenzie soils are frozen for more than 120 days and 1 to 8 cm cracks extend to depths of 60 to over 100 cm when the soil dries.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Levelton soils are on lakebeds and basin areas at elevations of about 1465 meters. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in lacustrine sediments. The climate is semiarid and has dry summers. Mean annual precipitation is 200 to 280 millimeters, including 300 to 910 mm of snow. Average frost-free period is 80 to 100 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Medano, Terreton and Zwiefel soils. Medano soils are sandy. Terreton and Zwiefel soils are well drained.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; ponded or very slow runoff; slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mostly for wet meadow-type rangeland. The principal plants are saltgrass, foxtail and sedges.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Idaho. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Idaho, 1975.

OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 2/75.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.