LOCATION LICK MT
Established Series
Rev. EMR/JMS/JCK
06/2012
LICK SERIES
The Lick series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in till or colluvium derived from granite and gneiss. These soils are on moraines and hills. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 457 mm and mean annual air temperature is about 5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Lick loam, in rangeland on a 19 percent slope at 1,333 meters elevation (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise indicated).
A--0 to 11 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine and fine irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 15 cm thick)
E--11 to 20 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak thin platy structure; friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine and fine irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (9 to 25 cm thick)
EBt--20 to 39 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots; many very fine and fine irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 19 cm thick)
Bt--39 to 98 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; strong coarse prismatic structure; firm, hard, very sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and medium roots; common very fine irregular and tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; 20 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (50 to 126 cm thick)
BC--98 to 152 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common very fine irregular and interstitial pores; 15 percent gravel, 5 percent boulders; slightly acid (pH 6.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Darby topographic quadrangle, Ravalli County, Montana; 135 meters south and 50 meters east of the NW corner of the NE of section 9, T. 3 N., R. 21 W. UTM Zone 11: 251544E, 5103051N, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 5 to 8 degrees C
Depth to argillic horizon - 11 to 40 cm
Some pedons have a thin Oi horizon
Typically the larger granitic horizon fragments have weathered (in place) into 2 to 10 mm subangular gravels.
A horizon
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 to 3 moist
Chroma: 3 to 1 dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, stones, or boulders
Reaction: pH 6.0 to 7.0
E horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam, sandy loam, or very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 7 to 16 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, stones, or boulders
Reaction: pH 6.0 to 7.0
EBt horizon (where present)
Value: 5 or 7 dry; 4 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 14 to 24 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, stones, or boulders
Reaction: pH 6.0 to 6.7
Bt horizon(s)
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 20 to 32 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, stones, or boulders
Reaction: pH 6.0 to 6.9
BC horizon
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6 dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam or coarse sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 60 percent--15 to 50 percent gravel, 0 to 35 percent cobbles, stones, or boulders
Reaction: pH 6.0 to 6.8
COMPETING SERIES:
Alderon (WY) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Allens Park (CO) - have an albic horizon; have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Bayerton (WY) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm; have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Belltower (MT) - have an albic horizon; have a paralithic contact a depths of 50 to 102 cm; have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Elbeth (CO) - have an albic and a cambic horizon
Elbuck (NM) - do not have an E horizon; do not have hue redder than 10YR in the subsoil
Elmark (MT) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm; have a lithic contact at depth of 102 to 152 cm
Haugan (MT) - do not have an A horizon; have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Heflin (CO) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 102 to 152 cm
Hoyt (MT) - do not have an E horizon; do not have more than 15 percent rock fragments in the surface horizon
Jemco (CO) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Jemez (NM) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Kunz (UT) - do not have an E horizon; have hue redder than 10YR in the surface horizon
Kwiavu (CO) - do not have an E horizon; have hue redder than 10YR in the surface horizon
Lakoa (SD+ND WY) - have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation; do not have rock fragments in the surface horizons
Littlepine (CO) - do not have more than 5 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section
Losindios (NM) - do not have an E horizon; do not have more than 10 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section
Lumpgulch (MT) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 50 to 97 cm; have a lithic contact at depths of 97 to 102 cm
Maitland (SD+CO WY) - have an albic horizon; do not have more than 15 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section
Northrim (CO) - do not have an E horizon; have hue redder than 10YR in the surface horizons
Plome (CO) - have an albic and a glossic horizon
Rule (CO) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Shoemaker (NM) - do not have an E horizon; have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 102 cm
Sweetweed (MT) - have a glossic horizon; have hue redder than 10YR in the surface horizons
Tunitcha (NM) - do not have an E horizon; have a paralithic contact at depths of 102 to 152 cm
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - moraines and hills
Elevation - 1,195 to 1,770 meters
Slope - 2 to 60 percent
Parent material - till and colluvium derived from granite and gneiss
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers
Mean annual precipitation - 406 to 508 millimeters, much of which falls as snow and as spring rain
Mean annual air temperature - 4 to 7 degrees C
Frost-free period - 60 to 95 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability to a depth of 98 cm and moderately rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Lick soils are primarily used for rangeland and pasture.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Lick soils are of small extent in the valleys of western Montana. MLRA 44A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ravalli County (Bitterroot Valley Area), Montana, 1914. The soil is named from a local creek.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 20 cm (A and E horizon);
Argillic horizon - from 20 to 98 cm (EBt & Bt horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 20 to 70 cm (the upper 50 cm of the argillic horizon)
Lick soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
This description reflects an update in classification from Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Typic Haplocryalfs to Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustalfs.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.