LOCATION LISCUM AK
Established Series
Rev: DKS/JPM
05/2022
LISCUM SERIES
The Liscum series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils formed in alluvium on alluvial plains. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is 21 to 28 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid Histic Cryaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Liscum peat - on a level slope under sedge and forb vegetation at 420 feet elevation. (All colors are for moist soil)
Oi--0 to 4 inches (0 to 8 cm); dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) sedge peat; common very fine to medium roots; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear wavy boundary.
Oa--4 to 11 inches (8 to 28 cm); black (7.5YR 2.5/1) muck; many very fine and fine roots; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear irregular boundary.
A--11 to 15 inches (28 to 38 cm); black (10YR 2/1) mucky silt loam; massive; many very fine and fine roots; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear irregular boundary.
Bg--15 to 70 inches (38 to 178 cm); gray (5Y 5/1) stratified very fine sandy loam and silt loam; massive; friable; slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) redoximorphic concentrations and common medium prominent bluish gray (5PB 5/1) redoximorphic depletions; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual irregular boundary.
2C--70 to 72 inches (178 to 183 cm); dark gray (N 4/0) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; neutral (pH 7.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Greater Fairbanks Area, Alaska; about 11 miles south east of Fairbanks; in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4, section 5, T. 2 S., R. 2 E.; Fairbanks (D-1) SW 1:25,000 quad; Fairbanks Meridian; UTM north 7182759 and UTM east 481235, zone 6.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Liscum soils are saturated below a depth of about 10 inches from the mineral soil surface in mid-summer. Thickness of the organic mat ranges from 8 to 16 inches. Sand and gravel are present at a depth of more than 40 inches. Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 32 to 35 degrees F.
The O horizon ranges from peat in the upper part to muck in the lower part. The reaction is strongly acid to neutral.
The Bg horizon has matrix hue of 2.5Y, 5Y, 5GY, or N; value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 0 to 2. Mottles are secondary colors with hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 4 where present. Texture is stratified silt loam, fine sand, or very fine sandy loam. Buried O or other horizons are present in some pedons.
The C has hue of 2.5Y, 5Y or N; value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 0 to 2. Redoximorphic concentrations have hue of 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y; Value of 3 to 5 and chroma of 3 to 5. Total coarse fragments range from 0 to 59 percent rounded gravel. The reaction class is slightly acid to neutral.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Disappear series in the same family. Disappear soils do not have reduced or gleyed horizons within the control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Liscum soils are on alluvial plains in broad valleys with slopes of 2 percent or less. They formed in stratified silty and sandy alluvium in areas where the regional water table is near the surface. Sandy or gravelly alluvium is present at a depth of more than 40 inches. The climate is boreal continental, with short, warm summers and long, cold winters. Mean annual precipitation is 9 to 18 inches, approximately one third of which falls as snow. The mean annual temperature is 21 to 28 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are
Mosquito soils. Mosquito soils are usually on slightly higher, drier microsites.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Very slow runoff. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high in the solum and high in the substratum
USE AND VEGETATION: Liscum soils support forest of tamarack and black spruce, usually stunted and sparse, over shrub birch and sedges. Treeless openings are present. The soils are used for wildlife habitat and watershed management.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 229, Interior Alaska Lowlands. The series is of moderate extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gerstle River Area, Alaska, 1999.
REMARKS: Diagnostic features and horizons recognized in this soil include: a histic epipedon from 0 to 11 inches; cryic temperature regime; coarse-loamy particle size from 10 to 40 inches below the mineral soil surface; pH greater than 5.5. The strong gleying, weakly acid or nonacid reaction, and lack of permafrost in the Liscum soils result from groundwater discharge.
Type location has been moved from the Gerstle River Area to the Greater
Fairbanks Area.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.