LOCATION LISMAS SD+KS MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, smectitic, nonacid, mesic, shallow Aridic Ustorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Lismas clay - on a north-facing slope of 18 percent under a mixed prairie vegetation of mid-grasses. When described the soil was dry to 60 inches. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A1--0 to 1 inch; gray (5Y 5/1) clay, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium roots; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
A2--1 to 5 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay; olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium roots; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined A horizons 2 to 5 inches thick)
C1--5 to 9 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) clay, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine and medium compressed roots; common fine and medium fragments of clay shale; common fine nests of gypsum crystals; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
C2--9 to 14 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) clay, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; massive; many fine and medium compressed roots along bedding planes and cracks, roots occasionally penetrate bedrock material; bedding planes of the bedrock are 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick; common coarse yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) stains along bedding planes and cracks; many fine and medium fragments of clay shale; few fine and medium nests of gypsum; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined C horizons 4 to 15 inches thick)
Cr1--14 to 27 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) shale, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; few fine and medium compressed roots along bedding planes and cracks, roots rarely penetrate bedrock material; bedding planes of the bedrock are 1/16 to 1/4 inch thick; many coarse yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and brown (7.5YR 5/4) stains along bedding planes and cracks; few fine nests of gypsum; moderately acid; diffuse boundary.
Cr2--27 to 60 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) shale, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; very few fine compressed roots along bedding planes and cracks; bedding planes are 1/4 to 3 inches thick; many coarse yellowish brown and brown (7.5YR 5/4) stains along bedding planes and cracks; moderately acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Butte County, South Dakota; about 9 miles north and 1/2 mile east of Newell; 2125 feet west and 800 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 8, T. 10 N., R. 6 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to clay shale bedrock ranges from 6 to 20 inches. Fragments of selenite are scattered on the surface and throughout the pedon.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 to 7, 3 to 6 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It typically is clay, but some pedons are silty clay or clay loam. It is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
Some pedons have thin transitional AC horizons.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 to 7 and 3 to 6 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is clay or silty clay. It is moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
The Cr horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 5 to 7, 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Lismas soils are gently sloping to very steep on crests of upland ridges. Slopes generally are convex and short to medium in length. Slopes range from 3 to 100 percent. This soil formed in clayey residuum weathered from shale. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 45 to 48 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 17 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hisle, Kyle, Pierre, Swanboy, Twotop, Wasa and Winler soils. Hisle, Pierre, Wasa, and Winler soils are on adjacent side slopes. Hisle soils have a natric horizon. Pierre soils have shale bedrock between depths of 20 to 40 inches and have Bw horizons. Wasa and Winler soils have bedrock between a depth of 20 and 40 inches. In addition, Wasa soils contain more salts. Kyle, Swanboy, and Twotop are on foot slopes and terraces. These soils have Bw horizons and shale bedrock is at depths greater than 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Surface runoff is high or very high depending on slope. Permeability is very slow except after periods of drought when the initial intake is rapid due to cracks.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily as rangeland. Native vegetation is mainly western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, and sideoats grama.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western South Dakota, western Kansas, and southeastern Montana. Lismas soils are extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Northern plains of Montana, 1929.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 5 inches (A1 and A2 horizons).