LOCATION LIVAN WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Ustic Torrifluvents
TYPICAL PEDON: Livan gravelly coarse sandy loam -- on a north facing slope of one percent, utilized as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 6 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine roots; common very fine and few fine continuous random irregular pores; 20 percent gravel; strongly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary.
C1--6 to 32 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) stratified very gravelly loamy sand and gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; single grained; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine roots; common very fine and few fine continuous random irregular pores; 45 percent gravel strongly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary.
C2--32-60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist, stratified with few irregular strata of brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grained; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine roots;60 percent gravel; strongly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Platte County, Wyoming; 6 miles south of Glendo, about 800 feet west and 950 feet south of the northeast corner of Section 7, T. 28 N., R. 68 W. Sibley Peak quadrangle. 42 degrees 25 minutes 15 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees 2 minutes 57 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Livan soils average 35 to 60 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Textures of the fine earth fraction are sand, loamy sand, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, and fine sandy loam. The soil moisture control section is usually dry in all parts for at least 60 consecutive days during the 90 day period following the summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F. Depth to a seasonal high water table is greater than 6 feet.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is gravelly coarse sandy loam or fine sandy loam. Rock fragments range from 0 to 25 percent. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is stratified graelly sandy loam to very gravelly sand, with the fine-earth graction centering on loamy sand or sand. Total rock fragments average 40 to 75 percent, with 35 to 60 percent gravel and 5 to 15 percent cobbles. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no competing series in the same family. The Barcus, Pherson, and Rivra soils are similar. Barcus and Rivra soils have frigid soil temperature regimes. The Pherson soil has a loamy-skeletal particle-size control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Livan soils are in ephemeral drainages and floodplains. They formed in high energy alluvium derived from various sources. Slopes are 0 to 3 percent. Elevations are 4,600 to 5,600 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 15 inches. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 46 to 48 degrees F. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Clarkelen, and Haverdad soils. Clarkelen and Haverdad soils are not skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; low to medium runoff; moderately rapid over very rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are utilized for grazing domestic livestock and for wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is needleandthread, prairie sandreed, western wheatgrass, blue grama, needleleaf sedge, silver sagebrush, and cottonwood trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Livan soils occur in eastern Wyoming. The series is of limited extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Platte County, Wyoming, 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 6 inches (A horizon).
Ustic subgroup - Aridic moisture regime bordering Ustic.
MLRR- G
SIR- WY1043
Fluvent- Strata show some irregular decrease in organic carbon.