LOCATION LUSET NV

Established Series
Rev. CWL/JBF
11/2016

LUSET SERIES

The Luset series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from welded tuff. Luset soils are on mountains. Slopes range from 15 to 50 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 575 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 4.5 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Vitrandic Argicryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Luset cobbly ashy fine sandy loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The surface is covered with approximately 20 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones. Lithology of the fragments is welded tuff.

A1--0 to 10 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2), cobbly ashy fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong medium granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, common fine, and few medium and coarse roots; common very fine and fine, few medium interstitial and tubular pores; 15 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles and 5 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.7); clear smooth boundary.

A2--10 to 30 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2), very cobbly ashy fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium and coarse roots; common very fine and few fine and medium interstitial and tubular pores; 17 percent gravel 15 percent cobbles, and 5 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 18 to 35 cm thick)

Bt1--30 to 50 cm; brown (10YR 5/3), very cobbly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; strong coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; common fine, and few very fine, medium and coarse roots; common very fine, and few fine and medium tubular pores; many faint and few distinct clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--50 to 107 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3), very stony sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; strong coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, and common fine and medium roots; common very fine, and few fine and medium tubular pores; many faint and few distinct clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 60 to 80 cm thick)

C--107 to 125 cm; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), extremely stony sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine, and medium roots; common very fine, and few fine and medium tubular pores; 20 percent gravel, 25 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary.

R--125 cm; indurated welded tuff.

TYPE LOCATION: White Pine County, Nevada; about 4 miles east of Cave Lake, and 4 miles north of Taylor Peak, 2 miles west of Cave Mountain and 200 yards south of Cooper Summit; about 700 feet south and 1,500 feet east of the northwest corner, section 23, T. 15 N., R 65 E.; USGS Cave Creek 7.5 minute quadrangle; latitude 39 degrees 9 minutes 23.4 seconds N and longitude 114 degrees 38 minutes 48.0 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 39.1565000 latitude, -114.6466667 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually dry; moist in winter and spring, dry in all parts at least 45 consecutive days following the summer solstice (July and August); xeric soil moisture regime. Most of the precipitation received on the site is in the form of snow, generally covering the ground from December through mid April.
Soil temperature: 4 to 7 degrees C.
Mean summer soil temperature: 7 to 8 degrees C.
Thickness of mollic epipedon: 40 to 50 cm, and may include upper divisions of the argillic horizon of some pedons.
Depth to argillic horizon: 30 to 45 cm.
Thickness of argillic horizon: 60 to 80 cm.
Depth to bedrock: 100 to 150 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content: 25 to 35 percent.
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent. Lithology of the fragments is welded tuff.

A horizons
Value: 4 or 5 dry, and 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry and moist
Organic matter: 2 to 4 percent.
Mineralogy: 20 to 25 percent volcanic glass in the 0.02 to 2 mm fraction and averages 0.1 to 0.2 percent Al plus 1/2Fe, extracted by ammonium oxalate.

Bt horizons
Hue: 7.5 YR or 10 YR.
Value: 5 or 6 dry, and 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist.
Texture: Clay loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy clay.
Structure: Subangular blocky structure or angular blocky.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.

C horizon (when present)
Value: 5 or 6 dry, and 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry and moist.
Texture: Clay loam or sandy clay loam.
Clay: 20 to 30 percent.
Rock fragments: 50 to 70 percent.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Edgway, Kiote, Rolldown, Sawfork, Trespass, and Tusel series.

Edgway soils are very deep and have a udic moisture regime. Kiote soils are very deep and have 18 to 25 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Rolldown soils have mollic epipedons that are 25 to 40 cm thick and have depth to base of the argillic horizon of more than 152 cm. Sawfork soils are deep to a paralithic contact, are calcareous at 13 to 64 cm, and have an ustic moisture regime. Trespass soils have aquic conditions within 1 meter of the soil surface. Tusel soils have rock fragments consisting of mainly gravel derived from quartzite, and have a mean summer soil temperature of 14 to 15 degrees C.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Luset soils are on mountains. These soils formed in residuum and colluvium derived from welded tuff. Slopes range from 15 to 50 percent. Elevation ranges from 2,500 to 2,800 meters. The climate is moist-subhumid with cold wet winters and warm dry summers. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 450 to 700 mm. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 3 to 6 degrees C. The frost-free period ranges from about 40 to 60 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Crethers, Mattier, and Notellumcreek series. Crethers soils are very deep and have 35 to 45 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Mattier and Notellumcreek soils are shallow to a lithic contact.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; high and very high runoff; moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: Luset soils are used for livestock grazing, recreation, and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation is mountain brome, Letterman's needlegrass, and mountain big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East Central Nevada. These soils are not extensive. The series concept and main acreage is in MLRA 28B.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: White Pine County, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, South Part, Nevada, 2013 (NV778). The name is coined.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 50 cm (A1, A2, and Bt1 horizons).
Argillic horizon - The zone from 30 to 107 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
Vitrandic Intergrade feature - The zone from the soil surface to 30 cm (A1 and A2 horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 30 to 80 cm (Bt1 and upper part of the Bt2 horizons).

ADDITIONAL DATA: User Pedon ID: 07NV778063-CWL

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.