LOCATION LUTAK                   AK

Established Series
Rev. JWM/JPM
12/2022

LUTAK SERIES

The Lutak series consists of shallow to sand and gravel, well drained soils that formed in a thin layer of eolian silt loam over glaciofluvial sediments. Lutak soils occur on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 10 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 41 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed Typic Haplocryods

TYPICAL PEDON: Lutak silt loam - on a slightly NE facing slope of 4 percent at 200 feet elevation under forest vegetation. (All colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

Oi--6 to 2 inches; slightly decomposed roots, leaves and moss; abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)

Oe--2 inches to 0; partially decomposed roots, leaves and moss; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 2 inches thick)

E--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)

Bs1--3 to 5 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.9); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)

2Bs2--5 to 8 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) loamy sand; weak fine granular structure; friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and medium roots; 10 percent gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.3); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)

3Cl--8 to 14 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very gravelly loamy sand; weak fine granular structure; friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; 30 percent gravel, 5 percent cobble; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)

3C2--14 to 72 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) very gravelly loamy sand; massive; firm; nonsticky and nonplastic; 30 percent gravel, 10 percent cobble; many olive stains; moderately acid (pH 5.7).

TYPE LOCATION: Haines Area, Alaska. NE 1/4, Section 17, T.27S., R55E., Copper River Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum ranges from 7 to 17 inches thick. Coarse fragment content in the surface horizons of the profile ranges from 0 to 30 percent, with 0 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobble. Coarse fragment content within the particle size control section ranges from 35 to 70 percent with 25 to 70 percent gravel and 0 to 20 percent cobble. Texture of the control section is sand or loamy sand. Depth to skeletal material ranges from 7 to 12 inches. In many pedons, the horizons have been churned and mixed by treethrow. Reaction throughout the profile ranges from very strongly acid to neutral.

An A horizon is present in some profiles.

The E horizon has hue of 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR, value from 3 through 6 moist, and chroma from 1 through 3 moist. Texture is silt loam.

The Bs horizons have hue of 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR or 2.5YR, value from 2 through 5 moist, and chroma from 2 through 4 moist. Texture is generally silt loam or sandy loam. In pedons where the solum extends into the skeletal material, the texture ranges to sand or loamy sand.

The 3C horizons have hue of 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR. Texture is loamy sand or sand. The lower C horizons have firm, massive structure.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bernice, Kasilof, Nikishka, and Yakutat (T) series. Bernice and Kasilof soils have solums thinner than 7 inches and loose substratums. Nikishka soils have loose substratums. Yakutat (T) soils are sandy-skeletal throughout the solum.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Lutak soils occur on stream terraces. The soils formed in a thin layer of eolian silt over glaciofluvial deposits. The climate is humid maritime with the average annual precipitation ranging from 21 to 65 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 43 degrees F. The frost free season is 90 to 150 days. The slope gradient commonly is less than 8 percent, but the range is 0 to 10 percent. Elevation ranges from 50 to 1200 feet.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Ashmun, Chilkoot, Passage, Hollow, and Tsirku soils. Ashmun, Chilkoot, Hollow, and Tsirku soils occur on adjacent floodplains and lack spodic horizons. Passage soils occur on mountain sideslopes and are moderately deep over bedrock.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; permeability is moderate in the solum and moderately rapid in the substratum.

USE AND VEGETATION: The Lutak soils are used for timber production, wildlife habitat and recreation. The native vegetation is dominantly Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and some cottonwood, with an understory of devil's club, Sitka alder, rustyleaf menziesia, and mosses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Alaska. The series is of minor extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Haines Area, Alaska. 1985

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this soil are: a spodic horizon from 3 to 8 inches; sandy skeletal material from 8 to 72 inches. That part of the spodic horizon that meets amorphous requirements does not extend more than 4 inches into the 10 to 40 inch control section. The particle size of the control section has significant relation to the physical and chemical properties of the soil.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory data is available on this soil: NSSL Numbers 82P3259-3266. Lab data does not support a spodic horizon, however, morphology of the soil and presence of cracked coatings does.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.