LOCATION MALAMA HI
Established Series
Rev. RCH/HHS/AMS
06/2012
MALAMA SERIES
The Malama series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils consisting of organic material over fragmental `a`a lava substrata at a shallow depth. Malama soils are on low elevation, windward mountain slopes of Kilauea and Haleakala volcanoes. Slopes range from 2 to 40 percent. Mean annual rainfall is about 2,032 millimeters (80 inches) and mean annual temperature is about 23 degrees C (73 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, isohyperthermic Typic Udifolists
TYPICAL PEDON: Malama extremely cobbly highly decomposed plant material on a east-facing, 2 percent slope under ohia lehua and guava forest at an elevation of 50 meters (160 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. When described on August 7, 2009, the soil was moist from 0 to 18 centimeters (0 to 7 inches). All textures are apparent field textures. pH measured using an Oakton microprocessor based pH meter.)
2C1/Oa--0 to 8 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); black (7.5YR 2.5/1) extremely cobbly highly decomposed plant material, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) dry; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, non-plastic and weakly smeary; many fine roots; many fine pores; 25 percent subangular `a`a lava stones and 50 percent `a`a lava cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 30 centimeters {2 to 12 inches} thick).
2C2--8 to 127 centimeters (3 to 50 inches); cobbles; fragmental `a`a lava with little soil material in voids; 60 percent `a`a lava cobbles and 35 percent subangular `a`a lava stones).
2R--127 centimeters (50 inches); hard, massive, `a`a lava blue rock.
TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii. Site location is located within the Royal Gardens subdivision west of Kalapana, which has been cut off by recent lava flow activity; Kalapana, Hawaii Quad.; 19 degrees, 21 minutes, 27.7 seconds North Latitude and 155 degrees, 2 minutes, 40.7 seconds West longitude (Old Hawaiian Datum, 12feet; measured by Garmin GPS).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: The soil is typically moist throughout the profile but may experience periodic drying of the control section less than 90 cumulative days, usually during the months of April to October (udic soil moisture regime).
Soil temperature: 22 degrees C (72 degrees F) or higher.
Reaction: Extremely acid to moderately acid (pH 4.0 to 6.0).
Depth to fragmental `a`a lava: 5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 inches).
Depth to bedrock: Greater than 100 centimeters (40 inches).
Oe or Oi horizon (when present)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist.
Texture: Moderately decomposed plant material or slightly decomposed plant material.
Smeariness: Non-smeary.
Structure: Granular or structureless.
2C1/Oa horizon
Hue: N, 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist.
Texture: Extremely cobbly highly decomposed plant material.
Smeariness: Non-smeary or weakly smeary.
Structure: Granular or subangular blocky.
Rock fragments: 60 to 89 percent by volume of the pedon, with roughly two-thirds cobble size `a`a lava rocks and one-third stone size `a`a lava rocks.
2C2 horizon
Rock fragments: 90 to 99 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from cobble to stone size `a`a lava rocks.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Papai and
Tafuna series. Papai soils are perudic, with mean annual rainfall averaging 3,900 millimeters (154 inches). Tafuna soils are slightly acid and have a mean annual temperature of 27 degrees C (80 degrees F).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Malama soils are on gently sloping to rolling lower windward mountain slopes of Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii and Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui at elevations of 0 to 366 meters (0 to 1,200 feet). Slopes are dominantly 6 to 12 percent but range from 2 to 40 percent. The soils formed in a thin mantle of organic material and volcanic ash overlying `a`a lava. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 1,524 to 3,048 millimeters (60 to 120 inches). The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1,270 to 1,905 millimeters (50 to 75 inches). The mean annual air temperature ranges from 21 to 25 degrees C (70 to 77 degrees F). The mean annual soil temperature is 22 degrees C or higher (72 degrees F).
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Hakuma,
Opihikao, and
Hana series. Hakuma soils are composed primarily of volcanic ash overlying pahoehoe lava. Opihikao soils overlie pahoehoe lava. Hana soils are composed primarily of volcanic ash.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is low. Permeability is rapid in the soil and very slow in the underlying bedrock.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of these soils are in forest or are cropped to pasture, macadamia nut, papaya, citrus or guava. Natural vegetation is ohia lehua (Metrosideros colline), guava (Psidium guajava), strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), mango (Mangifera indica), hala (Pandanus odoratissimus) and noni apple (Morinda citrifolia).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Puna district of the island of Hawaii and around the Hana airport on the island of Maui. This series is moderately extensive on the island of Hawaii (15,000 acres) and of small extent (3,200 acres) on the island of Maui. MLRA 162 - Humid and Very Humid Organic Soils on Lava Flows.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Maui County, Hawaii, 1971.
REMARKS:
Last updated by the state in 08/09 by AMS.
Soil temperature regime updated from isothermic to isohyperthermic because the mean annual soil temperature is 22 degrees C or higher.
Diagnostic horizons and features in the pedon are:
Udic soil moisture regime.
Isohyperthermic soil temperature regime.
Sapric soil materials: 0 to 8 centimeters (0 to 3 inches) Oa horizon.
ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS Pedon User ID 04HI602402.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.