LOCATION MALO               WA
Established Series
Rev. ASZ-RJE-JAL
11/2002

MALO SERIES


The Malo series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in alluvium on bottomlands and low terraces. Slopes are 0 to 3 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 16 inches. The mean annual air temperature is about 46 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Fluventic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Malo very fine sandy loam, irrigated hayland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Ap--0 to 5 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very fine sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common roots; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)

A--5 to 16 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common roots; common fine pores; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)

AC--16 to 28 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common roots; common fine pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)

C1--28 to 38 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common roots; few fine pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 16 inches thick)

C2--38 to 51 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sandy loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few roots; few fine pores; common lime coatings in pores and root channels; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)

C3--51 to 60 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) loamy sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few roots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8).

TYPE LOCATION: Ferry County, Washington; 400 feet east and 1,620 feet north of the southwest corner, sec. 9, T.40N., R.34E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at depth of 20 inches ranges from 47 to 49 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts between depths of 8 and 24 inches for 60 to 75 consecutive days. The 10- to 40-inch control section contains 5 to 10 percent clay and more than 15 percent coarser than very fine sand. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 17 inches thick.

The A horizon has dry value of 4 or 5, and moist value of 2 or 3. It is very fine sandy loam or silt loam. In uncultivated areas the A1 horizon has dry value of 4 or 5, moist value of 3, and dry and moist chroma of 2 or 3.

The AC and C horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 2 to 4 moist and dry. Texture is stratified fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, silt loam, loam or very fine sandy loam. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Beetville, Floutier, Kodak, Martini, Newberg, and Wistona series. Beetville soils are mottled between 20 and 40 inches. Floutier soils are dry 90 to 105 consecutive days. Kodak and Martini soils are calcareous in all parts. Newberg soils are moderately acid throughout. Wistona soils are dry 90 to 120 consecutive days.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Malo soils are on bottomlands and low terraces along perennial streams at elevations of 1,500 to 2,600 feet. Slopes are 0 to 3 percent. They formed in mixed alluvium from acid igneous rocks and volcanic ash. The climate is continental and marine; mean annual temperature is about 46 degrees F; average annual precipitation is 14 to 19 inches and the frost-free season is 100 to 120 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ret soils. Ret soils are medium textured and contain distinct mottles in the C horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; very slow runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Irrigated hayland, pasture and small grains. The native vegetation is grasses, snowberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, quaking aspen, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Washington. These soils are of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ferry County, Washington, 1971.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the surface to 16 inches and an assumed irregular decrease in organic carbon from 10 to 51 inches.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.