LOCATION MANSONIA WA
Established Series
Rev. VB/RJE/TLA
01/2011
MANSONIA SERIES
The Mansonia series consists of deep, well drained soils formed in volcanic ash and pumice. These soils are on side slopes of foothills. Slopes range from 3 to 90 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 14 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 48 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy, glassy, mesic Vitrandic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Mansonia paragravelly ashy fine sandy loam - grassland on a 15 percent east facing slope at an elevation of 2,500 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures).
A1--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) paragravelly ashy fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and very fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 15 percent pumice paragravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
A2--4 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) paragravelly ashy fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and very fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 15 percent pumice paragravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 7 inches thick)
Bw--10 to 20 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) paragravelly ashy sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 20 percent pumice; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
BC--20 to 50 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) cindery sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; single grain; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel and 30 percent pumice paragravel; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (24 to 36 inches thick)
2R--50 inches; granodiorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Chelan County, Washington; about 6 miles northwest of Manson, Washington; 2,000 feet west and 1,750 feet north of southeast corner of sec. 26, T. 29 N., R. 21 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is estimated to range from 49 to 51 degrees F. These soils are usually moist, but are dry in the moisture control section for 90 to 105 consecutive days following summer solstice. The 10 to 40 inch particle-size control section has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.55 to 0.85 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 30 to 60 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 0.15 to 0.40 percent, 15-bar water retention of 5 to 12 percent, and 5 to 35 percent pumice 2.0 to 5.0 mm in diameter. Hard rock fragments range from 0 to 10 percent. Depth to bedrock or dense glacial till is 40 to 60 inches. The mollic epipedon is 7 to 12 inches thick. Reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist.
The Bw horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry and 3 to 5 moist and chroma of 2 to 4 dry and moist. Texture is paragravelly ashy sandy loam or paragravelly ashy fine sandy loam.
The BC horizon has value of 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 3 or 4 dry and moist. Texture is paragravelly ashy sandy loam or paragravelly ashy fine sandy loam.
Some pedons have a very cobbly loamy sand glacial till 2C horizon at 40 to 60 inches. Hue is 10YR or 2.5Y, value is 4 or 5 moist, and chroma is 2 to 4 dry and moist. Rock fragments range from 35 to 60 percent by volume.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Achelake,
Dinkels,
Nemire,
Shiva,
Watco and
Zark series. The Achelake, Nemire and Shiva soils are over 60 inches deep. Dinkels soils have a mollic epipedon 14 to 20 inches thick. Nemire soils have a mollic epipedon over 20 inches thick. Watco soils are dry for 75 to 90 consecutive days. Zark soils are 20 to 40 inches to a paralithic contact.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Mansonia soils are on foothills on all aspects. Slopes are 3 to 90 percent. Elevation is 1,100 to 3,200 feet. These soils formed in volcanic ash and pumice overlying granodiorite or glacial till. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. The mean January temperature is about 25 degrees F, the mean July temperature is about 70 degrees F, and the mean annual temperature is about 45 to 49 degrees F and the frost-free season is 110 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Brief,
Safety, and
Thowson soils. Brief and Safety soils lack 60 percent pyroclastics. Thowson soils have an ochric epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow to rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland, livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, watershed, and recreation. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, western yarrow, antelope bitterbrush, and ceanothus.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chelan County, Washington, 1995; Cashmere Mountain Soil Survey.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are a mollic epipedon from the surface to 10 inches, a cambic horizon from 10 to 20 inches. The 10 to 40 inch particle-size control section is formed volcanic ash and pumice, but does not meet andic soil properties in acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half the iron.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.