LOCATION MASSACK CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Massack fine sandy loam - on a slope of less than 1 percent in an irrigated pasture at about 3500 feet elevation. (When described on September 15, 1982 the water table was at 36 inches in depth and the soil was moist from the surface to 36 inches. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 4 inches; dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) fine sandy loam, very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) moist; moderate fine angular blocky structure; hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine and few medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 9 inches thick)
A1--4 to 11 inches; dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) very fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) moist; common fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist mottles; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 24 inches thick)
A2--11 to 30 inches; gray (2.5Y 5/1) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) moist; many fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist mottles; moderate medium coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); diffuse smooth boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick)
C--30 to 45 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; many fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist mottles, weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Cg--45 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; many fine distinct dark brown (10YR 3/2) moist and common fine distinct dark greenish gray (5GY 4/1) moist mottles; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Plumas County, California; near Taylorsville, about 4 miles S of Greenville along Highway 89 to Stampfli Lane; then E about 2.3 miles along Stampfli Lane to dirt farm road at Brown's residence; then S along farm road about 0.5 mile; then E along same road about 0.8 mile; about 200 feet S of fence line and 75 feet E of ditch; about 600 feet N and 75 feet E of the SW corner of section 22, T.26 N., R.10 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature varies from 47 degrees to 50 degrees F. The mean winter soil temperature varies from 34 to 36 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature varies from 60 to 62 degrees F. The soil temperature exceeds 41 degrees F from May 1 to December 1. The soils are usually saturated during the late winter and spring due to a seasonal water table at a depth of 12 to 30 inches. The 10 to 40 inches control section is stratified loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand that when mixed, is loam or sandy loam with a weighted average of 12 to 18 percent clay, 50 to 65 percent sand and 15 to 35 percent fine sand and coarser. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 24 to 54 inches. Depth to mottles is 0 to 35 inches.
The A horizon dry color is 10YR 4/2, 5/2, 5/3; 2.5Y 4/1, 5/1, 5/2 or N 4/0. Moist colors is 10YR 3/1, 3/2, 3/3; 2.5Y 3/1, 3/2, or N 3/0. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral. It is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam or loam.
The C and Cg horizon dry colors are 10YR 6/3, 6/4; 2.5Y 6/2, 7/2 or 5Y 5/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/3, 3/4; 2.5Y 3/1, 4/2, 5/2, 4/4, or 5Y 5/2. Texture is stratified sand, loamy sand, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam or loam. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral. Some pedons have strata of loam with 10 to 15 percent gravel. Gley mottles of 5GY, 5G, or 5BG are at a depth of 34 to 50 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Calkins soil. Calkins soils have a regular decrease in organic carbon, have control sections with more than 35 percent fine sand and coarser, have a mean annual soil temperature of 47 degrees to 58 degrees F., have a mean summer soil temperature of 60 degrees to 74 degrees F., are subject to common very brief periods of flooding at some time from April to September and have a water table at a depth of 2 to 3 feet from April to September.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Massack soils are on floodplains. Elevation is 3,400 to 4,750 feet. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in mixed alluvium. The climate is subhumid with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 to 35 inches. Mean January temperature is about 34 degrees F., mean July temperature is about 66 degrees F., and the mean annual temperature is about 50 degrees F. Frost-free season is 80 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Gansner, Greenhorn and Keddie soils. Gansner soils are fine-loamy and have 27 to 35 percent clay in the control section. Greenhorn soils have an ochric epipedon. Keddie soils are fine-loamy and have 18 to 27 percent clay in the control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; very slow runoff; moderately rapid or moderate permeability. A seasonal high water table is at a depth of 12 to 30 inches at some time from January through May. Flooding is occasional for brief periods from December through March.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for pasture with some areas cut for grass hay. The vegetation is mainly pasture species of timothy, fescue, clover, meadow foxtail and other grasses and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern California. These soils are of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Plumas National forest Area, California 1984.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 30 inches (Ap, A1 and A2 horizons).