LOCATION MATSU                   AK

Established Series
Rev. DM
05/2022

MATSU SERIES

The Matsu series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in mixed alluvium. Matsu soils are in depressions on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 17 inches, and the mean annual temperature is about 36 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive Aquic Haplocryods

TYPICAL PEDON: Matsu silt loam - on 3 percent slope under forest. (All colors are for moist soil)

Oe--0 to 3 inches; moderately decomposed plant material; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)

E--3 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots, few medium and coarse roots; strongly acid (pH 5.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 5 inches thick)

Bs--6 to 11 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) silt loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots, few medium and course roots; strongly acid (pH 5.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

Ab--11 to 15 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silt loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; strongly acid (pH 5.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)

Cg1--15 to 31 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) silt loam; massive; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) redoximorphic concentrations; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary.

Cg2--31 to 60 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) silt loam; massive; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) redoximorphic concentrations; moderately acid (pH 5.7); clear wavy boundary. (The combined thickness of the Cg horizons is 40 to 50 inches thick.)

TYPE LOCATION: Anchorage, Alaska; about 1/4 mile south of Ted Steven International Airport; in the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4, section 3, T. 13 N., R. 4 W.; Anchorage A8NW 1:25,000 quad, Seward Meridian; UTM north 6784551 and UTM east 0340940, zone 6.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum ranges from 10 to 20 inches thick. Reaction is strongly acid or moderately acid in the solum and moderately acid or slightly acid in the substratum. Gravel ranges from 0 to 5 percent in the substratum. Depth to highest water table is about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet from mid April to mid June. Depth to water table is about 1 1/2 to 5 feet throughout rest the year.

The E horizon has value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 1 or 2. The texture is silt loam, loamy very fine sand, sandy loam.

The Bs horizon has value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 2 or 3. The texture is silt loam, sandy loam, loamy very fine sand, or fine sandy loam.

The Ab horizons (where present) has value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. The texture is silt loam or loamy very fine sand.

The Cg horizons has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 3.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Pioneerpeak (T) series. Pioneerpeak series have very gravelly substratums.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Matsu soils occur in depressions on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent. The soils formed in mixed alluvium. Mean annual temperature ranges from 29 to 43 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 20 inches.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include Kashwitna, Smithfha, Pioneerpeak, and Doroshin soils. Kashwitna and Smithfha soils are well drained. Pioneerpeak soils have very gravelly substratums. Doroshin soils are very poorly drained.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained, low or medium runoff. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat, recreation, and homesite and urban development where the soils have been drained.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cook Inlet-Susitna Lowlands. The series is of small extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Anchorage Area, Alaska, 2001

REMARKS: Diagnostic features and horizons recognized in this profile include: albic horizon from 3 to 6 inches; spodic horizon from 6 to 11 inches; redoximorphic concentrations from 15 to 60 inches; cryic temperature regime.

ADDITIONAL DATA:

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.