LOCATION MAYSPRINGS COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Maysprings coarse sandy loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
AB--4 to 7 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bt1--7 to 15 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; neutral (pH 6.9); gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Bt2--15 to 22 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) coarse sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
BC--22 to 34 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) coarse sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
C--34 to 60 inches; yellow (10YR 8/6) coarse sand, yellow (10YR 7/6) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; approximately 30 miles northwest of Craig, about 100 feet west and 1,350 feet south of the northeast corner of Sec. 22, T. 10 N., R. 94 W. Longitude: 107 degrees, 55 minutes, 29 seconds west. Latitude: 40 degrees, 48 minutes, 56 seconds north.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 47 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 62 to 64 degrees F. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 15 to 35 inches thick. The particle-size control section is sandy clay loam or sandy loam, but clay ranges from 18 to 27 percent, silt ranges from 5 to 20 percent, and sand ranges from 50 to 75 percent, with greater than 40 percent fine and coarser sand. The soil is noncalcareous to a depth of 40 inches or more.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Fine pebbles range from 0 to 10 percent. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The Bt horizons have hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 6. It is sandy clay loam or sandy loam. Fine pebbles range from 0 to 10 percent. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 7 or 8 dry, 6 or 7 moist, and chroma of 4 through 6. It is a coarse sand, gravelly coarse sand, or loamy coarse sand. Clay content ranges from 0 to 12 percent. Content of fine pebbles ranges from 5 to 20 percent. Reaction is neutral or mildly alkaline above a depth of 40 inches and mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline below a depth of 40 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alcova (WY), Almy (WY), Alogia (WY), Anchutz (WY), Antonito (NM), Bateson (WY), Bluerim (WY), Bonfri (MT), Cushool (WY), Cutback (WY), Diamondville (WY), Fluetsch (CO), Fonce (CO), Forelle (WY), Grubrob (CO), Harsha (CO), Rawah (CO), Regnaps (WY), Rock River (WY), Satanka (WY), Stunner (CO), Stylite (WY), Taffom (CO), and Wycolo (WY) series. All except the Taffom soils have secondary lime above a depth of 40 inches. Taffom soils have solum greater than 40 inches thick and have greater than 18 percent clay in all subhorizons above a depth of 40 inches. Alogia, Anchutz, and Hickey soils have calcic horizons. Cutback and Wycolo soils have a paralithic contact above 40 inches. Stylite soils have horizons of gypsum accumulation.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Maysprings soils are on plateaus, hillsides, and toe slopes. Slopes range from 3 to 20 percent. The soil formed in residuum and alluvium derived from sandstone. Elevation ranges from 6,200 to 7,300 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 11 to 15 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 75 to 95 days. July is the driest month during the growing season.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Berlake, Gretdivid, Ironsprings, Styers, and Taffom soils. Berlake and Ironsprings soils have mollic epipedons. Gretdivid soils are in a sandy family. Styers soils are in a fine family. Taffom soils have solum 40 or more inches thick and do not have sandy subhorizons above a depth of 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to moderate runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of bluebunch wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, needleandthread, prairie junegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils occur in northwestern Colorado. The series is of large extent. Total area is about 55,000 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat County (Moffat County Area), Colorado, 1991.
REMARKS: The diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are: the argillic horizon - the zone from 7 to 22 inches; borollic feature - soil temperature regime and organic carbon content meets the requirements of borollic. Last updated by the state 12/90.