LOCATION MEAVER                  WY

Tentative Series
Rev. DMM-RJS
05/2011

MEAVER SERIES


The Meaver series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock. These soils are on drainageways and stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 430 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 1 degree C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Aquic Argicryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Meaver loam, in pastureland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Oe--0 to 7 cm; mucky peat; strongly acid (pH 5.5); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 cm thick)

A--7 to 28 cm; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 6.7); gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 30 cm thick)

Bt--28 to 45 cm; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 10 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 30 cm thick)

Bk1--45 to 95 cm; pale yellow (2.5Y 8/3) gravelly sandy loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 10 percent prominent very dark brown (10YR 2/2) manganese masses and 10 percent prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron; 20 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles and 2 percent stones; 20 percent irregular calcium carbonate masses throughout; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (40 to 60 cm thick)

Bk2--95 to 150 cm; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) gravelly loam, light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) moist; massive; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 5 percent distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron, 10 percent distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) masses of reduced iron, and 20 percent prominent very dark brown (10YR 2/2) manganese masses; 20 percent gravel; 20 percent calcium carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments and 20 percent irregular calcium carbonate masses throughout; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); clear smooth boundary. (40 to 70 cm thick)

2C--150 to 200 cm; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 5 percent prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron, 10 percent faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) masses of reduced iron, and 20 percent distinct very dark brown (10YR 2/2) manganese masses; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Sublette County, Wyoming: located approximately 12 miles northwest of Daniel, WY; located approximately 1,090 feet west and 2,520 feet south of the northeast corner of section 19, T. 35N, R. 112W; USGS Merna, Wyoming topographic quadrangle; 42 degrees 59 minutes 21.00 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 15 minutes 29.00 seconds west longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 1.5 to 3.5 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 25 to 40 cm
Depth to argillic horizon - 20 to 40 cm
Depth to calcic horizon - 50 to 100 cm
Depth to redox concentrations - 45 to 91 cm
Depth to redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less - 70 to 100 cm
Depth to lithologic discontinuity - greater than 120 cm

A horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Chroma: 1 or 2; dry or moist
Clay content: 20 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

Bt horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam, clay loam
Clay content: 22 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 7.2 to 7.8

Bk1 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 6 to 8; dry or moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--15 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4

Bk2 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y; dry or moist
Value: 6 or 7; dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--15 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 25 to 40 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 2 to 15
Reaction: pH 8.2 to 9.0

2C horizon
Value: 4 or 5; dry or moist
Texture: loamy fine sand, sand
Clay content: 2 to 8 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 10 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles, 0 to 2 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 5 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 5 to 15
Reaction: pH 8.2 to 9.0

COMPETING SERIES:
Animas (CO) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Vermdig (CA) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - drainageways, stream terraces
Elevation - 2,195 to 2,440 meters
Slope - 0 to 4 percent
Parent Material - alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 380 to 485 mm with peak periods of precipitation occurring during the spring
Mean annual air temperature - 0.5 to 2.0 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 25 to 45 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; moderate permeability. Seasonal high water table fluctuates between a depth of 45 and 90 centimeters at some time between the months of April and July and is saturated long enough to develop redox depletions.

USE AND VEGETATION: Meaver soils are primarily used for pastureland. The potential native vegetation is mainly silver sagebrush, shrubby cinquefoil, herbaceous cinquefoil, Baltic rush, Colombian needlegrass, and other forbs and grasses

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Meaver soils are of minor extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA - 43B.

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

SERIES PROPOSED: Sublette County, Wyoming, 2011. The series is coined from a local landmark.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 7 to 45 cm (A, Bt horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 28 to 45 cm (Bt horizon)
Calcic horizon - from 95 to 150 cm (Bk2 horizon)
Horizon with redox concentrations - from 45 to 200 cm (Bk1, Bk2, 2C horizons)
Horizon with redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less - from 95 to 200 cm (Bk2, 2C horizons)
Lithologic discontinuity - at 150 cm (2C horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 28 to 45 cm (Bt horizon)

Meaver soils have a cryic temperature regime, an ustic moisture regime and an aquic moisture subclass.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.