LOCATION MELODY CA NVEstablished Series
The Melody series consists of shallow, excessively drained soils that formed in colluvium over residuum weathered from volcanic rock. The Melody soils are on shoulders and ridge tops of mountains. Slopes range from 9 to 70 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1000 millimeters and the mean annual air temperature is about 5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy-skeletal, mixed Lithic Vitricryands
TYPICAL PEDON: Melody very cobbly ashy loamy sand on an north east facing (25 degree), 43 percent slope at an elevation of 2270 meters. When described on 07/21/1999 the soil was dry throughout. Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted.
Oi--0 to 3 cm; moderately decomposed plant material
A--3 to 8 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very cobbly ashy sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; 70 percent sand; 7 percent clay; weak fine granular and weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots and few medium and coarse roots; common very fine and fine interstitial pores; 14 percent gravel and 30 percent cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 00P02502
AC--8 to 23 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very cobbly ashy sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; 75 percent sand; 6 percent clay; weak very fine subangular blocky and weak fine and medium granular structure; friable; common very fine through coarse roots; common very fine and fine interstitial pores; 12 percent gravel and 45 percent cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); gradual smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the A and AC where present is 5 to 25 cm) Lab sample # 00P02503
C--23 to 38 cm; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) very cobbly ashy sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; 75 percent sand; 6 percent clay; massive structureless; common very fine and fine interstitial pores; very friable; common very fine, fine and medium roots; 13 percent gravel and 45 percent cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); (13 to 25 cm thick) Lab sample # 00P02504
R--38 cm; strongly cemented andesitic lahar
TYPE LOCATION: Placer County, CA, on the East slope of Barker Peak. 427 meters west and 271 meters south of the northeast corner of Section 8, Township 14N, Range 16E, 39 degrees North latitude, 4 minutes, 47 seconds North latitude and 120 degrees, 13 minutes, 59 seconds West longitude, NAD83 - U.S.G.S Quad: Homewood, California.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Melody soils are usually moist in the moisture control section; moist fall, winter, and spring; usually dry July through early October; Xeric moisture regime.
Soil temperature: 2 to 5 degrees C.
Depth to lithic contact: 25 to 50 centimeters
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent, with 10 to 35 percent gravel, 20 to 50 percent
cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones and 0 to 2 percent boulders.
Clay content: averages 0 to 5 percent clay
Mineralogy: mixed
A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 through 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry; 2 through 4 moist
Texture (less than 2 mm): Ashy sandy loam
Clay content: 2 to 18 percent
Organic matter: 8 to 20 percent
Content of rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent
10 to 35 percent gravel
20 to 40 percent cobbles
0 to 2 percent stones
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid
AC horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 through 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry; 2 through 4 moist
Texture (less than 2 mm): Ashy sandy loam
Clay content: 2 to 18 percent
Organic matter: 4 to 10 percent
Content of rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent
15 to 35 percent gravel
12 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 2 percent stones
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid
C horizon(s):
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: Ashy sandy loam
Clay content: 2 to 18 percent
Organic matter: 2 to 8 percent
Content of rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent
10 to 35 percent gravel
25 to 55 percent cobbles
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family at this time.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Melody soils are on mountaintops and shoulders. Slopes are 9 to 80 percent. These soils formed in colluvium weathered from volcanic rock. Elevation is 2105 on colder aspects to 3150 meters on any aspect. The climate is subhumid with warm dry summers and cold wet winters. Mean annual precipitation is 740 to 1700 millimeters. The mean annual temperature is 3 to 6 degrees C. Frost free season is less than 25 to 75 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Mountrose and Wardcreek soils. The Mountrose soils are greater than 60 inches deep to bedrock and can be found on more concave or linear slopes. The Wardcreek soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to bedrock and are on more linear slopes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: excessively drained; very high runoff; rapid permeability above the bedrock. These soils are not flooded.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for wildlife and recreation. Vegetation is scattered whitebark pine and mountain hemlock with an understory of Brewers lupin.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Nevada in MLRA 22A. These soils are of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Placer county, (Tahoe Basin Area), California, 2007.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: from the mineral soil surface to 38 cm, the A and AC horizons
Andic properties: 0 to 38 cm, the A and AC horizons