LOCATION MIKETT COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Oxyaquic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Mikett clay loam, on a northwest facing, 2 percent slope in pasture at an elevation of 5,900 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. When described in April 1981, the soil was moist from 0 to 34 inches. Water table was at 34 inches.)
Ap1--0 to 2 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; moderate thick platy structure parting to moderate medium granular; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Ap2--2 to 8 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
C1--8 to 15 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse subangular blocky; hard, firm, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 30 inches thick)
C2--15 to 22 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 35 inches thick)
C3--22 to 35 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic,; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
C4--35 to 60 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6). (0 to 30 inches thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Montezuma County, Colorado; about 5.5 miles southwest of Cortez; located about 190 feet south and 810 feet west of the northeast corner of sec. 17, T. 35 N., R. 16 W.; Mud Creek Colorado USGS quad; lat. 37 degrees 17 minutes 48 seconds N. and long. 108 degrees 37 minutes 48 seconds W., NAD27
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: aridic bordering on ustic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 48 to 52 degrees F
Water table: depth is 1 to 5 feet, kind is apparent, months are April to August
Particle-size control section:
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
A horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7 (3 to 6 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Rock fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 10 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 15
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7 (3 to 6 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: clay loam or loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 3 to 10 percent
Sodium adsorption ratio: 5 to 20
Reaction: strongly alkaline or very strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bastian, Parohtog, Rustigate, and Umbo soils. Bastian soils have Csi horizons. Parohtog and Umbo soils are Aridic. The Rustigate series is aridic (torric), has a control section clay content of 18 to 27 percent, and is in MLRA 27.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: alluvium derived from sandstone and shale
Landform: alluvial fans and drainageways
Slopes: 0 to 3 percent
Elevation: 5,400 to 6,500 feet
Mean annual temperature: 50 to 52 degrees F
Mean annual precipitation: 10 to 13 inches
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with July and August being slightly wetter and June being slightly dryer.
Frost-free period: 120 to 135 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Mikim series. Mikim soils lack a water table within 60 inches of the surface.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: somewhat poorly drained, medium runoff, moderately slow permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used primarily for range and irrigated cropland. Dominant vegetation is Indian ricegrass and western wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwest Colorado. LRR D, MLRA 36. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cortez Area, Colorado, Parts of Dolores and Montezuma Counties 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: The zone from 0 to 8 inches. (Ap1 and Ap2)
Water table: The presence of an apparent water table from 1 to 5 feet during the months of April to August.
Particle size control section: The zone from 10 to 40 inches. (C1, C2, C3, C4)
Soil Taxonomy Second Edition, 1999.