LOCATION MOYERSON WY+CO MT UTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, smectitic, calcareous, frigid, shallow Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Moyerson silty clay-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 5 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; strong fine granular structure; soft, very friable, sticky and plastic; slightly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
C--5 to 18 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; slightly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 16 inches thick)
Cr--18 to 60 inches; calcareous shale interbedded with siltstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Lincoln County, Wyoming; approximately 400 feet west of the east 1/4 corner of sec. 13, T. 21 N., R. 116 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to uniformly calcareous material ranges from 0 to 10 inches. Depth to the paralithic contact ranges from 4 to 20 inches. The weighted average of gypsum content above the bedrock ranges from 0 to 5 percent. Continuous subhorizons of concentrated visible secondary calcium carbonates should not occur within the control section; however, visible accumulations may occur uniformly throughout the control sections. Reaction ranges from mildly alkaline through strongly alkaline. ESP ranges from 0 to 15, and EC ranges from 0 to 14 mmhos/cm in the material above the bedrock. Coarse fragments in the particle-size control section range from 0 to 35 percent and are predominantly one-half to 10 inches in size. The control section is uniform with only minor stratification. The mean annual soil temperature is 43 to 46 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature is 60 to 63 degrees F. The Moyerson soils are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for more than 60 consecutive days between June 10 and September 10 in most years.
The A horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 6 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. Boulders, flagstones, channers, or stones are in the surface layer of some pedons.
The C, and AC horizons if present, have hue of 5Y through 7.5YR. It is clay loam, silty clay, or clay and has 35 to 60 percent clay, 5 to 50 percent silt, and 10 to 60 percent sand.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Lisam, Samoist, Wiscow(T), and Yawdim series in the same family. Lisam, Samoist, and Yawdim soils are not dry in all parts of the moisture control section for more than 60 consecutive days between June 10 to September 10 in most years. Wiscow soils have hue redder than 7.5YR.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Moyerson soils are on upland hillslopes, ridges, and undulating and rolling scarps. They formed in residuum and colluvial slopewash derived from shale and interbedded siltstone. Slopes are simple and complex and range from 2 to 65 percent. Elevations are 5,600 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 17 inches with about half falling as snow and less commonly as rain in April, May, and early June. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free season is estimated to range from 70 to 110 days depending upon elevation, aspect, and air drainage.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Elkol and Kemmerer soils. Elkol soils are deep and are very strongly alkaline. Kemmerer soils have a cambic horizon and are moderately deep.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; very slow or slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of black sagebrush, thickspike wheatgrass, shadscale, and Sandberg bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: High mountain valleys of Wyoming and Colorado. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Rio Blanco County, Colorado; 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon--0 to 5 inches (A)
Paralithic contact--18 inches (Cr)
Ustic subgroup--The moisture control section is dry for less than 90 cumulative days from June 10 to October 10 in 7 out of 10 years.