LOCATION MONABERG MT

Established Series
Rev. DES-KTS-RJS
05/2011

MONABERG SERIES

The Monaberg series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium and alpine till derived from hard fine grained igneous and metamorphic rocks. These soils are on alluvial fans, stream terraces, fan remnants, moraines, hills and mountain slopes. Slopes are 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 18 inches, and mean annual air temperature is about 38 degrees F.

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

TYPICAL PEDON: Monaberg gravelly loam, in rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

A1--0 to 3 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary.

A2--3 to 11 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of A1, A2 horizons - 10 to 15 inches)

Bt1--11 to 17 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gravelly clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary.

Bt2--17 to 27 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gravelly clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, and few medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; common faint clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual wavy boundary.

Bt3--27 to 48 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) gravelly clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; weak medium and coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; common medium pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 25 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual irregular boundary. (combined thickness of Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons - 15 to 45 inches)

BC--48 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) gravelly loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Montana; 20 feet east of west 1/4 corner of sec. 1, T. 4N, R. 4W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 35 to 42 degrees F.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 10 to 16 inches

A horizons
Value: 3 to 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 20 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.3

Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 25 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8

BC horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--15 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8

COMPETING SERIES:
Amsden (WY) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Barbarela (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Beaveridge (WY) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Beavmid (WY) - have rock fragments that average more than 35 percent in the lower part of the argillic horizon
Cific (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Coldspring (CO) - are deep to a lithic contact
Croftshaw (NM) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Dewville (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Gelkie (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Highrye (MT) - are deep to a paralithic contact
Hooligan (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Inchau (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Kezar (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Leavitt (WY) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Lucky (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Lymanson (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Miracle (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Owenspring (ID) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Passcreek (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Rainbolt (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Tripit (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Wellsville (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Woosley (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Youga (CO) - have a BA and BCt horizon
Zade (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - alluvial fans, stream terraces, fan remnants, moraines, hills and mountain slopes
Elevation - 5,500 to 8,450 feet
Slope - 0 to 35 percent
Parent material - alluvium, colluvium and alpine till derived from hard fine grained igneous and metamorphic rocks
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 14 to 24 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 34 to 40 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Adel, Libeg and Nieman soils. Adel soils are pachic and in more concave positions. Libeg soils are loamy-skeletal and on similar landform positions. Nieman soils are shallow and on more convex positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Monaberg soils are primarily used for rangeland, wildlife habitat, and watershed. The potential native vegetation is mainly rough fescue, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, Columbia needlegrass, Richardson needlegrass, lupine, western yarrow, sticky geranium, and shrubby cinquefoil. Some small areas have a thin canopy cover of quaking aspen and Douglas-fir.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Monaberg soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana. MLRA - 43B.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Montana, 1998.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 11 inches (A1, A2 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 11 to 48 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 11 to 31 inches (Bt1, Bt2, part of Bt3 horizons)

Monaberg soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation records - MT1528, MT3007.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.