LOCATION NATHERMAN WY
Tentative Series
Rev. DMM-DJP-RJS
04/2016
NATHERMAN SERIES
The NATHERMAN series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium or slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock. These soils are on alluvial fans, stream terraces and eroded fan remnants. These soils are subject to prolonged saturation from flood irrigation. Slopes are 0 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 250 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 1.8 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Natherman fine sandy loam, in irrigated hayland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Oe--0 to 10cm; moderately decomposed plant material; abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 12 cm thick).
A--10 to 14 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4), moist; weak fine granular structure; very friable, soft, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; 5 percent irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist redox concentrations; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 12 cm thick).
Bt1--14 to 22 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4), moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 2 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds; 20 percent irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist redox concentrations; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--22 to 35 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4), moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 2 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist redox concentrations; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt1 and Bt2 - 15 to 30 cm)
Btk--35 to 50 cm; pale olive (5Y 6/3) gravelly sandy clay loam, olive (5Y 5/3), moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm, moderately hard, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 2 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist redox concentrations; 5 percent fine irregular carbonate masses throughout and 5 percent moderately cemented carbonate nodules on bottom of rock fragments; 5 percent cobbles and 15 percent gravel; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 20 cm thick).
BCk1--50 to 80 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3), moist; massive; very friable, soft, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial pores; 5 percent fine irregular carbonate masses throughout and 5 percent moderately cemented carbonate nodules on bottom of rock fragments; 5 percent cobbles and 20 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (25 to 50 cm thick).
BCk2--80 to 200 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) very gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3), moist; massive; very friable, soft, nonsticky, nonplastic; few fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial pores; 5 percent fine irregular carbonate masses throughout and 5 percent moderately cemented carbonate nodules on bottom of rock fragments; 10 percent cobbles and 40 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Sublette County, Wyoming; USGS Mount Airy, Wyoming, topographic quadrangle; 42 degrees 49 minutes 6.00 seconds north latitude and 109 degrees 59 minutes 15.00 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 2.1 to 4.3 degrees C.
Ochric epipedon thickness - 7 to 16 cm
Depth to argillic horizon - 7 to 16 cm
Depth to secondary carbonates - 25 to 75 cm
Depth to redox concentrations - 7 to 16 cm
Oe horizon
Texture: moderately decomposed plant material
Reaction: pH 4.5 to 6.5
Organic matter content: 55.0 to 90.0 percent
A horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 14 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 7.2 to 8.2
Bt horizons
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, sandy clay loam, loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 14 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.2
Btk horizon
Hue: 5Y to 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, sandy clay loam, loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 14 percent--0 to 14 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 3 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.6 to 8.4
BCk1 horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5; dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam
Clay content: 16 to 22 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent--0 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
BCk2 horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5; dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Texture: loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 60 percent--35 to 55 percent gravel, 5 to 15 percent cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 4 percent
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Teakettle (WY) - have a diagnostic calcic horizon
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - alluvial fans, stream terraces and eroded fan remnants
Elevation - 2,010 to 2,225 meters
Slope - 0 to 8 percent
Parent material - alluvium or slope alluvium derived from metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 225 to 300 mm with peak periods of precipitation occurring during the spring
Mean annual air temperature - 1.1 to 3.3 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained, Ksat for the particle-size control section ranges from 1.5-15.0 um/sec.
USE AND VEGETATION: Natherman soils are primarily used for irrigated hayland and irrigated pasture. The vegetation is mainly Garrison creeping meadow foxtail, timothy, tufted hairgrass, and other sedges, rushes and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Natherman soils are of small extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA 34A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES PROPOSED: Sublette County, Wyoming, 2016. Natherman series is a coined name.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 14 cm (Oe, A horizons)
Argillic horizon - 14 to 50 cm (Bt1, Bt2, Btk horizons)
Secondary carbonates - 35 to 200 cm (Btk, BCk1, BCk2 horizons)
Redox concentrations - 10 to 50 cm (A, Bt1, Bt2, Btk horizons)
Particle-size control section - 14 to 50 cm (Bt1, Bt2, Btk, horizons)
Natherman soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime and an oxyaquic moisture subclass.
Additional Information: Oxyaquic condition is due to prolonged saturation from flood irrigation.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.