LOCATION NATURITA CO+MT WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Naturita loam - grassland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; 5 percent gravel; noncalcareous; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
B2t--3 to 10 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/3) light clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure that parts to moderate medium subangular blocks; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; peds are very hard; thin wax-like patches on the faces of peds and wax-like coatings and fillings on the inside of root channels and pores; 5 percent gravel; noncalcareous; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
B3ca--10 to 14 inches; white (10YR 8/2) loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; peds are very hard; thin glossy patches on the faces of some peds; 10 percent gravel; a large amount of visible secondary calcium carbonate occurring in finely divided marl-like forms, as concretions, and as coatings on the gravel fragments; calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
IIC1ca--14 to 24 inches; white (10YR 8/2) very gravelly loamy sand, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; single grained; loose; 60 percent gravel and cobbles; a large amount of visible secondary calcium carbonate occurring in finely divide marl-like forms as concretions, and as coatings on the gravel fragments; calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 20 inches thick)
IIC2ca--24 to 40 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; single grained; loose; 70 percent gravel and cobbles; visible secondary calcium carbonate occurring as concretions in thin seams and streaks and as coatings on the gravel fragments; less calcium carbonate than in the horizon above; calcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Montrose County, Colorado; near center Sec. 18, T. 46 N., R. 15 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to uniformly calcareous material normally ranges from 5 to 12 inches and is not shallower than the upper 2 inches of the B2t horizon. Depth to the sandy-skeletal IIC horizon ranges from 10 to 20 inches. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 7 to 12 inches. Depth to continuous subhorizons of visible secondary carbonate and/or sulfate ranges from 7 to 12 inches and such horizons are strong enough to qualify as calcic horizons. ESP either remains constant or increases with increasing depth ranging from 0 to 15 percent in the solum but exceeds 15 percent in the Cca horizon of some pedons. A majority of the solum and IIC horizons above a depth of 40 inches have hue of 7.5YR or yellower, but subhorizons redder than 7.5YR occur in some pedons. Rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent by volume in a major part of the solum but increase to 35 to 80 percent in the IIC horizon. They are mainly 1/2 to 10 inches in diameter.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 6 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. It is neutral or mildly alkaline (1:5 dilution unbuffered organic dye).
The B2t horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 1 through 6. Subhorizons redder than 7.5YR occur in some pedons. This horizon is typically loam or clay loam but ranges in clay from 18 to 35 percent, silt from 15 to 55 percent, and sand from 20 to 60 percent with more than 35 percent being fine or coarser sand. It is neutral to moderately alkaline (1:5 dilution unbuffered organic dye).
The IIC horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR. Subhorizons redder than 7.5YR occur in some pedons. This horizon is very gravelly and cobbly sand or loany sand. It is moderately or strongly alkaline (1.5 dilution unbuffered organic dye).
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cornish, Larimer, Vernal, Wanetta, and Yoder series. Cornish, Larimer, Vernal, and Wanetta soils lack calcic horizons and have contrasting IIC horizons deeper than 20 inches. Yoder soils are noncalcareous to depths of more than 40 inches and lack continuous horizons of calcium carbonate accumulation.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Naturita soils are on nearly level to gently sloping high terraces, mesa tops, and alluvial fans. Slopes typically range from about 0 to 6 percent or more. The soils formed in thin medium to moderately fine-textured, calcareous material overlying beds of sand and gravel. At the type location the mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches with peak periods of precipitation occurring in the spring and early summer months. Mean annual temperature is 45 degrees F., and mean summer temperature is 64 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Mesa soils and the competing Vernal soils. Mesa soils have solums more than 12 inches to the base of the argillic horizon and have loamy-skeletal substratums.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well to somewhat excessively drained; slow or very slow runoff; moderate to rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used as grazing lands or as irrigated or dry cropland. Native vegetation is sage, cactus, western wheatgrass, fourwing saltbush, and galleta grass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Western Colorado Reconnaissance Survey, 1939.
REMARKS: Last updated by the state 4/73.