LOCATION NINEPIPE MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Pachic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ninepipe silt loam, cultivated (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Ap--0 to 10 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots, and few coarse roots; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
Bw1--10 to 21 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots, and few coarse roots; few fine tubular pores, and many very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 14 inches thick)
Bw2--21 to 28 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots, and few coarse roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores, and common medium tubular pores; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Bw3--28 to 41 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silty clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine and fine roots, and few medium roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores, and few medium tubular pores; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (12 to 15 inches thick)
C1--41 to 52 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 21 inches thick)
C2--52 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) moist; silty clay loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Lake County, Montana; 1,800 feet east and 100 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 24, T. 19 N., R. 20 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 42 to 47 degrees F.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 20 to 33 inches.
Moisture control section - between4 and 12 inches.
Depth to water table - more than 48 inches.
Ap horizon - Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8
Bw1, Bw2 horizons - Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 8.4
Bw3 horizon - Value: 6 or 7 dry; 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
C1 and C2 horizons - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4, 5, or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Reaction: 7.4 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Lanoak (ID) - do not have lime above a depth of 43 inches; have a Bt horizon and clayey lamellae at a depth of 43 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - low stream terraces, dissected alluvial fans, and drainageways.
Elevation - 2,600 to 3,400 feet.
Slope - 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm, dry summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 14 to 19 inches.
Mean annual temperature - 40 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 105 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Bohnly series. Bohnly soils are on flood plains and are poorly drained.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Ninepipe soils are used for irrigated and dryland crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Ninepipe soils are of small extent in mountain valleys of western Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lake County, Montana, 1991; proposed in Lake County, Montana, 1985.
REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT1002. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 28 inches (Ap, Bw1, and Bw2 horizons); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (Bw1, Bw2, and Bw3 horizons). Ninepipe soils have a frigid temperature regime and a xeric moisture regime.