LOCATION NITCHA WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Vitrandic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Nitcha ashy [SW2]loam- irrigated cropland, on a 1 percent slope at an elevation of 1,520 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 5 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) ashy [SW3]loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium granular structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine irregular and tubular pores; NaF pH 8.6; [SW4]slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10[SW5] inches thick)
AB--5 to 12 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak medium granular; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common fine irregular and tubular pores; NaF pH 8.6; [SW6]slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bw1--12 to 26 inches; brown [SW7](10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to fine prismatic; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few fine irregular and tubular pores; NaF pH 8.8;[SW8] slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary.
Bw2--26 to 30 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine prismatic; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; NaF pH 8.8; [SW9]slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary.
Bw3--30 to 42 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine vesicular and irregular pores; NaF pH 8.8; [SW10]slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined Bw horizon is 28 to 42 inches thick)
2BC--42 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots, few very fine tubular pores; NaF pH 8.0;[SW11] slightly alkaline (pH 7.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 3 miles south of Kittitas, about 250 feet east and 950 feet south of the northwest corner of section 26, T. 17 N., R. 19 E.; USGS Kittitas, Washington topographic quadrangle; Latitude - 46 degrees, 56 minutes, 20 seconds N. and Longitude - 120 degrees, 26 minutes, 01 seconds W. (NAD83).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches ranges from 47 to 54 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 90 to 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The particle-size control section has 18 to 27 percent clay and more than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Organic matter is estimated to range from 1 to 3 percent . Depth to a 2BC horizon is more than 40 inches. The mollic epipedon is more than 40 inches thick. The upper 7 to 14 inches has an an estimated moist bulk density of 1.15 to 1.40 grams per cubic centimeter, Alox plus Feox of 0.25 to 0.70 percent, and volcanic glass of 5 to 20 percent .[SW12]
The Ap horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.[SW13]
The AB horizon, when present, has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizons have value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Texture is sandy clay loam or fine sandy loam with 18 to 27 percent clay. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.[SW14]
The 2BC horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 3 or 4 dry. Texture is fine sandy loam or sandy loam with 14 to 18 percent clay.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Nanum series.
Nanum soils dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice; aquic conditions at a depth of 20 to 30 inches
Similar soils with isotic mineralogy are the
Louella and
Nitzel (T) soils.
Louella soils are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days
Nitzel soils have a 2Bg horizon at a depth of 40 to 60 inches with redox concentrations; moderately well drained.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nitcha soils are on alluvial fans and terraces and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in alluvium over flood deposits with an influence of volcanic ash in the surface. Elevations are 1,400 to 2,400 feet. These soils are in a semiarid climate with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 13 inches[SW15]. The average January temperature is about 25 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F. The mean annual air temperature is 46 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free season is 130 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ackna, Brickmill, Nack, Nanum and Opnish series. Ackna soils are on terraces, Brickmill and Nack soils are on alluvial fans and are loamy-skeletal. Nanum soils are on terraces and are 20 to 40 inches deep to an extremely gravelly 2Bg horizon. Opnish soils are on alluvial fans and are calcareous in all horizons above the 2C.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated crop production and livestock grazing. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Wyoming sagebrush and bitterbrush. When irrigated, hay, oats, wheat, corn, potatoes, and peas are among the crops grown.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Washington, MLRA 8, 44. The soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, l990. The name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon (pachic) - the zone from 0 to 42 inches
Vitrandic feature the zone from 0 to 12 inches
PSCS - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (the Bw1, Bw2 and part of the Bw3 subhorizons).