LOCATION NOROD WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Vitrandic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Norod gravelly ashy loam- rangeland on a 54 percent north - facing slope at 2,100 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
A--0 to 4 inches; brown to dark brown (10YR 4/3) cobbly ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine to medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine irregular and tubular pores; 10 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 4 inches thick)
AB--4 to 10 inches; brown to dark brown (10YR 4/3) cobbly ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine discontinuous tubular pores; 5 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
2Bt1--10 to 23 inches; brown to dark brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine discontinuous tubular pores; many continuous faint pressure faces on peds; common distinct clay skins on faces of peds; 20 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary.
2Bt2--23 to 28 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very cobbly loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay skins on faces of peds; 25 percent pebbles 30 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 10 to 20 inches)
2Btk--28 to 33 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely cobbly loam, brown to dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; few distinct clay skins on faces of peds; few faint light gray (10YR 7/2) lime coatings in root channels; 35 percent pebbles and 35 percent cobbles; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
3R--33 inches; basalt bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington, about 1,100 feet south and 1,500 feet west of the NE corner of section 31, T. 16 N., D. 23 E.; USGS Beverly topographic quadrangle; Latitude 46 degrees, 50 minutes, 14 seconds N, Longitude 119 degrees, 59 minutes, 12 seconds W)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 100 to 120 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 20 to 25 inches. The upper 7 to 10 inches has an estimated bulk density of 1.15 to 1.30 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent, acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half extractable iron of 0.4 to 0.7 percent, and 15 bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent on air dried samples. The particle size control section averages 23 to 33 percent clay in the fine earth fraction and 35 to 65 percent rock fragments by volume. Depth to secondary carbonates range from 25 to 38 inches. Solum thickness and depth to bedrock ranges from 25 to 40 inches.
The A and AB horizons have value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.
The 2Bt and 2Btk horizons have a value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 2 to 4, dry or moist. The upper part is very gravelly loam, very gravelly clay loam, or very cobbly loam. The lower part is extremely cobbly loam, very cobbly loam or extremely gravelly clay loam. The 2Bt horizon is neutral or slightly alkaline. The Btk horizon is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Blint, Bunselmeier (T), Fleenor (T), Hehe, Lainand, Leidl, and Skooker series. Blint soils lack secondary carbonates and are dry 90 to 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Bunselmeier soils have sandy clay loam textures, are 40 to 60 inches to unweathered cinders and have mollic epipedons that are 10 to 14 inches thick. Fleenor soils have hues of 5YR or 7.5YR. are very deep, and are 25 to 40 inches to stones and boulders. Hehe soils have 10 to 25 percent medium, coarse, and very coarse sand and are dry for 60 to 90 consecutive days. Lainand soils lack secondary carbonates and are 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact. Leidl soils lack secondary carbonates and have mollic epipedons 10 to 18 inches thick and are dry for 75 to 90 consecutive days. Skooker soils lack secondary carbonates, are 40 to 60 inches to a lithic contact, and are dry 60 to 90 consecutive days.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Norod soils are on hill slopes and have slopes of 15 to 75 percent. These soils formed in colluvium from basalt and loess mixed with volcanic ash in the surface. Elevations are 1,800 to 2,500 feet. These soils are in a semiarid climate with warm dry summers and cold moist winters. Average annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. Average January temperature is about 25 degrees F.; average July temperature is about 69 degrees F.; and average average annual temperature is 49 degrees F. The frost-free season is 130 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Grinrod, Horseflat, Palerf, and Ralock soils. Grinrod soils are on footslopes and sideslopes and have mollic epipedons less than 20 inches thick. Horseflat soils are on hilltops and sideslopes and are 12 to 20 inches deep to bedrock. Palerf soils are on hillslopes and are clayey-skeletal. Ralock soils are on hillslopes and are fine-loamy and more than 40 inches deep.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, medium to very rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Sandberg bluegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass and Wyoming big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Yakima and Kittitas Counties, Washington. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Yakima County, Washington, Yakima Training Center, 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the surface to 23 inches, an argillic horizon from 10 to 33 inches and a lithic contact at 33 inches. The particle-size control section is the zone from 10 to 30 inches (upper 20 inches of the argillic horizon).
The classification was changed from Pachic Argixerolls to Vitrandic Argixerolls in 1994.