LOCATION NOSAL WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquandic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Nosal ashy silt loam- irrigated cropland, on a 1 percent slope at an elevation of 1,560 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) ashy silt loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure, hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots, common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt clear boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
A--8 to 15 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) ashy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine granular; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 9 to 15 inches)
AB--15 to 19 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
Bg1--19 to 26 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; few fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) iron accumulations throughout; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary.
Bg2--26 to 32 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) iron accumulations throughout and few coarse black (10YR 2/1) manganese stains; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt wavy boundary.
2Bg3--32 to 44 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure, hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse tubular pores; many fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) iron accumulations throughout and few medium black (10YR 2/1) manganese stains; 5 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2), abrupt wavy boundary.
3Bg4--44 to 60 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly sandy clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure, hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse tubular pores; many fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) iron accumulation and few medium black (10YR 2/1) manganese stains; 40 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 1 mile northwest of Ellensburg, WA., about 1,800 feet south and 400 feet east of the northwest corner, section 34, T. 18 N., R. 18 E.; latitude 47 degrees 00 minutes 33 seconds N. and longitude 120 degrees 34 minutes 48 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 47 to 54 degrees F. These soils have an aquic soil moisture regime during time periods of saturation and reduction, and aridic soil moisture regime otherwise. Depth to the uppermost limit of the irrigation-induced water table is 18 to 20 inches. The particle-size control section averages 27 to 35 percent clay and more than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Organic matter is estimated to range from 1 to 3 percent. Base saturation is more than 75 percent. Depth to the very or extremely gravelly 2Bg horizon is 40 to 60 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 24 to 40 inches. The mollic epipedon has distinct or prominent redox concentrations. The upper 15 to 20 inches is influenced by volcanic ash.
The Ap horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The A horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Texture is ashy loam or ashy silt loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The AB horizon, when present, has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Texture is clay loam, silty clay loam, or silt loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bg horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, and 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Texture is silty clay loam or clay loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The 2Bg horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is sandy clay loam, gravelly sandy clay loam or gravelly clay loam.
The 3Bg horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. Texture is very gravelly or extremely gravelly sandy clay loam or loam.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Pasquetti series.
Pasquetti soils - particle-size control section has bulk density of less than 0.95 g/cm3; has A horizon with 25 percent organic matter; has a 2C horizon within 45 inches consisting of stratified alluvium having thixotropic properties.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nosal soils are on flood plains 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. Elevation is 1,500 to 2,000 feet. Climate is semiarid with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 12 inches.
The average January temperature is about 25 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is about 48 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free season is 130 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nack, Nanum and Opnish soils. Nack soils are on alluvial fans and are 10 to 20 inches to a very or extremely gravelly 2Btg horizon. Nanum soils are on alluvial fans and terraces and are 20 to 40 inches to an extremely gravelly 2Btg horizon. Opnish soils are on alluvial fans and are calcareous in all horizons above the 2Btg.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; slow runoff; moderately slow permeability. This soil has an irrigation induced water table with its uppermost limit occurring some time between the mid-May to mid-October growing season.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated crop production and livestock grazing. Native vegetation is greasewood and saltgrass. When drained and irrigated, hay, oats, wheat, corn, potatoes, and peas are among the crops grown.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Washington; MLRA 8. The soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, 1990. The name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon (pachic) the zone from 0 to 32 inches (Ap, A, AB, Bg1 and Bg2 horizons)
Aquic conditions with redoximorphic features - the zone from 19 to 60 inches (Bg1, Bg2, 2Bg3 and 3Bg4 horizons)
Vitrandic feature - the zone from 0 to 15 inches
PSCS - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (A, AB, Bg1, Bg2 and part of the 2Bg3 horizons).
Classification revised 9/06 from Cumulic Endoaquolls to Aquandic Endoaquolls based on vitrandic influence within the upper 15 inches.