LOCATION NYSWONGER COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Torrifluventic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Nyswonger silty clay loam - cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 3 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/2) silty clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; strong fine granular structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; slightly effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
A2--3 to 11 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/2) clay, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine granular; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
AC--11 to 19 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline (ph 8.2) lime inconsistently segregated as few threads; abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
C1--19 to 41 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) moist; massive; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.2) lime inconsistently segregated as threads; abrupt wavy boundary. (11 to 25 inches thick)
C2g--41 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; common fine distinct gray (5YR 5/1) and few fine distinct reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) mottles; massive; extremely hard, firm, sticky and plastic; lime inconsistently segregated as threads, strongly effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Montrose County, Colorado; 900 feet west and 150 feet north of the southeast corner, sec. 3, T. 47 N., R. 19 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are broadly stratified throughout the profile. The C1 horizon may include some thin layers of fine sandy loam. The C2g horizon may have very thin layers of sandy clay loam. The mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 19 inches thick. The particle-size control section is usually broadly stratified clay, clay loam, and sandy clay loam, with thin lenses of fine sandy loam. It's weighted average is 28 to 35 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent by volume throughout the profile but are usually less than 5 percent. They are 2 to 7 mm in diameter. Mean annual soil temperature ranges 49 to 51 degrees F, and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 68 to 72 degrees F. The moisture control section is dry for 15 consecutive days from May 15 to June 15 when the soil temperature at 20 inches is greater than 41 degrees F. It is not dry in all parts of the moisture control section for as long as 45 consecutive days following the summer solstice to October 20, and for as long as 90 cumulative days during the period.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 10YR through 5YR, value of 3 to 5 dry, and 2 or 3 moist, with chroma of 2 or 3.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR through 5YR, value of 4 to 6 dry, and 2 to 4 moist with chroma of 2 to 4.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Colombo series. Colombo soils are moist in some part of the soil moisture control section from April to June 15.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nyswonger soils are on fans, stream terraces, and alluvial valley floors. They formed in alluvium derived from shale and sandstone. Slopes range from 1 to 6 percent. At the type location the average annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches. These soils are in a climatic setting that receives the annual precipitation in an evenly distributed pattern throughout the year with over 50 percent received as snow. Mean annual temperature is 46 to 49 degrees F, and the mean annual summer temperature is 65 to 69 degrees F. Elevations are 4,900 to 6,800 feet. The frost-free period is 110 to 140 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Barx, Chilton, Mivida, Paradox, Pinon, Pojoaque, and Progresso soils. Barx soils have an argillic horizon. Progresso soils are moderately deep. Chilton soils are skeletal. Mivida soils have a calcic horizon. Paradox soils lack a mollic epipedon. Pinon soils have a lithic contact at depths of less than 20 inches. Pojaque soils lack a mollic epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated small grains and alfalfa. Native vegetation is Indian ricegrass, galleta, and Wyoming big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Montrose County (San Miguel Area), Colorado, 1987.