LOCATION NYTHAR             MT 
Established Series
Rev. BDD-FRK-RJS
01/2008

NYTHAR SERIES


The Nythar series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on glacial outwash plains, stream terraces, drainageways, alluvial fans and flood plains. Slopes are 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 15 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Endoaquolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Nythar silty clay loam, in pasture (colors are for moist colors unless otherwise noted).

Oi--0 to 2 inches; partially decomposed organic matter

A--2 to 16 inches; black (N 2/0) silty clay loam, black (N 2/0) dry; moderate medium granular structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; common fine tubular pores; 5 percent cobbles, 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 15 inches thick)

Bg1--16 to 25 inches; very dark gray (N 3/0) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; common fine and medium pores; 5 percent cobbles, 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary.

Bg2--25 to 36 inches; very dark gray (5Y 3/1) silty clay loam, gray (N 5/0) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common fine and medium pores; 5 percent cobbles, 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bg1 and Bg2 horizons is 15 to 25 inches)

Bg3--36 to 46 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt loam, light gray (5Y 7/1) dry; many medium brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) redox concentrations; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common fine pores; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)

Cg--46 to 60 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) cobbly silty clay loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) dry; many medium yellow (10YR 7/6) redox concentrations; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common fine pores; 15 percent cobbles and 10 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; 700 feet east and 2350 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 28, T. 10 N., R. 13 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 41 to 46 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to seasonal high water table - 0 to 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 24 to 60 inches.

A horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or N
Value: 2, 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 0, 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, silt loam or loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 10 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Bg1 and Bg2 horizons
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR, 5Y or N
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 0, 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, loam or silt loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 30 percent pebbles
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.3

Bg3 horizon - Hue: 2.5Y, 5Y or 10YR
Value: 4, 5, 6 or 7 dry, 2, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, loam or silt loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 30 percent pebbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

Cg horizon - Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or N
Value: 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 dry, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 0, 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, sandy clay loam, loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 45 percent--0 to 15 percent cobbles; 0 to 30 percent pebbles
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.3

COMPETING SERIES:

Chamita (NM) - is poorly drained
Cometcrik (MT) - has a lithologic discontinuity at 40 to 60 inches.
Eagleton (MT) - does not have Bg horizons; is stratified throughout the particle-size control section; is poorly drained.
Kerkhoven (MN) - is poorly drained
Kovich (UT) - has a skeletal lithologic discontinuity in the particle-size control section.
Lakepark (MN) - has free carbonates at 25 to 50 inches.
Lobe (CO) - is poorly drained and has a lithologic discontinuity at depth of less than 60 inches.
Mannixlee (MT) - has a lithologic discontinuity at 40 to 60 inches.
Marshbrook (SD) - is poorly or somewhat poorly drained.
Marshdale - is poorly drained and has a lithologic discontinuity at depth of less than 60 inches.
Sibannac - has a lithologic discontinuity in the particle-size control section.
Welch (NV) - has a high component of vitric pyroclastic material in the particle-size control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform- glacial outwash plains, stream terraces, drainageways, alluvial fans and flood plains.
Elevation - 3600 to 6400 feet.
Slope - 0 to 6 percent.
Parent material - alluvium
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 22 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 39 to 44 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 110 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained, moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Nythar soils are primarily used for pasture and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation is mainly tall reedgrass, tufted hairgrass, blue-eye grass and willows.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Nythar soils are inextensive in western Montana valleys.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gallatin County, Montana, 1997; series proposed: Granite County, Montana, 1995.

REMARKS: Soil interpretive record: MT1598. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the top of the mineral layer to 36 inches (A, Bg1, Bg2 horizons; a cambic horizon from 36 to 46 inches (Bg3 horizon); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (A, Bg1, Bg2 and Bg3 horizons). Nythar soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.