LOCATION PAINTER IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Xeric Torripsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Painter sandy loam -- on a 70 percent convex south-facing slope at 3,300 feet elevation in rangeland. When described on May 7, 1997, the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 2 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 2 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)
Bw--2 to 18 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 1 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.3); abrupt irregular boundary. (7 to 18 inches thick)
C--18 to 24 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) loamy sand, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 2 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.3); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Cr--24 to 36 inches; weathered granodiorite.
R--36 inches; granodiorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; about 1/2 mile northwest of Horseshoe Bend; 400 feet south and 1,100 feet east of the northwest corner of section 27, T.7 N., R.2 E.; USGS Horseshoe Bend Quadrangle; Latitude - 43 degrees, 55 minutes, 17 seconds N. and Longitude - 116 degrees, 12 minutes, 37 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Ochric epipedon thickness - 2 to 7 inches
Organic matter - less than 1 percent
Depth to paralithic contact - 20 to 30 inches
Depth to lithic contact - 24 to 40 inches
Particle-size control section - 2 to 6 percent clay; 0 to 35 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - moist less than 90 consecutive days when the soil temperature is greater than 47 degrees F.
Average annual soil temperature - 51 to 54 degrees F.
A horizon
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent fine gravel
Bw horizon
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture - LS or S
Clay content - 2 to 6 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 35 percent fine gravel
C horizon
Hue - 10YR or 2.5Y
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 2 through 4 dry or moist
Texture - LS or S
Clay content - 2 to 6 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 35 percent fine gravel
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Berent, Goldrun, Hotsprings, Incy, Lachim, Quincy, Quinton, Rinquin, Toll, Walco, Winchester and Zorravista series. The Berent, Goldrun, Hotsprings, Incy, Quincy, Toll, Winchester and Zorravista soils are more than 40 inches deep. Quinton soils have fine sand or loamy fine sand textures in the particle-size control section, a mean annual soil temperature of 54 to 56 degrees F and do not have A and Bw horizons. Lachim soils do not have a Bw horizon or a lithic contact at a depth of 24 to 40 inches. Rinquin soils are over semi-consolidated siltstone and the C horizon is fine sand or loamy fine sand that is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Walco soils are over basalt, do not have a paralithic contact and do not have a Bw horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Painter soils are on south and west-facing hill backslopes and canyon walls at elevations of 2,600 to 4,550 feet. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum from granitic rocks. Slopes range from 35 to 90 percent. The average annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches. The average annual temperature is 49 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free period is 130 to 155 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Arrowrock and Borid soils. These soils are shallow to bedrock on summits, shoulders and convex geomorphic positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; very rapid runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Painter soils are used mainly for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is antelope bitterbrush, basin big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass and needle and thread.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho. MLRA 10. Painter soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boise County Area, Idaho, Parts of Ada and Boise Counties, 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon - zone from the soil surface to 2 inches (A horizon)
Paralithic contact - at 24 inches (Cr horizon)
Lithic contact - at 36 inches (R)
Particle-size control section - zone from 10 to 24 inches
Soil moisture regime - aridic bordering on xeric
These soils are drier than other soils in the region under similar precipitation due to very low AWC, early runoff and extended period of high evapotranspiration.