LOCATION PODUS CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, mesic, shallow Typic Durixerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Podus loamy fine sand - on a 1 percent slope in a plowed field at 4,040 feet elevation. (When described on October 24, 1984, the soil was dry throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 7 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loamy fine sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky ant nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
A--7 to 12 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bw--12 to 18 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) loamy fine sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
2Cqm--18 to 34 inches; white (10YR 8/2) duripan, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; extremely hard, very firm and brittle; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (14 to 40 inches thick)
2C--34 to 60 inches; white (10YR 8/2) fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Siskiyou County, California; 950 feet east, 2,000 feet south of the northwest corner of section 21, T. 48 N., R. 5 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the duripan ranges from 10 to 20 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees F. The soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is above 41 degrees F. from about March 15 to December 1 (255 days) and is above 47 degrees F. from about April 15 to November 15 (210 days). The soil between depths of 10 inches to the duripan is dry in all parts from about July 1 to November 1 (120 days). The soil moisture control section is dry less than half the time the soil temperature is above 41 degrees F.
The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 6/2 or 7/2 and moist color of 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 4/2 or 5/2. Clay content ranges from 5 to 10 percent.
The B horizon has dry color of 10YR 7/2, 7/3 or 8/2 and moist color of 10YR 4/2, 4/3, 5/2 or 5/4. Clay content ranges from 5 to 10 percent.
The 2Cqm horizon has dry color of 10YR 7/2, 7/3, 8/2 or 8/3 and moist color of 10YR 4/2, 4/3, 5/3 or 5/4. The 2Cqm is indurated and has massive or platy structure. The 2Cqm is extremely or very hard when dry and extremely or very firm when moist and is always brittle.
The 2C horizon has dry color of 10YR 7/3, 8/2 or 8/3 and moist color of 10YR 5/4, 6/2 or 6/3. Clay content ranges from 5 to 15 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Poe and Agate in other families. Poe soils have duripans at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Agate soils have duripans at depths of 20 to 40 inches and have a fine-loamy particle size control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Podus soils are on terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in alluvium from tuff, basalt, diatomite and volcanic ash. Elevations are 4,035 to 4,050 feet. The climate is semi-arid with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The average annual precipitation is about 12 to 15 inches. Snowfall is 20 to 30 inches. Mean January temperature is about 30 degrees F.; mean July temperature is 65 degrees F.; mean annual temperature is about 46 to 59 degrees F. Frost-free season is about 50 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Laki, Tulebasin, Poe, Zanbur and Zuman soils. Laki, Tulebasin, Zanbur and Zuman soils lack duripans.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained, slow runoff, moderately rapid permeability. Water table is at 2.0 to 4.0 feet from May to September. Most areas of this soil are irrigated, over irrigation may raise the water table to within 1.5 feet from the surface.
USE AND VEGETATION: Podus soils are used as cropland and for hay and pasture. Crops commonly grown are irrigated wheat, barley, oats and alfalfa.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North central California. These soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Siskiyou County, California, 1986.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - The zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 12 inches (Ap, A).
Duripan - The zone from 18 to 34 inches (2Cqm).
OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 4/86.