LOCATION QUENZER IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, nonacid, mesic Vertic Endoaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Quenzer silty clay, cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 5 inches; gray (2.5Y 5/1) silty clay, dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) moist; few fine distinct brown (10YR 4/3) redox concentrations, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; few 2 to 4mm. black stains; fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; few very fine pores; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bg1--5 to 11 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay, dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) moist; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redox concentrations, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; few fine faint dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) redox depletions, very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) moist; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; few very fine pores; very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) moist, coatings on the peds; many micaceous materials; neutral (pH 7.1); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 20 inches thick)
Bg2--11 to 16 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay, dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) moist; few faint light gray (2.5Y 7/1) redox depletions, gray (2.5Y 6/1) moist; weak fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; few very fine pores; few fine distinct very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) stains; very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) stains; very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) coatings on peds; few salt crystals; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bg3--16 to 33 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay, dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) moist; weak fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots; few very fine pores; few dark-colored fine stains; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 18 inches thick)
Cg1--33 to 48 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) and light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; few fine distinct brown (10YR 4/3) and dark gray (10YR 4/1) redox depletions, dark brown (10YR 3/3) and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; massive; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and very plastic; few very fine pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); gradual smooth boundary. (12 to 18 inches thick)
Cg2--48 to 60 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; few fine distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/1), gray (2.5Y 5/1), grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) redox depletions; massive; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine pores; neutral (pH 7.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Gem County Idaho 2 miles southeast of Emmett; 450 feet west, 1,260 feet north of the center of sec. 20, T.6N., R.1W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are saturated during winter and early spring and during late in irrigated areas unless artifically drained. The mean annual soil temperature is about 47 degrees to 53 degrees F. The organic carbon extent decreases irregulary with depth, and remains above 0.2 percent to a depth of 50 inches. The soil is common nonsaline and nonalkali, but in some areas may be slightly saline or slightly saline-alkali below depth of 36 inches. Redox features are present to the soil surface. The particle-size control section averages 35 to 50 percent clay.
The A horizon commonly has hue of 2.5Y, but ranges to 10YR, value is 5 or 6 dry and 3 or 4 moist, chroma is commonly 1 dry or moist, but may be 2 when the dry value is 6. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bg horizon has hue of 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 1. It is silty clay, silty clay loam or clay loam with 35 to 50 percent clay.
The Cg horizon has hue of 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry and 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is silty clay or clay with 45 to 60 percent clay.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Karnak and Owego series. Owego soils have carbonates at depth of 12 to 24 inches. Karnak soils occur in a udic environment and receive 35 to 48 inches of precipitation.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Quenzer soils are on low terraces in basins or swales and have slopes of 0 to 1 percent. They formed in alluvium from granitic sources. Elevations are 2,100 to 2,500 feet. The climate has warm dry summers and cold moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches. Mean annual summer temperature is 68 to 72 degrees F.; mean annual temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free season is 125 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bissell, Falk, Lahontan, Letha, Moulton, Notus, and Wardwell soils. Bissell soils are well drained and have an argillic horizon. Falk soils are moderately well drained and moderately coarse textured. Lahontan and Letha soils are calcareous and high in exchangeable sodium. Letha, Moulton and Notus soils are moderately coarse and coarse textured. Wardwell soils have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; slow runoff to ponded; very slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for irrigated corn, barley, wheat, and hay crops and pasture. Natural vegetation is rushes, sedges and related water loving plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Bottomlands and low terraces of southwestern Idaho. The series is inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gem County, Idaho, 1962.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features:
Ochric epipedon and a cambic horizon from 5 to 33 inches.