LOCATION RAINEY IDEstablished Series
The Rainey series consists of moderately deep over bedrock, well
drained soils on south-facing hillsides and ridgetops. They formed in
material weathered from coarse-grained intrusive igneous rocks.
Permeability is moderately rapid. Slopes are 15 to 40 percent. The
average annual precipitation is about 16 inches, and the average annual
air temperature is about 47 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Entic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Rainey sandy loam - grass rangeland; on a 35 percent
southwest-facing slope. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise
noted.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very
dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak very thin platy and weak fine
and very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky;
few fine roots; many very fine pores; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear
smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
A2--4 to 16 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam,
very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky
and weak fine and very fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly
sticky; few fine roots; many very fine pores; few 1/16 inch dark
colored bands; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 16
inches thick)
AC--16 to 19 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam, very dark
grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky
structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky; few fine roots; many
very fine pores; common decomposing granite fragments; neutral (pH
6.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
C1--19 to 24 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) loamy coarse sand,
yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable; few
roots; many very fine and fine pores; neutral (pH 6.7); gradual wavy
boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--24 to 30 inches; somewhat disintegrated and weathered granite.
(5 to 10 inches thick)
R--30 inches; unweathered granite.
TYPE LOCATION: Gem County, Idaho; about 4 miles northwest of Sweet;
400 feet east and 300 feet north of the SW corner of NW 1/4 SE 1/4
section 13, T.8N., R.1E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 52 degrees F
Depth to bedrock - 20 to 40 inches
Average texture in control section - COSL, SL, GR-COSL, GR-SL
Rock fragments in control section - 5 to 35 percent
A horizon
Value- 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma- 1 or 2
AC horizon
Chroma- 2 or 3
C horizon
Value- 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma- 2 through 4
Texture - LCOS, GR-LCOS, COSL, GR-COSL, GR-L, GR-SL
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Crafton and Pleasant Vale series.
Crafton and Pleasant Vale soils are deeper than 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Rainey soils are on hilly southerly slopes and
ridge tops. Slopes range from 5 to 80 percent, but are typically 15 to
40 percent. The soils formed in residuum, alluvium, and colluvium
weathered from coarse-grained intrusive igneous bedrock, which is high
in quartz and mica. Elevations range from 2,000 to 5,500 feet.
Average annual precipitation is 13 to 20 inches, including 3 to 6 feet
of snow. Average annual air temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F.
Frost-free period is 90 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brownlee, Farrot, North
Powder, and Ola soils. Brownlee, Farrot, and North Powder soils have
B2t horizons. Ola soils have dark surface horizons thicker than 20
inches, and have frigid temperature. Brownlee and Ola soils are on
north slopes or toeslopes. North Powder soils are at lower
elevations. Farrot soils are on landscape positions similar to Rainey
soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; medium to rapid runoff;
moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly rangeland, but some areas are cropped to
nonirrigated small grains or alfalfa-grass pasture. Vegetation in the
potential natural plant community is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho
fescue, big sagebrush, Sandberg bluegrass, and bitterbrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Idaho, western Montana, eastern Washington,
and eastern Oregon. The series is moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gem County, Idaho, 1962.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon
are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 16 inches (A horizons).
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 24 inches.
National Cooperative Soil Survey