LOCATION REDARROW WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic, shallow Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Redarrow loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; 10 percent angular siltstone pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
C--2 to 18 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 15 percent angular siltstone pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 17 inches thick)
Cr--18 to 60 inches; soft, red, calcareous siltstone interbedded with soft, red shale.
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; about 13 miles WSW of the Willow Creek School; 1,110 feet east and 1,680 feet north of the SW corner of sec 23, T. 40 N., R. 85 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to soft bedrock ranges from 8 to 20 inches. The particle-size control section is loam, silt loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam with 10 to 18 percent noncarbonate clay, 3 to 12 percent carbonate clay, and less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser, excluding rock fragments. Rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent throughout and are mainly angular pebbles or channers. The soil is dry in the moisture control section more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature at the paralithic contact is 41 degrees F. and is never moist in some or all parts for as long as 60 consecutive days when the soil temperature at the paralithic contact is 41 degrees F., which occurs about April 21-27, but is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days from July 15 to October 25 and for at least 90 cummulative days during this period. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F., and the soil temperature at the paralithic contact is 41 degrees F. or more for 175 to 192 days. Hue is 10R to 5YR.
The A horizon has value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 4 through 8. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 4 through 8. Some pedons have crystals and threads of gypsum inherited from the parent material. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Cr is soft, red, calcareous siltstone interbedded with redshale. It commonly is more than 20 feet thick. Discontinuous layers of hard bedrock are present in some strata.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Canyon, Epping, Gerst, Klondike, Picante, Sandoval, Shingle, Spearfish, Tassel, and Taluce series. Canyon, Epping, Gerst, Shingle, Tassel, and Taluce soils have hues of 7.5YR or yellower. Klondike soils have more than 35 percent fine sand or coarser excluding rock fragments. Picante and Sandoval soils have hue of 10YR or yellower. Spearfish soils are moist in the moisture control section more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature is 41 degrees or more at the paralithic contact.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Redarrow soils are on terrace breaks, hillsides, and escarpments. Slopes range from 10 to 40 percent. They formed in residuum derived from red sedimentary rocks. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches with peak periods of precipitation occurring in April, May, and June. The mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 51 degrees F. Elevation ranges from 5,000 to 6,600 feet. The frost-free season is 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Buffcreek, Redbow, Redspear, Redsun, and Roughlock soils. Buffcreek and Roughlock soils are deep and have a calcic horizon. Also, Buffcreek soils are loamy-skeletal. Redbow soils are moderately deep and have a calcic horizon. Redspear and Redsun soils have a lithic contact. Also, Redsun soils are loamy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Redarrow soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, threadleaf sedge, prairie junegrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and Northern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.