LOCATION REDBOW WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplocalcids
TYPICAL PEDON: Redbow loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine and common medium roots; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated, 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 3 inches thick)
Bw--3 to 11 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and few medium roots; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated; 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Bk1--11 to 21 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) loam, yellowish red (10YR 4/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as common fine and medium soft cylindrical masses following root channels, 30 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8) gradual wavy boundary.
Bk2--21 to 27 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few fine and medium soft cylindrical masses following root channels, 25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8). (Combined thickness of the Bk horizon is 9 to 23 inches)
2R--27 inches; hard, fractured limestone.
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; Willow Creek School Quadrangle; 2,100 feet south and 1,100 feet west of the NE corner of sec. 16, T. 40 N., R. 83 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the lithic contact ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Depth to the base of the Bw horizon and depth to continuous carbonate accumulation ranges from 11 to 17 inches. The particle-size control section is loam or silt loam with 10 to 18 percent noncarbonate clay, 1 to 9 percent carbonate clay, and less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Hue is 2.5YR or 5YR. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 51 degrees F.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 4 through 6. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 4 through 8. It is loam or silt loam. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 6 through 8. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 35 percent. EC is less than 4 mmhos.
The R is limestone or hard, red, calcareous siltstone which is commonly several feet thick and underlain by soft, red sedimentary beds.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Roughlock series. Roughlock soils are deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Redbow soils are on dipslopes. Slopes range from 3 to 10 percent. They formed in slopewash alluvium and residuum derived dominantly from red siltstone. 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 48 degrees F. Elevation ranges from 5,500 to 6,800 feet. The frost-free season is 110 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Redarrow, Redspear, Redsun, and the competing Roughlock soils. Redarrow, Redspear, and Redsun soils are shallow.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Redbow soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly threadleaf sedge, rhizomatous wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.