LOCATION REDSAGE MT
Established Series
Rev. GFB-JJU-RJS
01/2012
REDSAGE SERIES
The Redsage series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium or slope alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Redsage soils are on fan remnants. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 330 millimeters, and the mean annual air temperature is about 5 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aridic Calciustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Redsage loam, in irrigated pasture (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 8 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate thin to medium platy structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine, common fine, and few medium tubular pores; violently effervescent, finely disseminated calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 13 cm thick)
Bw--8 to 36 cm; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) silt loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak medium and thick platy structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine, few fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine, and few medium tubular pores; violently effervescent, finely disseminated calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (15 to 30 cm thick)
Bk1--36 to 81 cm; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) silt loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine, and few fine and medium roots; many very fine, common fine, and few medium tubular pores; finely disseminated calcium carbonate and 5 percent fine irregular shaped soft masses of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary.
Bk2--81 to 152 cm; light brown (7.5YR 6/3) silty clay loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, and few fine and medium roots; many very fine, common fine, and few medium tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; finely disseminated calcium carbonate and 5 percent fine irregular shaped soft masses of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4). (combined thickness of the Bk1, Bk2 horizons - 75 to 142 cm)
TYPE LOCATION: Beaverhead County, Montana; located about 1,000 feet south and 1,600 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 13S, R. 9W; Dell topographic quadrangle; UTM 12T, 361572e, 4955278n, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 40 to 47 degrees F.
Depth to calcic horizon - 20 to 40 cm
Note: Some pedons may have a BC horizon.
A horizon
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4; dry or moist
Clay content: 18 to 24 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 3 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bw horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam or silt loam
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel and cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk horizons:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 22 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent gravel and cobbles
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Redrock (CO) - have peak periods of precipitation in summer and fall
Rootel (MT) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Whitesage (UT) - have peak periods of precipitation in summer and fall
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - fan remnants
Elevation - 1790 to 1950 meters
Slope - 0 to 25 percent
Parent material - alluvium or slope alluvium from mixed rock sources
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; short warm summers
Mean annual precipitation - 250 to 355 mm
Mean annual air temperature - 4 to 7 degrees C.
Frost-free period - 70 to 90 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated pasture, hayland and rangeland. Potential vegetation consists of sagebrush, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass and bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Redsage soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana. MLRA - 44B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Horse Prairie-South Valley Area - Part of Beaverhead County, Montana, 2011; proposed in Beaverhead County, Montana, 2009.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 18 cm (A and Bw horizons)
Cambic horizon - from 18 to 36 cm (Bw horizon)
Calcic horizon - from 36 to 152 cm (Bk1, Bk2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 25 to 100 cm (part of Bw, Bk1, part of Bk2 horizons)
Redsage soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime bordering on aridic.
Taxonomic version: Tenth Edition, 2006.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.