LOCATION RICETON IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Riceton coarse sandy loam -- on a gently sloping north-facing alluvial fan in nonirrigated grain cropland. When described on October 30, 1974, the soil was moist to 8 inches. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; 10 percent fine gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
A--10 to 21 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 10 percent fine gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 15 inches thick)
Bw1--21 to 28 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine gravelly coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 25 percent fine gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
Bw2--28 to 46 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and few medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 25 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 20 inches thick)
C1--46 to 54 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 30 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 26 inches thick)
C2--54 to 70 inches; light color stratified sand and gravel, dominantly granitic; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic.
TYPE LOCATION: Camas County, Idaho; about 4.5 miles west and 1 mile south of Corral; 100 feet west and 500 feet south of the northeast corner of the NW 1/4 of section 21, T.1 S., R.12 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mollic epipedon thickness - 22 to 30 inches
Depth to stratified sand and gravel - 40 to 60 inches
Soil moisture control section - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days after the summer solstice
Average annual soil temperature - 42 to 47 degrees F.
Average summer soil temperature - 61 to 65 degrees F.
Base saturation - 50 to 75 percent in some part of the profile above 30 inches
Particle-size control section:
Clay content - 10 to 18 percent
Sand content - 40 to 65 percent fine sand or coarser
Gravel content - 10 to 35 percent
Rock fragment shape - subrounded, rounded
A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 1 or 2 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to15 percent gravel
Reaction - moderately acid or slightly acid
Bw horizon
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Clay content - 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments - 10 to 30 percent gravel
Reaction - moderately acid through neutral
C1 horizon
Hue - 10YR or 7.5YR
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - COSL, SL, or LOCS
Clay content - 0 to 5 percent
Rock fragments - 15 to 35 percent gravel
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Moonstone and Northfork (T) series. Moonstone soils have weathered bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Northfork soils have O horizons, are dry 45 to 75 consecutive days and do not have stratified sand and gravel alluvium in the lower part.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Riceton soils are on level to moderately sloping alluvial fans and stream terraces with slopes of 0 to 12 percent. Elevations range from 4,800 to 5,500 feet. Average annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches including 2 to 5 feet of snow. Average annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F. Frost-free period is 60 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brinegar, Simonton, and Vodermaier soils. Brinegar and Simonton soils have a moderately fine textured argillic horizon. Brinegar soils are also moderately well drained. Vodermaier soils do not have a pachic epipedon and have sand and gravel at depths of 20 to 40 inches. These soils are all on geomorphic positions similar to Riceton soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow or medium runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Riceton soils are used primarily for irrigated or nonirrigated cropland. Some areas are used for pasture/hayland or rangeland. Native vegetation is mainly mountain big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and Thurber needlegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Idaho. MLRA 10A. Riceton soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Camas County, Idaho, 1977.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Pachic mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to 28 inches (Ap, A, and Bw1 horizons)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 28 to 46 inches (Bw2 horizon)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches
Pedon description revised 10/04 using original SOI-232 and soil properties documented within NASIS.