LOCATION ROSCHENE OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Roschene loam-rangeland, on a 1 percent slope at 4,580 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on July 2, 1990, the soil was dry to 30 inches and moist below this depth.)
A1--0 to 5 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine platy structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, many fine and common medium roots; few fine vesicular pores; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary.
A2--5 to 18 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, common fine and few medium roots; common very fine and few fine vesicular pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary.
2A3--18 to 36 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many fine and few medium irregular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A and 2A horizons is 24 to 55 inches)
2Bw--36 to 62 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium irregular pores; common distinct reddish brown (5YR 4/4) iron concentrations; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Harney County, Oregon; about 2,200 feet north and 2,500 feet west of the southeast corner of section 32, T. 21 S., R. 26 E. (Latitude 43 degrees, 42 minutes, 16 seconds N, Longitude 119 degrees, 37 minutes, 30 seconds W)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are usually saturated to within 30 inches of the soil surface during winter and spring. The mean annual soil temperature is 42 to 47 degrees F. Depth to bedrock and solum thickness is greater than 60 inches. Depth to redoximorphic iron concentrations is 30 to 60 inches. The particle-size control section averages 20 to 30 percent clay and 0 to 10 percent rock fragments. The mollic epipedon is 24 to 55 inches thick and includes all of the A horizon. Organic matter is 1 to 3 percent and decreases irregularly with depth (estimated).
The A and 2A horizon has value of 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Chroma of 1 only occurs in the upper 20 inches. It is noncalcareous or slightly calcareous in the surface layer and noncalcareous below. It is loam in the upper part and loam or clay loam in the lower part with 18 to 35 percent clay. It is neutral or moderately alkaline.
The 2Bw horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist. It is loam or clay loam with 20 to 35 percent clay. It is neutral or mildly alkaline. Organic matter is less than one percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Koosharem, Toehead and Zola series. Koosharem and Toehead soils are well drained and lack mottles. Zola soils have carbonates at 12 to 28 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Roschene soils are on stream terraces and have slopes of 0 to 3 percent. The soils formed in alluvium derived from igneous sources. Elevations are 4,200 to 5,500 feet. The climate is characterized by cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches. The mean annual air temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost free period is 50 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ticino, Carryback, Minam, and Welch soils. Ticino and Carryback soils are moderately deep and have an argillic horizon. Minam soils are well drained, lack redox features and have a mollic epipedon where the organic carbon content decreases regularly with depth. Welch soils are poorly drained and have aquic conditions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow runoff; moderately slow permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing, and wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation is basin wildrye, willow, Idaho fescue and bluegrasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Oregon; MLRA 10. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harney County, Oregon 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 36 inches
Cambic horizon - from 36 to 62 inches (2Bw horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 40 inches (lower A2, 2A3 and upper 2Bw horizons) averages about 23 percent clay