LOCATION SABE CO+NMEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Lamellic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Sabe very stony sandy loam, pinyon woodland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 7 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very stony sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 20 percent pebbles, 20 percent cobbles, 20 percent stones; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
E--7 to 15 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) very cobbly sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse platy structure that parts to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine pores; 15 percent pebbles, 30 percent cobbles; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (5 to 20 inches thick)
Bt1--15 to 29 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very gravelly loamy sand with bands of very gravelly sandy clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure that parts to weak medium subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and bridging between sand grains; 30 percent pebbles, 12 percent cobbles; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick)
Bt2--29 to 48 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) very gravelly loamy sand with bands of sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure that parts to moderate fine granular; slightly hard, very friable, the sandy clay loam part is slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few distinct clay films on faces of peds and bridging between sand grains; 30 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; lamellae 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches thick and 4 to 5 inches long make up about 35 percent of the horizon; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
C--48 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; single grained; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles, 5 percent cobbles; neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Saguache County, Colorado; in an unsectioned area of Baca Grande subdivision, about one and a half miles southeast of Crestone; about 500 feet north and 400 feet west of the projected SE corner of Sec. 18, T. 43 N., R. 12 E. U.S.G.S. Crestone quad.; Latitude: 37 degrees, 58 minutes, 30 seconds N.; Longitude: 105 degrees, 41 minutes, 08 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 60 to 65 degrees F. Depth to the argillic horizon ranges from 15 to 24 inches. The solum is neutral or slightly alkaline. Rock fragments range from 40 to 80 percent in a major part of the solum.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 through 6 dry, 2 through 4 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3.
The E horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 6. Texture is loamy fine sand or loamy sand with lamella and bands of sandy clay loam. The average clay content of the horizon is 10 to 15 percent.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family and subgroup at present.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sabe soils are on alluvial fans. Slopes range from 9 to 25 percent. The soil formed in alluvium derived from mixed sources but rock fragments are mainly quartzite and schist. Elevation ranges from 7,500 to 9,000 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 16 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 90 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cotopaxi and the Ouray soils. Cotopaxi soils lack rock fragments and do not have an argillic horizon. Ouray soils lack rock fragments.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; slow runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for homesites, rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of pinon pine, scribner needlegrass, Indian ricegrass and needleandthread.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Luis Valley of Colorado. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Taos Area, New Mexico, 1976. Moved to Saguache County, Saguache County Area, Colorado, 1990.
REMARKS: Originally established in Taos Area, New Mexico, 1976. New Mexico discontinued use of this series in 1990 after publication of Saguache County Area, Colorado. Colorado took over responsibility for the Sabe series and moved the type location to Saguache County. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: an E horizon from 7 to 15 inches; an argillic horizon from 15 to 48 inches that is discontinuous, being made up of lamalae and bands of sandy clay loam in a matrix of loamy sand. Last updated by the state 4/95.