LOCATION SAUNDERS MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Saunders silty clay loam, hayland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 5 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine platy structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse roots and many fine and very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
A2--5 to 14 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse roots and common fine and very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bk1--14 to 26 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse roots and common fine and very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common fine soft masses of lime, disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 14 inches thick)
Bk2--26 to 32 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; moderate very fine granular structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse roots and common fine and very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; common fine soft masses of lime, disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
BCg--32 to 45 inches; gray (2.5Y 5/1) silty clay, light gray (2.5Y 7/1) dry; few fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist redox concentrations; massive; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and very fine roots; few fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5); clear irregular boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Cg--45 to 60 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (5Y 6/1) dry; massive; very hard, extremely firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine and very fine roots; few fine tubular pores; few fine soft masses of lime; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5).
TYPE LOCATION: Madison County, Montana; 1,800 feet east and 1,300 feet south of the NW corner of sec. 35, T. 5 S., R. 1 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 40 to 44 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to seasonal high water table - 12 to 24 inches.
Soil phases - nonsaline.
A horizon - Value: 4 or 5 dry
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
EC: 4 to 16 mmhos/cm--(reclaimed): less than 4 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Bk1 horizon - Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 15 to 35 percent
EC: 4 to 8 mmhos/cm--(reclaimed): less than 4 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bk2 horizon - Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 15 to 35 percent
EC: 4 to 8 mmhos/cm--(reclaimed): less than 4 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
BC and Cg horizons - Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Texture: silty clay, clay, or clay loam
Clay content: 30 to 50 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 10 to 25 percent
EC: 4 to 8 mmhos/cm--(reclaimed): less than 4 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 9.0
COMPETING SERIES:
Bearden (ND) - has electrical conductivity of less than 4 mmhos/cm throughout; is somewhat poorly drained; formed in lacustrine sediments in a 15 to 24 inch precipitation zone.
Cubden (SD) - has electrical conductivity of less than 4 mmhos/cm throughout; is somewhat poorly drained; formed in material from till in a 15 to 18 inch precipitation zone.
Gunclub (MN) - has electrical conductivity of less than 4 mmhos/cm throughout; is somewhat poorly drained; formed in lacustrine sediments over till in a 20 to 24 inch precipitation zone.
McIntosh (MN) - has electrical conductivity of less than 4 mmhos/cm throughout; is moderately well or somewhat poorly drained; formed in silty material over till.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - stream terraces.
Elevation - 4,800 to 6,000 feet.
Slope - 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - alluvium from mixed sources.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; hot, dry summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 14 inches.
Mean annual temperature - 38 to 42 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 90 to 105 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; slow permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: Saunders soils are used mainly for rangeland; some areas are used for irrigated hay and small grains. Potential native vegetation is mainly basin wildrye, northern reedgrass, tall sedges, slender wheatgrass, and woody plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Saunders soils are inextensive in valleys of the mountains and foothills of southwestern Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Madison County Area, Montana, 1983.
REMARKS: Soil Interpretations Record: MT0432. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surface to 14 inches (A horizons); a calcic horizon from 14 to 32 inches (Bk horizons); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (part of the A2, Bk1, Bk2 and part of the BCg horizons). Saunders soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.