LOCATION SAXON WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, isotic, frigid Andic Haplorthods
TYPICAL PEDON: Saxon silt loam - on a 15 percent south-facing slope under a conifer canopy. (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Oi--9 to 4 inches; branches, twigs and needles.
Oa--4 inches to 0; decomposed forest litter, many fine and very fine, few coarse roots.
E--0 to 3 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) silt loam, white (N/8) dry; massive, slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; very few very fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; 5 percent rounded pebbles; NaF pH less than 9.4; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); abrupt boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
Bs1--3 to 6 inches; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) silt loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) dry; many coarse dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) organic stains on faces of peds; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and nonplastic, weakly smeary; few coarse and medium roots; common fine irregular pores; 5 percent rounded pebbles; NaF pH 12.0; strongly acid (pH 5.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bs2--6 to 9 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) silt loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) dry; few coarse dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) organic stains on faces of peds; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic, weakly smeary; common very fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 5 percent rounded pebbles; NaF pH 12.0; strongly acid (pH 5.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
BC--9 to 21 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) silt loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 8/4) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; very few very fine roots; very few fine irregular pores; NaF pH 11.5; strongly acid (pH 5.2); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 18 inches thick)
2C1--21 to 38 inches; light gray (5Y 7/1) silty clay loam, white (5Y 8/1) dry; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; massive; hard, firm, slightly sticky and plastic; very few very fine tubular pores; NaF pH 10.0; strongly acid (pH 5.2); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
2C2--38 to 60 inches; light olive gray (5Y 6/2) silty clay loam; white (5Y 8/1) dry; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) mottles; massive hard, firm, sticky and plastic; NaF pH 9.8p strongly acid (pH 5.4)
TYPE LOCATION: Skagit County, Washington; approximately 1,500 feet south and 2,200 feet west of the northeast corner, sec. 27, T. 34 N., R. 7 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum is 12 to 30 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F. Reaction is very strongly or strongly acid. Organic horizons are 3 to 10 inches thick.
The E horizon has hue of N, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 4 through 6 moist, 6 through 8 dry, and chroma of 0 through 2 moist and dry.
The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 through 5 moist 4 through 6 dry, and chroma of 2 through 6 moist and dry. Rock content averages 0 to 5 percent.
The BC horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 moist, 6 or 7 dry, and chroma of 4 through 6 moist and dry. Rock content averages 0 to 5 percent. Some pedons have a B3 horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, value of 5 through 7 moist, 7 or 8 dry, and chroma of 1 through 4 moist and dry and is mottled. Texture is silty clay loam or silt loam.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Rober series and the similar Pastik series. Pastik soils are mesic. Rober soils - see Remarks.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Saxon soils are on terraces and terrace escarpments and have slopes of 0 to 30 percent. Elevation ranges from 800 to 2,000 feet. They formed in glacio-lacustrine sediments with a component of volcanic ash. The mean January temperature is 33 degrees F, mean July temperature is 61 degrees F, and mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 44 degrees F. Average annual precipitation is 60 to 80 inches. The frost-free season is 100 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Elwell, Jug, Olomount, and Skykomish soils. Elwell soils have ortstein at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Olomount soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Jug and Skykomish soils are sandy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow or medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for woodland. Native vegetation is western hemlock, Douglas-fir, and Pacific silver fir, with an understory of tall blue huckleberry, red huckleberry, princes pine, western swordfern, deer fern, and bunchberry dogwood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Washington. This soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Whatcom County, Washington, 1941.
REMARKS: Classification only changed 4/94 because of recent amendments to Soil Taxonomy. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are an albic horizon from the mineral surface to 3 inches, a spodic horizon from 3 to 9 inches, and mottles with a chroma of 2 or less starting at 21 inches and continuing to 60 inches. The Saxon series needs further study. It appears to be very similar to the Rober series as defined.