LOCATION SHEPHERDSADDLE CA

Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021

SHEPHERDSADDLE SERIES

The Shepherdsaddle series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium and residuum weathered from granitic rock. Shepherdsaddle soils are on foothills and mountains. Slopes range from 6 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 700 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 16 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Ultic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Shepherdsaddle fine sandy loam on an east-facing (90 degree), 35 percent slope under a cover of chamise at an elevation of 707 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on June 15, 1983 the soil was dry throughout.)

A--0 to 8 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; 54 percent sand; 15 percent clay; weak medium granular structure; hard, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; few fine and medium tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 20 cm thick)

BAt--8 to 28 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 50 percent sand; 21 percent clay; weak medium angular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots throughout; few fine and medium tubular pores; few clay films on all faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 20 cm thick)

Bt1--28 to 75 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; 43 percent sand; 34 percent clay; strong coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; few fine tubular pores; many clay films on all faces of peds; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary.

Bt2--75 to 100 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; 47 percent sand; 28 percent clay; moderate medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, firm, moderately sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine roots throughout; common clay films on all faces of peds; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizons 30 to 93 cm)

BC--100 to 120 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 54 percent sand; 21 percent clay; massive; very hard, friable, moderately sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine roots throughout; slightly acid (pH 6.1); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 25 cm thick)

C--120 to 150 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; 72 percent sand; 11 percent clay; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; few very fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, on west side of Elk Creek trail, approximately 640 m WSW of Marble Fork Bridge Generals Highway), in Sequoia National Park; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: Giant Forest, California; WGS84 36.511397 latitude and -118.807742 longitude; UTM zone 11 4042193 meters N 338123 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 15 to 17 degrees C and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is greater than 6 degrees C. The soils have a thermic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry from about May to October (about 150 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 7 to 20 cm
Argillic horizon thickness: 90 100 cm

Base saturation: 35 to 75 percent in one or more subhorizons of the argillic horizon (by sum of cations)

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bt horizons (and BAt horizons, where present)
Hue: 7.5 YR, 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, dry or moist
Chroma: 3 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Texture: loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid

BC horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 dry, 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry, 3 moist
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid

C horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 dry or moist
Chroma: 3 dry, 2 moist
Texture: fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bearwallow (MLRA 15), Churn (MLRA 17), Donpedro, Loafercreek, Mounthope, Sommeyflat, and Wisheylu series. Bearwallow soils contain paralithic material between 100 to 150 cm. Churn soils are formed in alluvium on terraces and have gravelly textures in the argillic horizon. Donpedro soils have a lithic contact between 50 to 100 cm. Loafercreek soils have a paralithic contact between 50 to 100 cm. Mounthope soils have a paralithic contact between 100 and 150 cm. Sommeyflat soils have colors of 5YR and 2.5YR in the argillic horizon. Wisheylu soils are moderately well drained and have colors of 2.5Y in the lower Bt horizons.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Shepherdsaddle soils are on linear and convex backslopes of hills and mountain slopes. Slopes are 6 to 60 percent. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum weathered from granitic and, less commonly, metamorphic rock. Elevation is 415 to 1290 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 670 to 855 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 14 to 17 degrees C. The frost free season is 225 to 285 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Andregg and Ashmountain soils. Andregg soils are on convex backslopes of mountain slopes and are 50 to 100 cm to a paralithic contact. Ashmountain soils average less than 18 percent clay in the particle size control section.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately high to high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is interior live oak, blue oak, California buckeye, and native shrubs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Foothills of California; MLRA 18. These soils are not extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Tulare County, California, in Sequoia and Kings National Parks. Source of name from a prominent landform feature in Sequoia National Park.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 28 to 78 cm.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon 0 to 28 cm
Argillic Horizon 28 to 100 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 1983CA107006

Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.