LOCATION SHERMAP CO

Established Series
Rev. DM/CRP/JCK
04/2019

SHERMAP SERIES

The Shermap series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium, colluvium, landslide deposits, and eolian deposits derived from sandstone and shale. Shermap soils are on hills, structural benches, mountain slopes and landslides. Slopes are 2 to 65 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 457 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 6 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Pachic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Shermap loam, on an east-facing 18 percent slope in cropland at an elevation of 2,088 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Ap--0 to 25 cm; brown (10YR 4/3) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; few fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (25 to 56 cm thick)

Bt1--25 to 46 cm; brown (10YR 4/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots; common fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--46 to 76 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; extremely hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--76 to 117 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; extremely hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; many faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary.

Bt4--117 to 124 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; common faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizons is 80 to 115 cm)

BC--124 to 152 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate fine prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6). (0 to 50 cm thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Routt County, Colorado; about 11 km southwest of Hayden, Colorado, about 402 meters west and 762 meters north of the southeast corner of section 18, T. 5 N., R. 88 W. Latitude 40 degrees, 23 minutes 25 seconds N, longitude 107 degrees, 18 minutes 0 seconds W., NAD 27

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 5 to 8 degrees C
Mollic epipedon thickness: 40 to 60 cm
Particle-size control section:
Clay content - 27 to 35 percent clay
Rock fragments - 0 to 30 percent gravel, cobbles or stones

A horizon
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 14 to 26 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent--0 to 20 percent gravel; 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

Bt horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3, 4, or 5 dry or moist
Chroma: 3, 4, 5, or 6 dry; 2, 3, or 4 moist
Texture: clay loam, silty clay loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent--0 to 30 percent gravel; 0 to 15 percent cobbles; 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

BC horizon (where present)
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 4, 5, or 6, dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam, clay loam, sandy clay
Clay content: 20 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 30 percent--0 to 30 percent gravel; 0 to 15 percent cobbles; 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.8

Some pedons have a C horizon in place of a BC.

COMPETING SERIES:
Bowbells (ND) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Cambern (AZ) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Carfall (MT) - have a mollic epipedon thickness greater than 60 cm; have less than 20 percent clay in the lower part of the subsoil
Center Creek (UT) - have a lithologic discontinuity; have more than 30 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the subsoil
Chugcreek (WY) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm
Detra (UT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 100 to 150 cm
Fiesta (NM) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation; have a mean annual soil temperature greater than 7.2 degrees C
Flaxton (ND) - have a lithologic discontinuity; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Gordo (AZ) - have a paralithic contact at depths of 100 to 150 cm; have Hue redder than 7.5YR
Hereford (AZ) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation; have peak soil moisture in mid to late summer
Hesperus (CO - have a mollic epipedon thickness greater than 60 cm; have redoximorphic features in the lower part of the subsoil
Jaythree (NM) - have peak soil moisture in mid to late summer
Laceycreek (MT) - have a mollic epipedon thickness greater than 60 cm; have a lithologic discontinuity
Ohwiler (CO) - have a mollic epipedon thickness greater than 60 cm; have peak soil moisture in mid to late summer
Pachel (MT) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Schauson (UT) - have igneous extrusive rock fragments; formed in basalt
Southbaldy (CO) - have a lithic contact at depths of 50 to 100 cm Todacheene (NM) - have a lithologic discontinuity; have hue redder than 7.5YR
Tschicoma (NM) - have igneous extrusive rock fragments; formed in dacite, latite and ryolitic tuff
Weed (CO) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - hills, structural benches, mountain slopes and landslides
Elevation - 1,950 to 2,590 meters
Slope - 2 to 65 percent
Parent material: slope alluvium, colluvium, landslide deposits, and eolian deposits derived from sandstone and shale
Mean annual air temperature - 4.4 to 7.2 degrees C
Mean annual precipitation - 406 to 508 mm
Precipitation pattern - evenly distributed throughout the year with peak periods in spring and early summer
Frost-free period - 80 to 110 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Apmay, Morapos, Cerro, and Curecanti series.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Shermap soils are used for rangeland, wildlife habitat, and some cropland. Native vegetation is mountain big sagebrush, Gambel oak, Saskatoon serviceberry, Idaho fescue, slender wheatgrass, Letterman's needlegrass and mountain snowberry.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Shermap soils are of small extent in western Colorado. MLRA 34A, 36, and 48A.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ridgway Area, Colorado, Parts of Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, and Ouray Counties, 2019.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 46 cm (Ap and Bt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 25 to 124 cm (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 and Bt4 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 25 to 75 cm (Bt1 and part of Bt2 horizons)

Shermap soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.