LOCATION SIBERIAN CA

Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021

SIBERIAN SERIES

The Siberian series consists of deep or very deep, well drained soils formed in till and colluvium derived from granitic rocks. The Siberian soils are on ground moraines of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Slopes range from 3 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 985 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 3 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, isotic Vitrandic Cryorthents

TYPICAL PEDON: Siberian very bouldery loamy coarse sand on a southeast-facing (128 degree), 18 percent slope under open lodgepole pine and foxtail pine forest at an elevation of 3222 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on August 3, 2015 the soil was slightly moist throughout.)

Oi--0 to 5 cm; black (7.5YR 2.5/1) bouldery slightly decomposed plant material, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 5 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 5 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones, 5 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite boulders; very strongly acid (pH 4.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 5 cm thick) Lab sample # 16N00934

A--5 to 17 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very bouldery loamy coarse sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; 80 percent sand; 15 percent silt; 5 percent clay; weak medium subangular blocky parts to weak coarse subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; many very fine and common fine irregular pores; 12 percent subangular very strongly cemented granite gravel, 10 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 5 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones, 10 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite boulders; NaF pH 7.5; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 25 cm thick) Lab sample # 16N00935

Bw--17 to 46 cm; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) extremely bouldery loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; 82 percent sand; 14 percent silt; 4 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 25 percent subangular very strongly cemented granite gravel, 15 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 10 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones, 15 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite boulders; NaF pH 11.0; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 45 cm thick) Lab sample # 16N00936

BC--46 to 74 cm; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) very bouldery loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; 84 percent sand; 13 percent silt; 3 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine , fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 20 percent subangular very strongly cemented granite gravel, 15 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 5 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones, 10 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite boulders; NaF pH 10.8; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 40 cm thick) Lab sample # 16N00937

C--74 to 116 cm; pink (7.5YR 8/4) extremely stony coarse sand, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; 95 percent sand; 4 percent silt; 1 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few medium and coarse roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 45 percent subangular very strongly cemented granite gravel, 20 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 10 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones, 3 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite boulders; NaF pH 9.5; strongly acid (pH 5.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (15 to 75 cm thick) Lab sample # 16N00938

Cd--116 to 155 cm; white (10YR 8/1) extremely cobbly coarse sand, light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) moist; 97 percent sand; 3 percent silt; massive; very hard, extremely firm, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots at top of horizon and common very coarse roots in cracks; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 35 percent subangular very strongly cemented granite gravel, 20 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite cobbles, 8 percent subrounded very strongly cemented granite stones; NaF pH 9.1; moderately acid (pH 5.6). Lab sample # 16N00939

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, Tyndall Creek; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: Mount Brewer, California; WGS84 36.627453 latitude and -118.393802 longitude; UTM zone 11 4054451 meters N 375378 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 1 to 7 degrees C and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is more than 6 degrees C. The soils have a cryic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about August to October (about 90 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 18 cm
Depth to densic contact: 100 to 200 cm

Acid-oxalate extractable Al plus 1/2 Fe: 0.4 to 2.0 percent (by weight) in an 18 cm thick layer within a depth of 75 cm from the mineral soil surface

Volcanic glass: 5 to 30 percent in the 0.02 to 2.0 mm fraction in an 18 cm thick layer within a depth of 75cm from the mineral soil surface

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent, with 15 to 50 percent gravel, 5 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 25 percent stones and 0 to 10 percent boulders.
Clay content: 1 to 8 percent
NaF pH: 9.0 to 11.0

A horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, coarse sandy loam, loamy sand, loamy coarse sand
Clay content: 1 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 60 percent
0 to 45 percent gravel
0 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: extremely acid to moderately acid

Bw horizon (or BC horizon, where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6, dry or moist
Texture: sand, coarse sandy loam, loamy sand, loamy coarse sand, coarse sand
Clay content: 1 to 12 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 85 percent
5 to 50 percent gravel
5 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 25 percent stones
0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: very strongly to slightly acid

C horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Texture: loamy sand, loamy coarse sand, coarse sand, sand
Clay content: 0 to 12 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 80 percent
15 to 50 percent gravel
0 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 25 percent stones
0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: very strongly to moderately acid

Cd horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 6 to 8 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, loamy sand, loamy coarse sand, coarse sand
Clay content: 0 to 8 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent
15 to 50 percent gravel
0 to 25 percent cobbles
0 to 20 percent stones
0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: very strongly to slightly acid

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Evolution, Lapin, and McDermand soils. Evolution soils and have a densic contact and redox concentrations between 100 and 150 cm of the mineral soil surface. Lapin soils have a densic contact between 50 and 100 cm. McDermand soils have a lithic contact between 50 and 100 cm.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Siberian soils are on backslopes and footslope positions on ground moraines on glacial valley floors, mountain slopes, plateaus, glacial-valley walls, and basins. Slopes range from 3 to 60 percent. These soils formed in till and colluvium derived from granite, granodiorite, and less commonly metamorphic rocks. Elevation is 2485 to 3760 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 510 to 1360 mm and the mean annual air temperature is -1 to 6 degrees C. The frost free season is 50 to 110 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Canisrocks and the competing Evolution soils. The Canisrocks soils are formed in colluvium on footslope and backslope positions of mountain slopes and do not have a densic contact . The Evolution soils are formed in till in concave footslope and toeslope positions on ground moraines on glacial valley floors and cirque floors, have redoximorphic features, and are moderately well drained.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, high to very high saturated hydraulic conductivity. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the densic material is moderately low to moderately high.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is foxtail pine and lodgepole pine.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Mountains of California; MLRA 22A. These soils are of moderate extent.

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

SERIES PROPOSED: Tulare County, California in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Source of name from Siberian Plateau in Sequoia National Park.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 30 to 105 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon 0 to 18 cm
Densic Contact 116 cm
Densic Materials 116 to 155 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
Lab Pedon #: 16N0258
NASIS User Pedon ID: S2015CA107005

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

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.