LOCATION SOUTHBALDY CO
Established Series
Rev. CRP/JCK
04/2019
SOUTHBALDY SERIES
The Southbaldy series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium, colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone and shale. Southbaldy soils are on cuestas and structural benches. Slopes are 0 to 35 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: Southbaldy loam, on a southeast-facing 19 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of 2,646 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The surface is very stony.
A--0 to 28 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, and few medium roots; 6 percent channers and 2 percent flagstones; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (18 to 76 cm thick)
Bt1--28 to 48 cm; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, and few medium roots; few fine dendritic tubular pores; 50 percent distinct clay films on faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; 12 percent channers and 5 percent flagstone; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 30 cm thick)
Bt2--48 to 58 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/3) very gravelly clay loam; brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and few medium roots; few fine dendritic tubular pores; 70 percent distinct clay films on faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; 25 percent channers, 10 percent flagstones and 5 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt irregular boundary. (8 to 50 cm thick)
R--58 to 152 cm; hard sandstone bedrock
TYPE LOCATION: Ouray County, Colorado; located about 640 meters north and 28 meters east of the southwest corner of sec. 33, T. 45 N., R. 9W.; Mount Sneffels USGS quad; lat. 38 degrees 6 minutes 25.5 seconds N. and long. 107 degrees 52 minutes 19 seconds W., NAD 1927
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 5 to 8 degrees C
Mollic epipedon thickness - 40 to 76 cm
Depth to lithic contact - 50 to 100 cm to hard sandstone
Particle size control section (weighted average):
Clay content - 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments - 15 to 35 percent sandstone channers, gravel, cobbles, flagstones or stones
A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3, 4, or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent--0 to 15 percent channers or gravel; 0 to 10 percent flagstones or cobbles; 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.4
Bt horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3, 4, 5, to 6 dry, 2, 3, 4, or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3 dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 45 percent--0 to 35 percent channers or gravel; 0 to 15 percent flagstones or cobbles; 0 to 10 percent stones
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Bowbells (ND) - are very deep; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Cambern (AZ) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Carfall (MT) - are very deep
Center Creek (UT) - are very deep; have a lithologic discontinuity
Chugcreek (WY) - have granitic rock fragments; formed in granite
Detra (UT) - have a lithic contact at depths of 100 to 150 cm
Fiesta (NM) - have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Flaxton (ND) - are very deep; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Gordo (AZ) - have a paralithic contact; have a lithologic discontinuity
Hereford (AZ) - are very deep; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Hesperus (CO - are very deep
Jaythree (NM) - are very deep
Laceycreek (MT) - are very deep; have a lithologic discontinuity
Ohwiler (CO) - are very deep
Pachel (MT) - are very deep; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Schauson (UT) - are very deep
Shermap (CO) - are very deep
Todacheene (NM) - are very deep; have a lithologic discontinuity
Tschicoma (NM) - are very deep
Weed (CO) - are very deep; have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - cuestas and structural benches
Elevation - 2,073 to 2,743 meters
Slope - 3 to 35 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium, colluvium and residuum 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: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate to moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Southbaldy soils are used mainly for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Saskatoon serviceberry, Gambel oak, mountain snowberry, mountain brome, Letterman's needlegrass and slender wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southbaldy soils are of small extent in southwestern Colorado. MLRA 36 and 48A.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ouray County, Colorado - 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 48 cm (A and Bt1 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 28 to 58 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Lithic contact - at 58 cm (R horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 28 to 58 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Southbaldy soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.