LOCATION STAKE IDEstablished Series
The Stake series consists of very deep, well drained, slowly permeable
soils that formed in mixed alluvium. They are on low stream terraces
and flood plains and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. The average annual
temperature is about 48 degrees F, and the average annual precipitation
is about 10 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Stake silty clay loam--cropland. On a less than 1
percent, smooth slope. (When described the profile was moist
throughout. Colors are for air dry soil unless otherwise stated. This
profile was described June 15, 1978.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silty clay loam, very
dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; strong fine subangular blocky structure;
hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common medium, fine and very fine
roots; many very fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent (5 percent
calcium carbonate); moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth
boundary. (8 to 10 inches thick)
2A2b--9 to 13 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark
gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate coarse and medium platy structure;
hard, very friable, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine
roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent (1 percent
calcium carbonate); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt discontinuous
boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
3A3b--13 to 19 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) silty clay loam, very dark
gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky
structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common very fine roots;
many very fine, common medium and fine tubular pores; slightly
effervescent (4 percent calcium carbonate); moderately alkaline (pH
8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
4A4b--19 to 30 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay, black (10YR
2/1) moist; strong medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard,
friable, sticky and plastic; common very fine roots; many medium and
very fine tubular pores; mildly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy
boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
5A5b--30 to 40 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) silty clay loam, very dark
grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and very fine subangular
blocky structure; hard, very friable, sticky and plastic; common very
fine roots; common medium and fine and many very fine tubular pores;
mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)
5Bk1--40 to 50 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) silty clay loam, very dark
grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; common medium prominent dark yellowish
brown (10YR 4/6) mottles moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; hard,
friable, sticky and very plastic; few medium and fine roots; many very
fine tubular pores; common fine irregular lime seams, slightly
effervescent (3 percent calcium carbonate); 4 percent pebbles; mildly
alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
5Bk2--50 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) silt loam, brown (10YR
5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and
slightly plastic; common medium and fine roots; common medium and fine
and many very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent (13 percent
calcium carbonate); moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt wavy
boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)
6Ck--60 to 65 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, dark
grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable; few
very fine roots; common coarse irregular and many fine tubular pores;
strongly effervescent (15 percent calcium carbonate); moderately
alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Cassia County, Idaho, about 6 miles south of Malta,
Idaho; about 600 feet east and 2280 feet south of the northwest corner
of sec. 8, T.14S., R.27E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the mollic epipedon - 28 to 54 inches
Particle size control section - Clay content - 35 to 50 percent
Average annual soil temperature - 49 to 52 degrees F.
A horizons
Value- 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma- 1 or 2
Texture - SICL or SIL
Clay content - 25 to 35 percent
Bw horizons
Value- 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma- 1 or 2
Texture - SICL, SIC, or C
Clay content - 35 to 50 percent
Reaction - mildly to moderately alkaline
Bk horizons
Hue- 10YR or 2.5Y
Value- 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma- 1 to 3
Texture - SICL, stratified SIL and SL
Reaction - mildly to moderately alkaline
C horizon
Hue- 2.5Y to 10YR
Value- 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma- 2 or 3
Texture - stratified SIL and SL
Rock fragment content - 0 to 30 percent pebbles
COMPETING SERIES: There are no series listed in the same family.
Similar soils are the Caldwell, Keigley, and Snow series. These soils
have a fine-silty control section. Caldwell and Snow soils are
noncalcareous throughout. Keigley soils have 15 to 30 percent calcium
carbonate throughout the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Stake soils are on nearly level low stream
terraces and flood plains. Elevations range from 4200 to 4900 feet.
They formed in mixed alluvium. The climate is cold and moist in the
winter and hot and dry in the summer. Average annual precipitation
ranges from 8 to 12 inches including 1 to 2 feet of snow. Average
annual air temperature ranges from 47 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free
period is 100 to 135 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Freedom, Genola and
Idahome(T) series. All of these soils lack a mollic epipedon. Genola
and Freedom soils have a fine-silty control section. Freedom and
Idahome soils have calcic horizons. Idahome soils have a coarse-silty
control section. Genola soils are on flood plains and stream terraces
adjacent to Stake soils. Freedom soils are on stream terraces above
Genola and Stake soils. Idahome Soils are on fan terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; very slow runoff; slow
permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all is used for irrigated crops. The
principal crops are alfalfa and small grains.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Idaho. These soils are
inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cassia County, Idaho, 1986.
REMARKS: NSSL SAMPLE S78ID-031-002.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Cumulic mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to 50 inches (Ap,
2A2b, 3A3b, 4A4b, 5A5b and 5Bk1 horizons)
Control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (2A2b, 3A3b, 4A4b and
5A5b horizons)
National Cooperative Soil Survey