LOCATION STYLITE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcic Argigypsids
TYPICAL PEDON: Stylite fine sandy loam on a convex southeast-facing slope of two percent with native grass vegetation utilized for rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
BA--2 to 4 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (2 or 3 inches thick)
Bt--4 to 14 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium columnar structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; few fine and very fine discontinuous pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Btk--14 to 21 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium columnar structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as common fine soft masses (20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent by calcimeter); moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
Bk--21 to 30 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) clay loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few fine soft masses (10 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bky1--30 to 40 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine discontinuous pores; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few fine soft masses; many (30 percent) fine and few (2 percent) medium soft masses of gypsum; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 24 inches thick)
Bky2--40 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine discontinuous pores; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few fine soft masses; many (30 percent) fine and common (5 percent) medium soft masses of gypsum; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9).
TYPE LOCATION: Albany County, Wyoming; about 12 miles west of Laramie; approximately 150 feet north and 2,300 feet west of the SE corner of Sec. 2, T. 15 N., R. 74 W.
RANGE OF CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 40 to 47 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature: 59 to 63 degrees F.
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 16 to 21 inches
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate accumulations: 4 to 14 inches
Depth to calcic horizon: 4 to 15 inches
Depth to gypsic horizon: 24 to 30 inches
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent pebbles throughout
Particle-size control section: 20 to 30 percent clay with 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser
A horizon:
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Bt horizon:
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Btk horizon:
Value: 6 or 7 dry
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
Bk horizon:
Value: 7 or 8 dry
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 20 percent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
Bky horizon:
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 3 through 6 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Visible gypsum content: 15 to 40 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: There are no current competitors in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: slope alluvium derived from gypsiferous sediments
Landform: low ridges and hillslopes
Slopes: 1 to 8 percent
Elevation: 5,600 to 7,500 feet
Mean annual precipitation: 10 to 15 inches with peak periods occurring in April, May, and early June
Frost-free period: 85 to 110 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY RELATED SOILS: These are the Luhon, Luvar, Rock River, and Stunner soils. Luhon, Rock River, and Stunner soils do not have a gypsic horizon. Luvar soils do not have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Stylite soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is western wheatgrass, needleandthread, green needlegrass, and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Wyoming. This soil is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Albany County (Albany County Area), Wyoming; 1991.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 4 inches (A, BA).
Argillic horizon - 4 to 21 inches (Bt, Btk).
Calcic horizon - 14 to 21 inches (Btk).
Gypsic horizon - 30 to 60 inches (By1, By2).
Classification changed from Borollic Haplargids to frigid Calcic Argigypsids 5/1999. Horizonation and morphology were also updated 5/1999.
Taxonomic version: Eighth Edition, 1998.