LOCATION SYCLE COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Sycle fine sandy loam - irrigated pasture. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Ap--0 to 10 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium and fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
BA--10 to 14 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granules; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 8 inches thick)
Bw--14 to 22 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
Bk--22 to 26 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) gravelly sandy loam, reddish brown (5YR 5/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 20 percent pebbles; strongly effervescent; few irregular masses of calcium carbonate visible; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
2C--26 to 60 inches; extremely cobbly sand; 25 percent pebbles, 45 percent cobble.
TYPE LOCATION: La Plata County, Colorado; South of Durango about 2 miles on the west side of the Animas River, about 100 feet north and 100 feet east of the southwest corner of Sec. 33, T. 34-1/2 N., R. 9 W. U.S.G.S. Loma Linda quad.; Lat. 37 degrees, 14 minutes, 30 seconds N., and Long. 107 degrees, 51 minutes, 57 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the contrasting 2C horizon ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 7 to 15 inches. Depth to carbonates ranges from 10 to 30 inches but may be calcareous to the surface in some pedons. The moisture control section is dry for 15 consecutive days from May 15 to July 15 when the soil temperature at 20 inches is greater than 41 degrees F. (5 degrees C.). It is not dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 45 consecutive days following the summer solstice to October 20 and for at least 90 cumulative days during that period.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 or 5, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is sandy clay loam or light clay loam. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Clay content ranges from 20 to 35 percent.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. It is gravelly sandy loam, sandy loam or loam. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The 2C horizon is calcareous mixed sand, cobble, and gravel.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Cheyenne (NE) series. The Cheyenne soils have hue of 10YR and receive over three-fourths of their precipitation between April through September.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sycle soils are on nearly level terraces. Slopes are 0 to 3 percent. These soils formed in alluvium overlying river deposited cobble and gravel. Elevation is 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Mean annual temperature ranges from 45 to 50 degrees F., and the mean summer temperature ranges from 60 to 68 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 19 inches and is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year with about half of the precipitation falling between April and September. May and June are the driest months. PE Index is about 50 at the type location and ranges from 30 to 60 for the series.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Harlan, Shalona, and Tefton soils. Harlan and Shalona soils have argillic horizons and are on older terraces. Tefton soils are somewhat poorly drained soils on flood plains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated crops and grazing land. The principal crops grown in irrigated areas are alfalfa, barley, oats, and wheat. Range vegetation consists of Indian ricegrass, needleandthread grass, western wheatgrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sycle soils occur in Western Colorado. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: La Plata County Area, Colorado, 1982.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: a mollic epipedon; a cambic horizon from 14 to 22 inches; sandy-skeletal substratum at depths of 20 to 40 inches; an aridic-ustic moisture regime; and a mesic temperature regime. Last updated by the state 3/95.