LOCATION TALUCE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic, shallow Ustic Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Taluce sandy loam-on a convex north-facing slope, used as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 4 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; slightly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
C--4 to 9 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium platy rock structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; slightly effervescent, calcium carbonate disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2). (5 to 18 inches thick)
Cr--9 inches; soft, platy sandstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; 50 feet north and 100 feet east of the SW corner of sec. 31, T. 38 N., R. 78 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to bedrock ranges from 6 to 20 inches. Typically, these soils are calcareous throughout, but some pedons are leached to a depth of as much as 4 inches. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent. The particle-size control section has 10 to 18 percent clay. The soil is dry in the moisture control section more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F. and is never moist in some or all parts for as long as 60 consecutive days when the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F., which occurs about April 21-27. It is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days from July 15 to October 25 and for at least 90 cumulative days during this period.
The A horizon has a hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 4 to 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy sand or loamy fine sand. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline. Some pedons have a thin Bw horizon. Rock fragments range from 0 to 20 percent.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. It is sandy loam, fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam and has 10 to 18 percent clay. Some pedons have slight accumulations of calcium carbonate. Reaction is slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline. Rock fragments range from 0 to 20 percent.
The Cr horizon is calcareous sandstone that can be interbedded with mudstone or shale.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Canyon, Epping, Eslendo, Gerest, Picante, Redarrow, Sandoval, Shingle and Tassel series (it is assumed the Picante and Sandoval series are competing pending an update of the classification). Canyon, Gerst, Sandoval and Shingle soils have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control sections. Redarrow soils have hue of 5YR or redder. Epping soils have loam or silt loam textures. Eslendo and Picante soils are intermittently moist in some parts of the moisture control section from July through September. In addition, Picante soils also have soil temperatures warmer than 41 degrees F. for 195 to 210 days. Tassel soils have 10 percent or less clay in the particle size control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Taluce soils are on ridges and hills. Slope ranges from 3 to 70 percent. They formed in residuum and slope alluvium derived from sandstone. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 17 inches with over half of the precipitation falling in April, May, and June and less than one inch falling in each month of July, August, September, and October. The mean annual air temperature is 42 to 51 degrees F. Elevation is 3,500 to 6,500 feet. The frost-free season is 100 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Shingle soils and the Bowbac and Terro soils. Bowbac and Terro soils are on more stable upland slopes. They have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches and argillic horizons. In addition, Bowbac soils have 18 to 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Shingle soils are on similar landscape as the Taluce soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is medium or rapid; permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, needleandthread, threadleaf sedge, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central, northern, and eastern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fremont County, Wyoming, East Part; 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 4 inches (A)
Paralithic contact - 9 inches (Cr)
SIR- WY0956