LOCATION TECHICKNOT IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calciargidic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Techicknot loam, rangeland; on a 1 percent slope at 5,350 feet elevation under threetip sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass. When described on July 19, 1979, the soil was dry throughout. (Color is for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak thin platy structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; 2 percent basalt gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Bt1--4 to 12 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent basalt gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 11 inches thick)
Bt2--12 to 29 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular and irregular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent basalt gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 17 inches thick)
Bk1--29 to 48 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; many hard coarse rounded nodules or cicada krotovinas; violently effervescent (25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); 3 percent basalt gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 21 inches thick)
Bk2--48 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent (20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); 5 percent basalt gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Butte County, Idaho; about 7 miles south of Arco; about 75 feet south and 2,000 west of the northeast corner of sec. 1, T.2N., R.26E. Latitude - 43 degrees, 32 minutes, 13 seconds north. Longitude - 113 degrees, 19 minutes, 50 seconds west.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS
Profile: Thickness of the mollic - 10 to 15 inches
Average annual soil temperature - 44 to 46 degrees F.
Depth to calcic horizon - 20 to 33 inches
Particle-size control section:
Clay content - 25 to 35 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 10 percent
A horizon:
Value - 4 or 5 dry
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 5 percent
Bt1 horizon:
Value - 4 or 5 dry
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture - L, SICL or CL
Rock fragments - 0 to 10 percent
Reaction - slightly or moderately alkaline
Bt2 horizon:
Value - 5 or 6 dry and 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 2 through 4 dry or moist
Texture - SICL or CL
Reaction - slightly or moderately alkaline
Rock fragments - 0 to 10 percent
Bk horizons:
Value - 6 or 7 dry and 4 through 6 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture - L, SIL, CL or SICL
Reaction - moderately or strongly alkaline
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dishpan, Eldgin (T), Fenelon, Shenon (T), Singletree, and Techick series. Dishpan soils are moderately deep to basalt. Eldgin soils have hues redder than 10YR in the argillic horizon and have sand or loamy sand textures at 24 to 35 inches. Fenelon soils are moderately deep to soft siltstone. Shenon soils have secondary lime at depths of 9 to 15 inches. Singletree soils have mollic epipedons 15 to 20 inches thick. Techick soils have secondary lime at 8 to 15 inches and sand and gravel below 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Techicknot soils formed in alluvium from loess in basins on lava plains. Slopes are 0 to 12 percent. Elevation ranges from 4,800 to 5,800 feet. The average annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 12 inches. Additional moisture comes from early spring runoff. The average annual air temperature is about 43 to 45 degrees F. The frost free season is 70 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Atom, Nargon, Beartrap, Deuce, McCarey, and Menan soils. All of these soils have an ochric epipedon. Atom and Beartrap soils are on higher positions than Techicknot soils. Argon and Deuce soils are on higher positions and near rock outcrop. McCarey soils are on north-facing slopes on higher positions. Menan soils are on similar positions as Techicknot but are dryer.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; very slow to medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is mainly threetip sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Idaho. Techicknot soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLLISHED: Butte County Area, Idaho, 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to 12 inches (the A and Bt1 horizons).
Argillic horizon - the zone from 4 to 29 inches (the Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
Calcic horizon - the zone from 29 to 60 inches (the Bk1 and Bk2 horizons).
Particle-size control section - the zone from 4 to 24 inches (the upper 20 inches of the argillic, the Bt1 and part of the Bt2 horizons)