LOCATION TELECAN            WY
Established Series
CHP/PSD
02/1999

TELECAN SERIES


The Telecan series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium from interbedded sandstone and limestone. These soils are on nearly level to gently sloping alluvial fans, fan aprons, and valley fills. Permeability is moderate. Slopes range from 1 to 6 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 12 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Haplustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Telecan fine sandy loam-on a west-facing concave slope of about 4 percent in native grasses and sagebrush. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 4 inches, brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)

Bw1--4 to 16 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine, fine, and medium roots; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)

Bw2--16 to 27 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; very few fine roots; slightly effervescent, lime disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 11 inches thick)

Bk1--27 to 41 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) very fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; very few fine roots; violently effervescent, secondary calcium carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (9 to 28 inches thick)

Bk2--41 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; very few fine roots; violently effervescent, secondary calcium carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Albany County, Wyoming; about 9 miles southeast of Laramie; approximately 1,400 feet east, 2,200 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 6, T. 14 N., R. 72 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to bedrock is from 40 inches to greater than 60 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 19 to 42 inches. Organic carbon decreases irregularly with depth. The soil is dry for less than 90 days cumulative from June 10 to October 10 in most years(Aridic-Ustic). Clay content of the control section ranges from 6 to 18 percent. Depth to accumulation of secondary calcium carbonate ranges from 16 to 27 inches. Reaction of the profile is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 moist; and chroma of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist. Texture is fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam. 0 to 10 percent gravels are present.

The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 3 through 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist; and chroma of 3 through 6 dry, 2 through 6 moist. Texture is very fine sandy loam or fine sandy loam. 0 to 10 percent gravels are present.

The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 3 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist; and chroma of 4 through 6 dry, 2 through 6 moist. Matrix texture is very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. Coarse fragment content ranges from 0 to 35 percent with 0 to 20 percent gravel and 0 to 30 percent cobble.

The C horizon, when present, has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 3 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist; and chroma of 3 through 6 dry, 2 through 6 moist. Coarse fragment content ranges from 5 to 35 percent with 5 to 25 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobble.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Plite and Sowcan series. Plite soils do not have free carbonates in the lower part of the mollic epipedon and do not have Bk horizons. Sowcan soils have Ustic soil moisture regimes and do not have secondary carbonates.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Telecan soils are on nearly level to sloping alluvial fans and valley fills. Slopes are 1 to 6 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from interbedded sandstone and limestone. Elevation is 6,000 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 15 inches. The frost-free season is approximately 60 to 90 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Canwall and Fiveoh series. Canwall soils are 20 to 40 inches deep over bedrock. Fiveoh soils do not have mollic epipedons.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for range and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is mostly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, prairie junegrass, and big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The foothills of southeastern Wyoming. The series is of minor extent.

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:

Mollic epipedon--the zone from the surface of the soil to 41 inches; includes A, Bw1, Bw2, and Bk1 horizons.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.