LOCATION TELEGRAPH CA
Established Series
REV: JWH/JTB/ET
12/2010
TELEGRAPH SERIES
The Telegraph series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone. Telegraph soils are on mountains. Slopes range from 30 to 50 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 2160 millimeters and the mean annual temperature is about 11 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, isotic, isomesic Typic Haplustults
TYPICAL PEDON: Telegraph loam on an east facing 45 percent slope under Douglas-fir, tanoak, Pacific madrone, redwood, and huckleberry, at an elevation of 440 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) When described on 08/21/03, the soil was dry to 100 cm.
Oi--0 to 3 centimeters; 75 percent very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) and 25 percent pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) slightly decomposed plant material, black (7.5YR 2.5/1) rubbed; about 75 percent fiber, 50 percent rubbed; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 centimeters)
A--3 to 10 centimeters; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 3 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 20 centimeters thick)
BAt--10 to 38 centimeters; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots throughout; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 2 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 30 centimeters thick)
Bt1--38 to 53 centimeters; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common very fine, fine, and medium tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 2 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.9); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 30 centimeters thick)
Bt2--53 to 89 centimeters; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fine sandy loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine and medium tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 2 percent gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.5); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 50 centimeters thick)
BCt--89 to 137 centimeters; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; weak fine and medium angular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 2 percent gravel and 5 percent paragravel; strongly acid (pH 5.2); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 50 centimeters thick)
C--137 to 200 centimeters; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; massive; moderately hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent subangular gravel, 5 percent subangular cobbles, and 15 percent paragravel; strongly acid (pH 5.1). (50 to 100 centimeters thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Humboldt County, California; about 2 miles southwest of Briceland, CA, USGS Briceland Quadrangle, CA; 40 degrees 04 minutes 24 seconds north latitude and 123 degrees 56 minutes 14 seconds west longitude; zone 10 0420171mE, 4436135mN; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 centimeters is 9 to 11 degrees C. (48 to 51 degrees F) and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures is less than 6 degrees C. This soil has an isomesic soil temperature regime.
Soil Moisture: The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for 90 or more cumulative days in normal years and it is moist in some part for more than 180 cumulative days or for 90 or more consecutive days per year. This soil has an ustic soil temperature regime.
Surface fragments: 0 to 14 percent gravel
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent clay
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent
Base Saturation at the required depth by sum of cations is less than 35 percent
A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Clay Content: 15 to 21 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: strongly to slightly acid
Bt horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6 dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth: loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent gravel and 0 to 20 percent paragravel
Reaction: moderately or strongly acid
C horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6 dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 17 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 34 percent strongly cemented sandstone gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles.
Pararock fragments: 5 to 34 percent moderately cemented sandstone gravel
Reaction: very strongly or strongly acid
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Telegraph soils are on linear to slightly convex positions on backslopes of mountains. Slopes are from 30 to 50 percent. Elevations range from 185 to 505 meters. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone. The climate is humid with cool, foggy summers and cool, wet winters. Mean annual precipitation is 1525 to 3050 millimeters and the mean annual temperature is 10 to 12 degrees C. The frost-free period is 240 to 280 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Sproulish,
Gibsoncreek, and
Redwohly soils. Sproulish soils lack a C horizon above 150 centimeters and lack argillic horizons. Gibsoncreek soils lack an argillic horizon. Redwohly soils have paragravel textures between 50 to 100 centimeters of the soil surface. Sproulish soils are found on linear to slightly concave positions. Gibsoncreek soils are on linear to convex positions. Redwohly soils are located on convex positions.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; high runoff; moderately high to moderately low saturated hydraulic conductivity.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used mainly for timber production, wildlife habitat, and for watershed. Natural vegetation is tanoak, Douglas-fir, Oregon white oak, Pacific madrone, coast redwood, and huckleberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coastal Redwood Belt, MLRA 4B. These soils are of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Humboldt County, South Part, CA, 2010. The name is from Telegraph ridge.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: The zone from 0 to 10 centimeters. (Oi and A horizons)
Argillic horizon: The zone from 38 to 137 centimeters. (Bt1, Bt2, and BCt horizons)
Particle size control section: The zone from 38 to 88 centimeters. (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL Pedon No. 05N0132, Humboldt County, CA. 10/04
Ratio of clay to 15 bar water content shows poor dispersion throughout.
Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 10th edition.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.