LOCATION TULEBASIN CA

Established Series
Rev. JJJ/WCL/DJE
01/2023

TULEBASIN SERIES

The Tulebasin series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in lacustrine deposits derived from diatoms and volcanic ash. These soils are in lake basins and have slopes of 0 to 1 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 11 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 47 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquandic Endoaquolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Tulebasin mucky silty clay loam--on a 0 percent slope in a fallow field at 4035 feet elevation. (When described on October 24, 1984, the soil was moist throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Ap--0 to 14 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) mucky silty clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)

AC--14 to 22 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silty clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist with few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; weak medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)

C1--22 to 32 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist with few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; mod erate fine platy structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (13 to 17 inches thick)

C2--32 to 45 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist with few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (13 to 17 inches thick)

C3--45 to 50 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist with few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; weak medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky an plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)

C4--50 to 60 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky an plastic; few very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Siskiyou County, California; about 450 feet east of Hwy 139, 1,400 feet north, 500 feet west of the southeast corner of section 35, T. 48 N., R. 4 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth of lacustrine material is 60 inches or more. The mean annual soil temperature ranges form 48 degrees F. to 52 degrees F. Bulk density at 1/3 bar water retention is .85 to .95 gm/cc in the upper 75 cm. The ratio of measured clay tp 15-bar water ranges from, .5 t0 1.2. Solium absorption ratio ranges from 0 to 8. The exchange complex is influenced by amorphous material and the soils have high amounts of diatoms. The weighted average clay content of the 10 to 40 inch textural control section is 35 to 50 percent. Mollic epipedon ranges from 14 to 32 inches thick.

The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 4/1, 5/1, or 5/2 and moist color of 10YR 2/1, 3/1 or 3/2. Reaction ranges form neutral to moderately alkaline. Clay content ranges from 30 to 40 percent. Electrical conductivity ranges form 0 to 2. Organic matter ranges from 0 to 2. Organic matter ranges form 10 to 15 percent.

The C horizon has dry color of 2.5Y 5/1, 5/2, 6/2, 7/2, 8/2 and moist color of 2.5Y 3/2, 4/2, 4/4 or 5/2. The clay content in the upper part of the C horizon ranges from 40 to 50 percent and texture is silty clay. In the lower part of the C horizon, the clay content ranges from 30 to 50 percent and texture is silty clay loam or silty clay. The electric conductivity ranges form 2 to 8. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Pasquetti and Odenson series in other families. Pasquetti soils have a fine-loamy textural control section. Odenson soils have a frigid temperature regime.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Tulebasin soils are in lake basins. Slopes are 0 to 1 percent. The soils formed in lacustrine deposits derived from diatoms and volcanic ash. Elevations are form 4,030 to 4,050. The climate is semiarid with warm dry summers and cold moist winters. The average annual precipitation is about 10 to 12 inches. Snowfall is 15 to 25 inches. The average annual temperature is about 46 to 48 degrees F. The average January temperature is about 28 to 31 degrees F. The average July temperature is about 64 to 66 degrees F. Frost-free season is about 60 to 80 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATE SOILS: These are the Capjac, Fordney, Laki and Tulana soils. Capjac and Tulana soils have a medial textural control sections. Laki soils have a fine-loamy textural control section. Fordney soils have a sandy textural control section.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; runoff very slow; permeability is slow. Under natural conditions this oils was frequently covered with water, now the soils are protected by dikes and levees. Due to the irrigation methods the water table is at a depth of 18 to 36 inches form March to September. During the rest of the year the soils are artificially rained by pumping.

USE AND VEGETATION: Tulebasin soils are used as cropland and for hay and pasture. Crops commonly grown are irrigate wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and alfalfa.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northcentral California. These soils are moderately extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Siskiyou County, California, Butte Valley-Tule Lake Soil Survey, 1985.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the pedon are:

Mollic epipedon-Zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 22 inches (Ap, AC).

Control section--The zone form about 10 to 40 inches.

Sand Silt Clay
---- ---- ----
10-14" 8 58 34
14-22" 4 54 42
22-32" 0 56 44
32-40" 0 66 34

Weighted average clay content of the textural control section is 38.6.

Aquic moisture--The lower part of the mollic epipedon has chroma of 2 and has distinct mottles.

OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 3/86.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.