LOCATION UPSATA MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed Andic Haplocryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Upsata gravelly ashy fine sandy loam in coniferous forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
0i--0 to 2 inches; undecomposed and slightly decomposed forest litter.
E--2 to 4 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) ashy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, fine, and medium roots; many very fine pores; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bw--4 to 15 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly ashy fine sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, fine, and medium roots; many very fine pores; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.7); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 13 inches thick)
2C1--15 to 42 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (7.5YR 5/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine, fine, and medium roots; 50 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual smooth boundary. (14 to 32 inches thick)
2C2--42 to 60 inches; pink (5YR 7/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, reddish gray (5YR 5/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine, fine, and medium roots; many very fine and fine pores; 50 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 5.9).
TYPE LOCATION: Missoula County, Montana; 3,000 feet east and 1,200 feet south of the NW corner or sec. 10, T. 16 N., R. 16 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 38 to 42 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 12 and 35 inches.
Base saturation - more than 60 percent below 13 inches.
Some pedons have a BC horizon.
E horizon - Value: 6 or 7 dry; 3, 4, or 5 moist
Texture: ashy loam, ashy fine sandy loam, ashy very fine sandy loam or ashy silt loam
Clay content: 3 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Acid oxalate extractable Al + 1/2 Fe: more than 1 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.0 g/cc or less
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 6.5
Bw horizon - Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 4, 5, or 6
Texture: ashy fine sandy loam, ashy very fine sandy loam, ashy silt loam
Clay content: 3 to 7 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 15 to 30 percent gravel
Acid oxalate extractable Al + 1/2 Fe: more than 1 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.0 g/cc or less
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 6.5
2C horizons - Hue: 5YR, 2.5YR, or 7.5YR
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4
Texture: loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, or sand
Clay content: 0 to 5 percent
Rock fragments: 80 to 85 percent--15 to 25 percent cobbles; 45 to 60 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 5.1 to 6.5
COMPETING SERIES:
Bluebuck (WA) - has a xeric moisture regime.
Bromas (WA) - has a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches; has a xeric moisture regime.
Littlesalmon (ID) - has a paralithic contact at 40 to 60 inches.
Roman (ID) - has 2Bw and 2BC horizons; is well drained; has bouldery to extremely bouldery surface layer.
Sitdown (WA) - has a xeric moisture regime.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform- stream terraces and glacial outwash plains and terraces in cool, narrow valleys affected by cold air drainage.
Elevation - 3,300 to 5,000 feet.
Slope - 0 to 60 percent.
Parent material - volcanic ash over alluvium or outwash derived from mixed rock sources.
Climate - long, cold winters; cool moist springs; short summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 22 to 30 inches, much of which falls as snow and spring rain.
Mean annual temperature - 36 to 40 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 40 to 70 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; moderately rapid permeability to about 15 inches and very rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Upsata soils are used for production of forest products, wildlife habitat, and watersheds. The native vegetation is coniferous forest consisting of subalpine fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and Douglas-fir with an understory of pinegrass, blue huckleberry, common beargrass, twinflower, and grouse whortleberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Upsata soils are of small extent in western Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Missoula County, Montana, 1985.
REMARKS: Soil Interpretation Record MT0408. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: an ochric epipedon from the mineral soil surface to 7 inches (E, Bw horizons); an albic horizon from the mineral soil surface to 4 inches (E horizon); an ash influenced layer from 2 to 15 inches (E, Bw horizon); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (Bw, 2C1 horizons). Upsata soils have a cryic temperature regime and a udic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory data--S70 MONT-32-11.
The 3/2008 description reflects a change in classification from Sandy-skeletal, mixed Andic Eutrocryepts to Sandy-skeletal, mixed Andic Haplocryepts due to revision of the cryepts great groups and subgroups. The competing series section was not updated and should be reviewed after all the cryepts have been re-classified.