LOCATION VILLMEAGHER MT
Tentative Series
Rev. LCB-DRS-EMM
09/2014
VILLMEAGHER SERIES
The Villmeagher series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on flood plains. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 15 inches and mean annual temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Typic Endoaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Villmeagher silt loam, in irrigated hayland (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 4 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; slightly decomposed organic layer; strongly effervescent; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Akg--4 to 9 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silt loam, light gray (10YR 7/1) dry; moderate thin platy structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bkg1--9 to 21 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silt loam, light gray (5Y 7/1) dry; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate very fine and fine granular; soft, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; few fine prominent brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist redox concentrations; disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Bkg2--21 to 27 inches; light gray (5Y 7/2) silt loam; white (5Y 8/1) dry; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; many coarse distinct gray (5Y 5/1) and many coarse prominent brown (7.5YR 4/4) redox concentrations, moist; disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Bkg3--27 to 44 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silt loam with thin strata of loam and sandy loam, gray (5Y 6/1) dry; massive; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; many coarse prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist redox concentrations; disseminated lime; common fine masses and threads of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Bkg4--44 to 54 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam with thin strata of silt loam and sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; many coarse prominent brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist redox concentrations; 10 percent gravel; disseminated lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
2C--54 to 60 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) very gravelly sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; 50 percent gravel; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Meagher County, Montana; 2,200 feet north and 1,000 feet east of the SW corner of sec. 12, T. 8 N., R 6 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 40 to 45 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to water table - 12 to 24 inches.
Depth to very gravelly 2C horizon - 40 to 60 inches.
Akg horizon
Hue: 10YR or 5Y
Value: 4 or 5 moist; 6 or 7 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2, dry or moist
Clay content: 20 to 27 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 40 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bkg1 horizon
Hue: 5Y or 2.5Y; redox concentrations 5Y or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 moist, 7 or 8 dry; redox concentrations 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist; redox concentrations 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bkg2, Bkg3 horizon
Hue: 5Y or 2.5Y; redox concentrations 5Y or 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 moist, 6, 7, or 8 dry; redox concentrations 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist; redox concentrations 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Bkg4 horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y; redox concentrations 7.5YR or 5Y
Value: 5 or 6 moist, 6 or 7 dry; redox concentrations 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist; redox concentrations 4 or 6
Texture: silt loam, loam, sandy loam
Clay content: 15 to 25 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
2C horizon (when present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles.
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - flood plains.
Elevation - 4,500 to 5,200 feet.
Slope - 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; short, warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 12 to 19 inches, most of which falls during spring and early summer.
Mean annual air temperature - 38 to 43 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Villmeagher soils are used mainly for grass hay and grazing for livestock. The potential native vegetation is mainly tall reedgrasses, mannagrasses, tufted hairgrass, bearded wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, sedges, other perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Villmeagher soils are of small extent in the valleys of western Montana. MLRAs 43B, 44B, and 46.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES PROPOSED: Meagher County, Montana, 1992.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 7 inches, mixed (Akg horizon)
Calcic horizon - the zone from the soil surface to 50 inches (Akg, Bkg1, Bkg2, Bkg3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (Bkg1, Bkg2, Bkg3 horizons)
Discontinuity - at 50 inches (2C horizon)
Villmeagher soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.
REMARKS: Soil Interpretation record: MT1464.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.