LOCATION WECHECH                 NV

Established Series
Rev. DJM/LJL/TM/ET
06/2011

WECHECH SERIES

The Wechech series consists of very shallow and shallow over a petrocalcic, well drained soils that formed alluvium derived from limestone and dolomite. The Wechech soils are on fan remnants. Slope ranges from 2 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 150 millimeters (6 inches) and the mean annual air temperature is about 18 degrees C. (65 degrees F.).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, carbonatic, thermic, shallow Calcic Petrocalcids

TYPICAL PEDON: Wechech very gravelly sandy loam - rangeland and wildlife habitat. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. The soil surface is covered by approximately 40 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles.

A--0 to 5 centimeters (0 to 2 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/4) very gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong medium platy structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine and fine vesicular pores; 40 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 8 centimeters thick)

Bk1--5 to 18 centimeters (2 to 7 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine and few medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial and common fine tubular pores; few fine calcium carbonate coats on the bottom of rock fragments; 35 percent gravel; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 15 centimeters thick)

Bk2--18 to 33 centimeters (7 to 13 inches); light brown (7.5YR 6/4) very gravelly sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common medium and few very fine roots; common very fine and few fine interstitial and few fine and medium tubular pores; common moderately coarse calcium carbonate coats on bottom of rock fragments; 40 percent calcium carbonate as concretions and soft masses; 50 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (15 to 30 centimeters thick)

Bkm--33 to 152 centimeters (13 to 60 inches); very pale brown (10YR 8/2) indurated petrocalcic hardpan, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) moist; massive; very rigid, brittle; coarse continuous calcium carbonate laminar cap; alternating indurated and strongly cemented calcium carbonate plates in the lower part; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8)

TYPE LOCATION: Clark County, Nevada; approximately 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) south of Whitney Pocket along the Gold Butte Road; about 268 meters (880 feet) south and 116 meters (380 feet) west of the northeast corner of sec. 34, T. 16 S., R. 70 E.; USGS Whitney Pocket, NV 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; 36 degrees, 30 minutes, 15 seconds north latitude and 114 degrees, 8 minutes, 57 seconds west longitude; UTM 11, 755325e, 4043651n; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture: Usually dry, moist in some part during winter and spring and intermittingly moist in the upper part following summer convection storms. The soils have a typic-aridic soil moisture regime.

Soil temperature: 15 to 22 degrees C. (59 to 71 degrees F.).

Depth to calcic horizon: 5 to 20 centimeters (2 to 8 inches).

Depth to petrocalcic horizon: 20 to 36 centimeters (8 to 14 inches).

Calcium carbonate equivalent in the less than 20 millimeter fraction: 40 to 60 percent.

Control section
Clay content: 8 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 35 to 60 percent.

A horizon:
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR.
Value: 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist.
Chroma: 2 through 4 dry or moist.

Bk1 horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Chroma: 4 through 6 moist.
Texture: Sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
Structure: Fine through coarse.
Consistence: Nonsticky or slightly sticky, nonplastic or slightly plastic.
Calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction: 20 to 30 percent.

Bk2 horizon:
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist.
Chroma: 2 through 4 dry.
Texture: Sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
Consistence: Friable through very firm.
Calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction: 30 to 50 percent.

Bkm horizon:
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR.
Value: 7 or 8 dry, 6 or 7 moist.
Chroma: 2 through 4 dry or moist.
Structure: Massive or platy.
Other features: Calcium carbonate continuously indurated in the upper part with strongly cemented layers or lenses occurring throughout the lower part.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ferrogold (NV), Infantry (NM), Neso (NM), Orrubo (AZ), Paisano (TX), Philder (NM), Sutherland (AZ), Tencee (NM) and Woodvar (NV). Ferrogold soils are greater than 36 centimeters (14 inches) to a hardpan. Infantry soils have greater than 60 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Neso soils have significantly more summer moisture, typical of the Chihuahuan Desert region. Orrubo soils have paralithic contacts at depths ranging from 43 to 76 centimeters (17 to 30 inches). Paisano and Tencee soils have significantly more summer moisture, typical of the Chihuahuan Desert region. Philder soils have an ustic-aridic soil moisture regime. Sutherland soils have an ustic-aridic soil moisture regime. Woodvar soils have rock fragments composed mainly of limestone nodules and concretions and are on lake terraces and alluvial flats.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wechech soils are on fan remnants. These soils formed in alluvium derived from limestone and dolomite. Slope ranges from 2 to 30 percent. Elevations are 550 to 1,375 meters (1,800 to 4,500 feet). The climate is typical of the Mojave Desert transitional to Sonoran Desert with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 125 to 178 millimeters (5 to 7 inches); mean annual air temperature is 14 to 21 degrees C. (57 to 69 degrees F.), and the frost-free season is 180 to 300 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Arizo and Weiser soils. Arizo soils lack a petrocalcic horizon and have a sandy-skeletal particle-size control section. Weiser soils lack a petrocalcic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; very high runoff; moderately rapid permeability; high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is mainly creosotebush, white bursage, red brome, Nevada ephedra, and deserttrumpet.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mojave Desert of southern Nevada; MLRA 30. These soils are extensive.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Nye County, Nevada southwest part 2000. The name is derived from Wechech Basin south of the type location.

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

Ochric epipedon - 0 to 18 centimeters (0 to 7 inches) (A and Bk1 horizons).
Calcic horizon - 18 to 33 centimeters (7 to 13 inches) (Bk2 horizon).
Petrocalcic horizon - 33 to 152 centimeters (13 to 60 inches) (Bqm horizon).
Particle-size control section - 0 to 33 centimeters (0 to 13 inches) (A, Bk1, and Bk2 horizons).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.