LOCATION WETSAND MT
Established Series
Rev. DES-BDD-RJS
09/2011
WETSAND SERIES
The Wetsand series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from mixed sources. These soils are on flood plains, flood-plain steps, stream terrace and drainageways. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 12 inches, mean annual air temperature is about 43 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Aeric Fluvaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Wetsand silty clay loam, in grassland (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 5 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; strong fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine and fine roots; finely disseminated calcium carbonate, strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear, smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
AC--5 to 10 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly silt loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium and coarse platy structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; 15 percent gravel; common fine prominent reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) redox concentrations; finely disseminated calcium carbonate, strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
C1--10 to 14 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; 15 percent gravel; common fine prominent reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) redox concentrations; finely disseminated calcium carbonate, slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
2C2--14 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely gravelly loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; single grain; loose; few fine roots; 55 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; finely disseminated calcium carbonate, slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Montana; 1,000 feet south and 2,225 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 9, T. 1N, R. 3W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 41 to 47 degrees F.
Depth to lithologic discontinuity - 12 to 20 inches
Depth to seasonal high water table - 12 to 24 inches
Recognized phases - saline
Note: Some pedons may have an Oe horizon.
A horizon
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3; dry or moist
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 6 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 20 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4; saline phase 4 to 16
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2; saline phase 4 to 13
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent; saline phase 3 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 9.0
AC horizon
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: loam, silt loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4; saline phase 4 to 16
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2; saline phase 4 to 13
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent; 3 to 15 percent in saline phase
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 9.0
C1 horizon
Value: 5 to 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, loam or silt loam
Clay content: 5 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4; saline phase 4 to 16
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2; saline phase 4 to 13
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent; saline phase 3 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 9.0
2C2 horizon
Value: 5 to 8 dry; 4 to 7 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: loamy sand, sand or coarse sand
Clay content: 0 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent--30 to 60 percent gravel, 5 to 20 percent cobbles
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4; saline phase 4 to 8
Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 to 2; saline phase 0 to 4
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - flood plains, flood-plain steps, stream terrace and drainageways
Elevation - 3,800 to 5,600 feet
Slope - 0 to 2 percent
Parent material - alluvium derived from mixed sources
Climate - cool with long, cold winters; moist springs; hot, dry summers
Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 19 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 39 to 45 F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 115 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; moderate permeability to 14 inches and rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used as range and pasture. Native plants are plains reedgrass, bluegrass, rosebushes, willows, and cottonwoods.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The series is of small extent in southwestern, Montana. MLRA - 44B.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Powell County, Montana, 1995; proposed in Jefferson County Area, Montana, 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 7 inches (A, AC horizons)
Redoximorphic features - from 5 to 14 inches (AC, C1 horizons)
Lithologic discontinuity - at 14 inches (2C2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 40 inches (C1, part of 2C2 horizons)
Wetsand soils have a frigid temperature regime, an aquic moisture regime and an aeric moisture subclass.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation record - MT1139.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.