LOCATION WORF WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic, shallow Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Worf loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; strong very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
AB--3 to 5 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate very fine granular; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; few faint clay films on vertical faces of peds; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 3 inches thick)
Bt--5 to 9 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine roots; many distinct clay films on faces of peds, common faint clay films in root channels and pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 11 inches thick)
Bk--9 to 14 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; strongly effervescent, calcium carbonate occurring as soft masses and in thin seams and streaks; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
Cr--14 to 60 inches; calcareous shale interbedded with loamstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Johnson County, Wyoming; NW1/4 of sec. 21, T. 45 N., R. 80 W. Fourmile Reservoir Quadrangle. 43 degrees 51 minutes 42 seconds north latitude and 106 degrees 29 minutes 20 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to calcareous material ranges from 4 to 10 inches; depth to bedrock ranges from 8 to 20 inches. The soil is 90 to 100 percent base saturated. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent but are typically less than 5 percent and are mostly soft shale fragments. The soil is dry in the moisture control section more than half the time cumulative that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F., which occurs about April 21-27, and is dry in all parts of the moisture control section for at least 60 consecutive days from July 15 to October 25 and for at least 90 cumulative days during this period. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 53 degrees F., and the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 41 degrees F. or more for 175 to 192 days.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is loamy sand, loam, or fine sandy loam. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is typically light clay loam but may be loam or sandy clay loam with clay ranging from 18 to 35 percent, silt from 20 to 55 percent, and sand from 15 to 50 percent with 15 to 35 percent being fine sand or coarser. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bk or Btk horizon has hue of 5Y through 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 3 to 12 percent. Texture is loam or fine sandy loam in the Bk and clay loam or sandy clay loam in the Btk. Reaction is slightly alkaline through strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Southfork and Villario series. Southfork soils have hue of 5YR or redder and have sandy loam Bt horizons. Villario soils do not have horizons of secondary carbonate accumulation.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils are on upland hills and ridges. Slopes range from 0 to 30 percent and are both simple and complex. Elevation is 3,500 to 5,600 feet. These soils formed in calcareous materials weathered from sedimentary bedrock. The mean annual precipitation is 12 inches with over half of the annual precipitation falling in April, May, and June and less than one inch falling in each month of July, August, September, and October. Precipitation ranges from 10 to 17 inches. The mean annual temperature is 43 to 51 degrees F. The frost-free season is about 105 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Renohill and Zigweid soils. Renohill soils have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Zigweid soils lack argillic horizons and lack a paralithic contact within a depth of 20 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium or rapid runoff depending upon slope; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly as native pastureland. Principal native vegetation is blue grama, western wheatgrass, cactus, and sage.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Johnson County, Wyoming, South Part; 1971.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 5 inches (A and AB)
Argillic horizon - 5 to 9 inches (Bt)
Paralithic contact - 14 inches (Cr)
MLRR- G
SIR- WY1077