LOCATION WYCOLO WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Wycolo fine sandy loam on a north-facing slope of about 2 percent on rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) fine sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
AB--3 to 6 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/3) sandy loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bt--6 to 12 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, reddish brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; common thin clay films on faces of peds; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)
Bk1--12 to 20 inches; pink (7.5YR 7/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak fine prismatic structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine discontinuous pores; strongly effervescent carbonates disseminated (17 percent calcium carbonate equivalent by calcimeter); moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 24 inches thick)
Bk2--20 to 25 inches; pink (7.5YR 7/4) clay loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4) moist; weak medium prismatic structure; slightly hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine discontinuous pores; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as common fine soft masses (23 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); 10 percent soft shale fragments less than one-quarter inch in diameter that break down when wetted; moderately alkaline; (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bk3--25 to 36 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 6/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine discontinuous pores; strongly effervescent, carbonates as few fine soft masses; 50 percent soft shale fragments less than one-quarter inch in diameter that break down when wetted; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--36 to 60 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) weathered redbed shale with common fine seams of gypsum.
TYPE LOCATION: Albany County, Wyoming; approximately 525 feet west and 875 feet south of the northeast corner of Section 24, T13N, R75W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to a paralithic contact is 20 to 40 inches. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 11 to 21 inches. Reaction is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline throughout. Hue is 7.5YR through 2.5YR throughout. The soil is dry in all parts more than half the time (cumulative) that the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is above 5 degrees C. (41 F.) and never moist in some or all parts for as long as 90 consecutive days when the soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is above 8 degrees C. (47 F.). The mean annual soil temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F. The mean summer soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is greater than 15 degrees C. (59 F.). The mean winter and summer soil temperatures differ by more than 5 degrees C. (9 F.).
The A horizon has value 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma 3 through 6 dry and moist. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 10 percent pebbles.
The AB or BA horizon has value 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma 3 through 6 dry and moist. Texture is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 5 percent.
The Bt horizon has value 3 through 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma 4 through 6 dry and moist. Texture is sandy clay loam or loam with 18 to 30 percent clay with more than 35 percent fine sand or coarser. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 10 percent pebbles.
The Bk horizon has value 4 through 7 dry, 3 through 6 moist, and chroma 3 through 6 dry and moist. Texture is commonly clay loam or sandy clay loam, but the range includes sandy loam and loam. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent pebbles.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alcova, Almy, Alogia, Anchutz, Antonito, Bateson, Bluerim, Bonfri, Cushool, Cutback, Diamondville, Diamonkit, Fluetsch, Forelle, Harsha, Hickey, Rawah, Regnaps, Rock River, Satanka, Stunner, and Stylite series. Alcova, Almy, Alogia, Anchutz, Bateson, Fluetsch, Forelle, Harsha, Hickey, Rock River, Stunner and Stylite soils are deeper than 40 inches to bedrock. Antonito, Bonfri, Cushool, Cutback, Diamondville, Diamonkit and Satanka soils do not have hues redder than 7.5YR. Bluerim and Regnaps soils do not have continuous calcium carbonate accumulations. Rawah soils have less than 35 percent fine or coarser sand in the argillic horizon and have cryic temperature regimes.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wycolo soils are on uplands, structural benches, and strath terraces. Slopes are 2 to 20 percent. The soils formed in materials weathered from interbedded limestone, redbed sandstone, and shales. Elevations are 6,000 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches of which at least half occurs in the spring months. The mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F., and the frost-free season is 85 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Alcova, Rentsac, Thermopolis, and Tieside soils. Alcova soils are deeper than 40 inches. Rentsac, Thermopolis, and Tieside soils do not have argillic horizons and have bedrock above 20 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is medium; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly as rangeland. Native vegetation is western wheatgrass, needleandthread, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The basins of southeastern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Albany County (Albany County Area), Wyoming; 1991.
REMARKS: The diagnostic horizons and features recognized for this pedon are: Ochric epipedon - 0 to 3 inches; Argillic horizon - 6 to 12 inches; Calcic horizon - 12 to 26 inches; Paralithic contact - 36 inches.