LOCATION WYOTITE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Wyotite loam -- on a southeast facing slope of 3 percent, utilized as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 2 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine and moderate very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and very fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bt1--2 to 5 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate moderately thick platy structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many fine and very fine roots; common faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary
Bt2--5 to 13 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong medium and fine angular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine and many very fine roots; many prominent and common distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined Bt horizons 7 to 16 inches thick)
Btk--13 to 22 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine and very fine roots; many faint and few prominent clay films on faces of peds; strongly effervescent; common medium and fine masses of calcium carbonate; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bk1--22 to 38 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; few fine roots; strongly effervescent; common medium and fine seams and masses of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary.
Bk2--38 to 55 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; strongly effervescent; few fine filaments, threads, and masses of calcium carbonate; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined Bk horizons 33 to 43 inches thick)
C--55 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; soft, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Campbell County, Wyoming; about 250 feet south and 250 feet east of the northwest corner of section 33, T. 43 N., R. 75 W.; USGS Rolling Pin Ranch, WY topographic quadrangle; lat. 43 degrees 39 minutes 45 seconds N. and long. 105 degrees 53 minutes 9 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 17 to 22 inches. Rock fragments are typically absent but range from 0 to 5 percent. Depth to continuous accumulation of calcium carbonate ranges from 10 to 20 inches, but the soils may be weakly calcareous below the surface in some pedons which receive intermittent recharge. 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 22-28, but 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 51 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 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. Textures are clay loam or silty clay loam, with 28 to 35 percent clay, 45 to 65 percent silt and very fine sand, and less than 15 percent fine and coarser sand. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Btk horizon, when present, has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is considered part of the argillic horizon and has textural properties similar to the Bt horizon. It has 4 to 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent.
The Bk and C horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is loam, clay loam or silty clay loam with 18 to 30 percent clay. It has 4 to 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent that decrease with depth. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Blanding series. It is assumed the Nepesta and Tensleep series are competing pending an update of the classification. Blanding soils have a mean annual soil temperature of more than 51 degrees. Tensleep Witt soils have hue of 7.5YR or redder in the Bt horizon and below. Nepesta soils have an overly thickened, manmade Ap horizon that borders on a mollic epipedon, and are very high in available nitrogen and phosphate.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wyotite soils are on alluvial fans, fan remnants, plateaus, terraces and pediments. They formed in locally transported alluvial material or loess derived from silty shale and very fine grained sandstone. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. Elevations are 3,600 to 5,300 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches, half of which falls as rain and snow from late March through June. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 44 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free season is about 105 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cambria, Forkwood, Skilak and Ulm soils. Cambria and Forkwood soils are in the fine-loamy family. Skilak soils lack an argillic horizon. Ulm soils are in the fine family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are utilized for rangeland, wildlife habitat, and for limited nonirrigated cropland, hayland, and pasture. The native vegetation is mainly western wheatgrass, needleandthread, blue grama, and green needlegrass. Winter wheat is the principle cultivated crop.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Wyotite soils occur in northeast Wyoming. The series is of limited extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Campbell County, Wyoming, Southern Part; 1995.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 2 inches (A horizon);
Argillic horizon - 2 to 22 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Btk horizons);
SIR- WY1152
MLRR- G