LOCATION ZELDA MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Typic Cryaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Zelda loam, in rangeland (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 4 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate coarse platy structure parting to moderate medium granular; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and common medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
E--4 to 9 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and few medium roots; many very fine and common fine tubular pores; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Btn1--9 to 14 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; strong medium columnar structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few medium and common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds; common grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) moist tongues of albic materials on upper vertical faces of peds; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
Btn2--14 to 21 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) cobbly sandy clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent cobbles and 10 percent pebbles; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Cn1--21 to 34 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry, massive; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; 5 percent cobbles and 10 percent pebbles; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); gradual smooth boundary. (12 to 16 inches thick)
Cn2--34 to 44 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 11 inches thick)
2Cn3--44 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very cobbly loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 20 percent cobbles, 30 percent pebbles; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Deer Lodge County, Montana; 350 feet east and 500 feet north of the SW corner of Sec. 33, T. 1 N., R. 14 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 36 to 41 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature - 50 to 55 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to seasonal high water table - 12 to 24 inches.
Depth to 2C horizon - 40 to 60 inches.
A horizon
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
EC: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
SAR: 30 to 40
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 8.5 to 9.6
E horizon
Value 6, 7 or 8 dry; 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loamy fine sand or silt loam
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
EC: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
SAR: 30 to 40
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 9.1 to 9.6
Btn1 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 3, 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent pebbles
EC: 1 to 3 mmhos/cm
SAR: 13 to 30
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 9.1 to 9.6
Btn2 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 3, 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent (0 to 15 percent cobbles, 0 to 10 percent pebbles)
EC: 1 to 3 mmhos/cm
SAR: 13 to 30
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 9.1 to 9.6
Cn1 and Cn2 horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3
Texture: sandy loam, very fine sandy loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent (0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 10 percent pebbles)
EC: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
SAR: 13 to 30
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 9.1 to 9.6
2Cn3 horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Texture: loamy sand, sand or loamy coarse sand
Clay content: 0 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 40 to 60 percent (0 to 5 percent stones, 15 to 20 percent cobbles; 25 to 35 percent pebbles)
EC: 0 to 2 mmhos/cm
SAR: 4 to 13
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: pH 9.1 to 9.6
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - floodplains.
Elevation - 5,800 to 6,100 feet.
Slope- 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual air temperature - 35 to 38 degrees.
Frost free season - 30 to 70 days.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Zelda soils are used mainly for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation is mainly basin wildrye, alkali cordgrass and alkali sacaton, with small amounts of western wheatgrass, inland saltgrass and greasewood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Zelda soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Deerlodge County, Montana, 1999.
REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT1735. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: an ochric epipedon from the soil surface to 9 inches (A and E horizons); an albic horizon from 4 to 9 inches (E horizon); an argillic horizon from 9 to 21 inches (Btn1 and Btn2 horizons); a lithologic discontinuity at 44 inches (2Cn3 horizon); a particle size control section from 9 to 21 inches (Btn1 and Btn2 horizons). Zelda soils have a cryic temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.