LOCATION BIEBER CA+ID NVEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, smectitic, mesic, shallow Argiduridic Durixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Bieber gravelly loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 6 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 15 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Bt1--6 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; common faint clay films as bridges between mineral grains; 15 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick).
Bt2--13 to 18 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) gravelly clay, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; strong coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, very friable, very sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel concentrated at the top of the horizon; white (N 8/) dry and moist silica masses on bottoms of gravel; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and many distinct clay films lining pores; neutral (pH 7.0) abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
2Bqkm1--18 to 22 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) cemented material; moderate thick platy structure; indurated by secondary silica with 1 to 2 mm thick continuous laminar caps on the upper surface and cemented bands 1 to 2 cm apart below; 40 percent rounded gravel; strongly effervescent; secondary carbonates segregated in fine filaments; abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
2Bqkm2--22 to 31 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) cemented material; massive; indurated by secondary silica; 60 percent rounded gravel and 10 percent cobbles; strongly effervescent; secondary carbonates segregated as masses on bottoms of gravel; opaline silica segregated as concretions (pendants) on bottoms of gravel; clear smooth boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
2Bqkm3--31 to 60 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) cemented material; massive; indurated by secondary silica; 60 percent rounded gravel and 10 percent cobbles; strongly effervescent; secondary carbonates segregated in fine masses in the matrix, as filaments in the matrix, and as masses on bottom of gravel; fewer pebbles are coated than in above horizon; opaline silica segregated as concretions (pendants) on bottoms of gravel.
TYPE LOCATION: Modoc County, California; about 5.5 miles southeast of Alturas; on the east side of a small gravel pit 400 feet east and 920 feet south of the center of section 27, T. 42 N., R. 13 E.; USGS Dorris Reservoir 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; 41 degrees 26 minutes 54 seconds north latitude and 120 degrees 27 minutes 17 seconds west longitude, NAD27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture - The soil between depths of 4 to 12 inches or to top of duripan is dry in all parts from about June 1 to November 15; It is moist in some or all parts when above 47 degrees F. from April 1 to June 15; The soil temperature is about 41 degrees F. from February 15 to December 15. The soil temperature at depth of 20 inches exceeds 47 degrees F from about April 1 to November 15; Aridic moisture regime that borders on xeric.
Mean annual soil temperature - 50 to 55 degrees F.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 15 inches; includes the Bt1 horizon.
Depth to duripan - 8 to 20 inches.
Depth to bedrock - More than 60 inches.
Particle-size control section - Clay content: Averages 35 to 45 percent; Rock fragments: Averages 10 to 25 percent, mainly gravel and up to 5 percent cobbles. Lithology of fragments are volcanic rocks such as andesite, basalt, and tuff.
A horizon - Dry color: 10YR 5/3, 5/2, 4/3, 4/2; 7.5YR 5/2, 4/2.
Moist color: 10YR 3/2, 3/3; 7.5YR 3/2.
Structure: Weak to moderate platy, granular, or subangular blocky.
Consistence: Slightly hard or hard, and friable.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
Organic matter content: 1 or 2 percent.
Bt1 horizon - Dry color: 10YR 5/3, 5/2, 4/3, 4/2; 7.5YR 5/2, 4/2.
Moist color: 10YR 3/2, 3/3; 7.5YR 3/2.
Texture: Clay loam, clay, gravelly clay loam, or gravelly clay.
Clay content: 27 to 45 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 35 percent.
Structure: Moderate or weak subangular blocky, angular blocky, or platy. Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
Organic matter content: 1 or 2 percent.
Bt2 horizon - Dry color: 10YR 6/4, 6/3, 5/4, 5/2, 4/3, 4/2, 4/4; 7.5YR 6/4, 5/4, 4/4.
Moist color: 10YR 3/2, 3/4, 4/3; 7.5YR 3/2, 4/3, 4/4.
Texture: Clay loam, clay, gravelly clay loam, or gravelly clay.
Clay content: 35 to 45 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 25 percent.
Structure: Strong or moderate prismatic or strong angular blocky.
Consistence: Moderately sticky or very sticky, wet.
Reaction: Slightly acid through moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Bieber soils are on stream terraces and fan remnants. These soils formed in alluvium derived mainly from volcanic rocks such as andesite, basalt, and tuff. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 6,100 feet. The climate is semiarid with cold, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 16 inches, including 36 to 48 inches of snow. The mean January temperature is about 30 degrees F., the mean July temperature is about 68 degrees F., and the mean annual temperature is 45 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free period is 50 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bidwell, Delma, Lassen, Modoc, Montague, Packwood, and Pit soils. Bidwell soils are fine-loamy and very deep. Delma soils are shallow to paralithic contacts. Lassen soils are moderately deep to lithic contacts. Modoc soils are moderately deep to duripans. Montague soils are moderately deep to petrocalcic horizons. Packwood soils are loamy, shallow to duripans, have ochric epipedons. Pit soils are very deep and do not have argillic horizons and duripans.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained or moderately well drained; very high surface runoff; very slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Bieber soils are used mostly for range or pasture with small areas in dryland grain and irrigated pasture. The vegetation in rangeland is low sagebrush and perennial grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern California, southwestern Idaho, and northern Nevada. These soils are moderately extensive. The series concept and main acreage is in MLRA 21, while other acreage occurs in MLRAs 23 and 26 in California and Nevada and MLRA 25 in Idaho.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Reno, Nevada.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Soil survey of the Big Valley Area, California, 1920.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 13 inches (A and Bt1 horizons).
Argillic horizon - The zone from 6 to 18 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
Duripan - The zone from 18 to 60 inches (2Bqkm1, 2Bqkm2, and 2Bqkm3 horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 6 to 18 inches (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Riverside Laboratory, Pedon No. S72-Calif 25-17; not published to date.