LOCATION CONNERIDGE IDEstablished Series
The Conneridge series consists of moderately deep, well-drained,
moderately permeable soils that are formed in mixed sideslope alluvium
from quartzite and mica-schist with some loess influence. They are on
mountainsides and ridges and have slopes of 10 to 55 percent. The
average annual temperature is about 42 degrees F., and the average
annual precipitation is about 16 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Conneridge very stony loam - rangeland. On a 50 percent
convex slope, south aspect, 6,200 feet elevation. (Colors are for air
dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on August 8, 1985, the
profile was dry to 3 inches and moist below.
A--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very stony loam, very
dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; strong very fine and fine granular
structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and plastic; many very
fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); 15
percent stones, 10 percent cobbles and 35 percent pebbles; abrupt
smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
Bw1--3 to 7 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loam, dark brown
(10YR 3/3) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure;
soft, very friable, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine and
few fine roots; many very fine and few fine tubular pores; neutral (pH
7.2); 10 percent cobbles and 30 percent pebbles; clear wavy boundary.
(4 to 7 inches thick)
Bw2--7 to 13 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very stony loam, dark brown
(10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very
friable, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine and few fine
roots; neutral (pH 7.2); 30 percent stones, 10 percent cobbles, and 20
percent pebbles; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bk1--13 to 17 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly
loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky
structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic;
moderately effervescent; mildly alkaline (pH 7.8); 10 percent cobbles
and 45 percent pebbles; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
Bk2--17 to 23 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly
loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly
sticky and slightly plastic; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline
(pH 8.2); 20 percent cobbles and 60 percent pebbles; abrupt wavy
boundary. (3 to 11 inches thick)
2R--23 inches; unweathered quartzite with continuous thin coatings
of lime.
TYPE LOCATION: Cassia County, Idaho; about 800 feet west and 1100 feet
south of the northeast corner of sec. 2, T.14S., R.24E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock - 20 to 40 inches
Thickness of the mollic epipedon - 10 to 17 inches
Depth to secondary lime - 8 to 13 inches
Depth to calcic horizon - 13 to 17 inches
Average annual soil temperature - 42 to 46 degrees F.
Average winter soil temperature - less than 32 degrees F.
Clay content, average - 14 to 22 percent
Rock fragment content, average - 45 to 80 percent
Reaction - neutral to moderately alkaline
A horizon
Value- 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma- 2 or 3
Reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
Bw horizon
Value- 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma- 2 or 3
Clay content - 14 to 25
Texture - GR-L, GRV-L, CBV-L, STV-L
Effervescence - none to mildly
Reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
Bk horizon
Value- 5 through 8 dry, 3 through 7 moist
Chroma- 2 through 4
Clay content - 12 to 20
Texture - GRV-L, GRX-L,CBV-L, FLX-L
Rock fragment content - 35 to 80 percent, 60 to 85 percent in the lower
part
Effervescence - moderately to violently
Calcium carbonate equivalent - 15 to 40 percent
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Buist (T), Dagan, Hondoho, Ireland,
Jebo, and Pedleford series. Buist, Dagan, and Hondoho soils are very
deep. Dagan soils have hues of 2.5YR, 5YR or 7.5YR and depth to lime is
19 to 34 inches. Ireland soils formed in alluvium and residuum of
calcareous rocks, have limestone coarse fragments, have higher annual
precipitation with more summer rain and greater snow accumulation in
the winter, and have a winter soil temperature greater than 32 degrees
F. Jebo soils have 7.5YR and 5YR colors in the B horizon. Pedleford
soils have less than 60 percent coarse fragments in the lower part of
the profile and are on basalt plains.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Conneridge soils are on mountainsides and ridges.
Slopes range from 10 to 55 percent. Elevation ranges from 5,100 to
7,100 feet. The soil formed in mixed sideslope alluvium from quartzite
and mica-schist with loess influence. The average annual precipitation
is about 14 to 18 inches, the average annual air temperature is about
40 to 44 degrees F., and the frost-free season is 70 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Arbone, Chen and Vipont
series. Arbone soils are very deep and are not skeletal. Chen soils are
shallow to bedrock and have a clayey-skeletal control section. Vipont
soils have a pachic mollic epipedon, an argillic horizon and lack a
calcic horizon. Arbone soils are on fan terraces and toe slopes. Chen
soils are on steep south-facing mountainsides. Vipont soils are on
steep north-facing mountainsides.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to very rapid runoff;
moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Conneridge soils are used for range. The natural
vegetation is low sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg
bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Idaho. The soils of this series
are not extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Reno, Nevada
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cassia County, Idaho, 1986.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon
are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from the soil surface to 17 inches (A1, Bw1,
Bw2 and Bk1 horizons)
Cambic horizon - The zone from 3 to 13 inches (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)
Calcic horizon - the zone from 13 to 23 inches (Bk1 and Bk2 horizons)
Particle size control section - The zone from 10 to 23 inches (part of
the Bw2 horizon and the Bk1 and Bk2 horizons)
The superactive cation exchange activity class was added in 03/2003 to the taxonomic classification by the National Soil Survey Center on request of the Reno MLRA office, without review of the soil series property data. The remainder of this document has not been updated.