LOCATION NISQUALLY WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, isotic, mesic Vitrandic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Nisqually ashy loamy fine sand - cultivated. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 5 inches; black (5YR 2/l) ashy loamy fine sand, dark gray (l0YR 4/l) dry; massive; soft, very friable; many medium and fine roots; very high in organic matter leaving a sooty stain on fingers; moderately acid (pH 5.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 6 inches thick)
A1--5 to l8 inches; very dark gray (l0YR 3/l) ashy loamy fine sand, dark gray (l0YR 4/l) dry; massive; soft, very friable; common medium and fine roots; high in organic matter; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual wavy boundary. (l0 to l6 inches thick)
A2--l8 to 3l inches; very dark grayish brown (l0YR 3/2) ashy loamy fine sand, grayish brown (l0YR 5/2) dry; massive; soft, very friable; common medium fine roots; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual wavy boundary. (l0 to l6 inches thick)
2Cl--3l to 48 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loamy sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) dry; massive; soft, very friable; common medium, fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (l5 to 22 inches thick)
2C2--48 to 60 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loamy sand, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2); single grained; loose; few medium and fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Thurston County, Washington; 5 miles south of Olympia, about 700 feet east and 350 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. l3, T. l7 N., R. 2 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The umbric epipedon is 25 to 38 inches thick. The mean annual soil temperature is 49 to 54 F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts between depths of l2 and 36 inches for about 60 to 75 consecutive days during the summer and autumn. They are slightly acid or moderately acid.
The A horizon has hue of 5YR through l0YR, value of 2 or 3 moist, 2, 3, or 4 dry, and chroma of l or 2 moist or dry. Below the surface layer, it is loamy fine sand or loamy sand. This horizon is massive or single grained.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the San Juan and Spana series in other families. San Juan soils are coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy- skeletal. Spana soils are loamy-skeletal.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nisqually soils are on terraces at elevations 50 to 400 feet. The soils formed in glacial outwash. Slopes are 0 to l5 percent. These soils are in a mild marine climate with a mean annual precipitation of 40 to 60 inches most of which falls as rain in November through April. The mean January temperature is about 36 degrees F.; the mean July temperature is about 64 degrees F.; the mean annual temperature is about 5l degrees F.; and the frost-free season (32 degrees F.) is l50 to l80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Indianola, Norma, and Spanaway soils. Indianola soils lack an umbric epipedon. Norma soils have aquic moisture regime. Spanaway soil are sandy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; very slow runoff; very rapid permeability in the substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for irrigated cropland and dryland pasture. Native vegetation was a prairie cover of grasses, ferns, and mosses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Washington, Puget Sound Basin. This series is moderately extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Pierce County, Washington, l945.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features:
Umbric epipedon - 0 to 31 inches
Vitrandic properties - 0 to 31 inches