LOCATION NOOK WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Ultic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Nook silt loam - pasture on a 3 percent southwest-facing alluvial fan at an elevation of 2,160 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted)
A1--0 to 10 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) silt loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few medium roots; many very fine irregular pores; 3 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
A2--10 to 25 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 3 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)
Bwl--25 to 35 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/3) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; few fine distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/6) redox concentrations, reddish brown (5YR 5/4) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; many very fine irregular and few fine tubular pores; 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Bw2--35 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; few fine distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/6) redox concentrations, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak very fine and fine angular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Klickitat County, Washington; about 6 miles northeast of Goldendale; 1,000 feet south and 500 feet east of the northwest corner of section l9, T. 5 N., R. 17 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts for 75 to 90 consecutive days within the 4 months that follow the summer solstice in 6 or more years out of 10. The particle-size control section has 18 to 25 percent clay and 0 to 10 percent rock fragments. Redox concentrations with chroma of 4 or more occur at a depth of 20 to 30 inches. The mollic epipedon is 20 to 30 inches thick. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist. The A2 horizon is loam or silt loam and has 18 to 23 percent clay and 0 to 10 percent rock fragments.
The Bw horizon has hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 3 or 4 dry and moist. Redox concentrations have value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 4 through 8 dry and moist. Redox concentrations range from few through many. Some pedons have thin strata of very gravelly sandy loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alsea, Chapman, Eld and McDoug series.
Alsea soils - dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice; 30 to 40 inches to redox features with chroma of 2 or less (moderately well drained)
Chapmans soils - dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice; 30 to 40 inches to redox features with chroma of 2 or less (moderately well drained)
Eld soils - dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice; moderately acid or slightly acid throughout
McDoug soils - dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice; 30 to 40 inches to redox features with chroma of 2 or less (moderately well drained)
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nook soils are on alluvial fans and low terraces at elevations of 800 to 3,700 feet. They developed in mixed alluvium from basalt and loess with a minor influence of volcanic ash. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 20 to 24 inches. The average January temperature is 28 degrees F. and the average July temperature is 66 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 46 to 48 degrees F. The frost-free season is 100 to 140 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Itat, Lyville, Maydol, Presher, Quiden and Suta soils. All of these soils have a regular decrease in organic carbon with depth. In addition, Itat, Lyville and Suta soils are loamy-skeletal. Maydol soils have a mollic epipedon 12 to 18 inches thick. Presher and Quiden soils have an ochric epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow runoff; moderate permeability. A seasonal water table is present at its highest level from February to April. Nook soils have occasional, brief periods of flooding from March to April.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for pasture, hay crops, limited timber production and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation includes ponderosa pine, quaking aspen, Idaho fescue, elk sedge, antelope bitterbrush, rose, Oregon-grape, and common snowberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Klickitat County, Washington; MLRA 6. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Klickitat County, Washington, 2003.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 25 inches with an assumed irregular decrease in organic carbon
Cambic horizon - the zone from 25 to 60 inches
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches