LOCATION PYWELL ID+WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, frigid Typic Haplosaprists
TYPICAL PEDON: Pywell muck, in a nearly level pasture; on a 0 percent slope at 1,780 feet elevation. When described on November 13, 1972, the soil was moist to 43 inches and saturated below. (Colors are for moist soil.)
Oap--0 to 10 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) on broken face and rubbed, sapric material; about 15 percent fibers, about 5 percent after rubbing; moderate very fine and fine granular structure; many fine roots; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Oa1--10 to 14 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) on broken face and rubbed, sapric material; about 25 percent fibers, about 5 percent after rubbing; moderate very fine and fine granular structure; many fine roots; neutral (pH 6.7); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
Oa2--14 to 22 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) on broken face and rubbed, sapric material; about 25 percent fibers, less than 5 percent after rubbing; massive; few fine roots; 1/4 inch discontinuous layer of volcanic ash; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (7 to 14 inches thick)
Oa3--22 to 33 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) on broken face and rubbed, sapric material; about 20 percent fibers, less than 5 percent after rubbing; massive; 1/4 inch discontinuous layer of volcanic ash; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 14 inches thick)
Oa4--33 to 70 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) on broken face and rubbed, sapric material; about 25 percent fibers, less than 5 percent after rubbing; massive; 1/4 inch discontinuous layer of volcanic ash; slightly acid (pH 6.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Boundary County, Idaho; south end of Drainage District No. 15; about 100 feet south of power pole B596; about 2,000 feet north and 1,320 feet east of the southwest corner, sec. 32, T. 62 N., R. 2 E.; Latitude - 48 degrees, 40 minutes, 45 seconds North; Longitude - 116 degrees, 14 minutes, 13 seconds West; USGS Moyie Springs Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 43 to 46 degrees F.
Depth to high water table - 12 to 36 inches (January to December) drained, 0 to 12 inches (December to July) undrained
Organic layers - more than 30 inches thick mostly sapric, but some pedons have variable amounts of fibric or hemic material
Volcanic ash - thin, discontinuous layers present in some pedons (1/4 to 3 inches thick)
Woody material - 0 to 35 percent, present in the lower part of some pedons
Reaction - neutral to strongly acid throughout
Surface tier
Hue - 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR or neutral
Value - 2 through 4 moist
Chroma - 0 through 3 moist, chroma and value may change 1 unit when pressed and rubbed
Subsurface tier
Hue - 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR, 2.5Y or neutral
Value - 2 through 5 moist
Chroma - 0 through 4 moist
Bottom tier
Hue - 5Y through 5YR
Value - 2 through 5 moist
Chroma - 0 through 4 moist
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bucksport, Lupton, Seelyeville, and Tendoy series. Bucksport soils are in a 35 to 48 inch precipitation zone. Lupton soils lack layers of volcanic ash in the profile and are slightly alkaline throughout. Seelyeville soils have hemic material in the control section and lack volcanic ash layers. Tendoy soils have a calcareous surface tier.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pywell soils are in depressional areas of bottomlands, drainageways and floodplains. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. They formed in organic material derived dominantly from herbaceous plants but including some woody materials. Elevation ranges from 1,750 to 3,000 feet. Average annual air temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F. and average annual precipitation is 20 to 35 inches. The average frost-free period is 80 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Capehorn, DeVoignes, Hoodoo, Odenson, Ritz, and Schnoorson soils. Capehorn, Hoodoo, Odenson, Ritz, and Schnoorson soils are on flood plains and are mineral soils. DeVoignes soils are on flood plains and have stratified organic material and mineral material and average silty clay loam in the control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; very slow runoff or ponded; moderate permeability. These soils are frequently flooded from December through June for very long periods unless protected by levees. Most areas have been drained and protected from flooding for farming.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most Pywell soils have been cleared, diked, and drained for farming. They are used primarily for production of spring wheat, oats, barley, grass seed, hay, and pasture. Some areas are used for wetland wildlife habitat. Natural vegetation is willow, black cottonwood, thinleaf alder, pyramid spirea, narrowleaf cattail, reed canary grass, sedge, and rush with scattered western redcedar and Englemann spruce along edges of meadows.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Idaho, Washington, and possibly northwestern Montana. The series is moderately extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boundary County, Idaho, 1974.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Organic soil material (Sapric) - the zone from 0 to 70 inches (Oap, Oa1, Oa2, Oa3, and Oa4 horizons)
Histosol control section - the zone from 0 to 52 inches - (Oap, Oa1, Oa2, Oa3 and part of the Oa4 horizon)