LOCATION SELLE ID+MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, frigid Vitrandic Dystrudepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Selle ashy fine sandy loam, forested; on a southeast-facing slope of 2 percent at 2,130 feet elevation. When described on July 23, 1970, the soil was slightly moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oi--0 to 0.5 inch; undecomposed needles and twigs. (0.5 to 2 inches thick)
Oe--0.5 to 2 inches; moderately decayed needles and twigs; matted; some fungi; very strongly acid (pH 5.0). (0.5 to 1.5 inches thick)
Oa--2 to 3 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) well decomposed organic matter; strongly acid (pH 5.4). (0 to 1 inch thick)
A--3 to 8 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) ashy fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine to coarse roots; many very fine irregular pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual smooth boundary. (1 to 6 inches thick)
Bw1--8 to 17 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) ashy fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine to coarse roots; common fine tubular and many very fine irregular pores; very few semi-hard manganese accumulations 2 to 3 mm. in diameter; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual smooth boundary.
Bw2--17 to 23 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) ashy fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine to coarse roots; common fine and few medium tubular and many very fine irregular pores; very few black manganese concretions 1 to 2 mm. in diameter; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Bw horizons is 10 to 30 inches)
E and Bt1--23 to 37 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine tubular and many very fine irregular pores; few wavy discontinuous lamellae about 2 mm. thick; few dark brown soft iron accumulations 1 to 2 mm. in diameter; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual smooth boundary. (9 to 20 inches thick)
E and Bt2--37 to 48 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common fine tubular and many very fine irregular pores; several wavy discontinuous clay bands about 2 mm. thick; few dark brown soft iron accumulations 1 to 2 mm. in diameter; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 19 inches thick)
E and Bt3--48 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few fine tubular and many very fine irregular pores; several wavy discontinuous clay bands about 2 mm. thick; few light gray splotches; few reddish brown soft iron accumulations 1 to 3 mm. in diameter; moderately acid (pH 5.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Bonner County, Idaho; behind Colburn school; about 1,160 feet south and 1,100 feet west of northeast corner of sec. 12, T. 58 N., R. 2 W.; Latitude - 48 degrees, 23 minutes, 50 seconds North; Longitude - 116 degrees, 31 minutes, 45 seconds West; USGS Colburn Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Moisture control section - dry 15 to 35 days (August to mid September), moist mid September through July; udic moisture regime
Average annual soil temperature - 43 to 46 degrees F.
Average summer soil temperature - 59 to 62 degrees F. without an O horizon
Thin light gray volcanic ash layer - 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick present in some pedons in undisturbed areas between the organic layers and mineral surface
Base saturation - 30 to 60 percent in upper 30 inches
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral throughout
Volcanic ash influence - 12 to 24 inches thick
Volcanic glass content - 5 to 20 percent
Acid-oxalate extractable Al + 1/2 Fe. - 0.4 to 1.0 percent
Moist bulk density - 1.0 to 1.2 g/cc
Phosphate retention - 25 to 55 percent
A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma - 1 through 4 dry or moist
Texture - FSL, SL (all ashy)
Clay content - 2 to 4 percent
Ap horizon (present in cultivated areas)
Thickness - 8 to 12 inches
Bw horizons
Hue - 10YR or 7.5YR
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 moist or dry
Texture - FSL, SL, LFS in lower part of some pedons (ashy except LFS)
Clay content - 2 to 4 percent
E and Bt horizons
Hue - 10YR or 2.5Y
Value - 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - LFS, FS, S, LS
Clay content - 2 to 4 percent
Clay bands - 1/16 to 2 inches thick, 10YR or 7.5YR 5/4 or 5/6 dry, clay increase less than 3 percent
C horizon - present in some pedons
Hue - 10YR or 2.5Y
Value - 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture - S, FS
Clay content - 0 to 2 percent
Fine gravel - 0 to 5 percent
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Myrtlecreek and Snowlake series. Myrtlecreek and Snowlake soils do not have E and Bt horizons.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Selle soils are on undulating or dune-like glaciolacustrine terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. These soils formed in sandy glaciolacustrine or shoreline sediments. Most areas have been reworked by wind and contain small amounts of loess and volcanic ash in the surface layer. Elevations range from 2,000 to 2,500 feet. The average annual air temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F. and average annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 35 inches. The average frost-free period is 100 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colburn, Elmira, Mission, and Rubson soils. Colburn soils are on low stream terraces and are somewhat poorly drained. Elmira soils are on dunes and are excessively drained and sandy. Mission soils are on terraces and have a fragipan. Rubson soils are on terraces and are coarse-silty.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to very slow runoff; permeability is moderately rapid in the upper part and rapid in the lower part.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for timber production, grazing, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Some areas are cleared and used for small grains, hay, and pasture. Natural vegetation is mainly western redcedar, western larch, grand fir, western white pine, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine, with an understory of myrtle pachystima, American trailplant, piper anemone, elk sedge, Columbia brome, Oregon fairybells, violet, queencup beadlily, goldthread, and longtube twinflower.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana, and possibly northeastern Washington. These soils are moderately extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Bonner County, Idaho, 1935.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 3 to 8 inches (A horizon)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 8 to 23 inches (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the Bw1, Bw2, E and Bt1, and part of the E and Bt2 horizon)