LOCATION WIX COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Ustic Haplocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Wix sandy loam - forested. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
0e--1 inch to 0; partially decomposed needles and twigs. (0 to 2 inches thick)
A--0 to 5 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) sandy loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate very fine granular structure; soft, very friable; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
E--5 to 8 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.8) clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bt--8 to 17 inches brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and plastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 9 inches thick)
BCt--17 to 22 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few faint clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 14 inches thick)
C--22 to 30 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) gravelly sandy loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist; massive; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 20 percent fine pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (2 to 10 inches thick)
Cr--30 to 60 inches; rippable granite grading to lithic bedrock below a depth of more than 40 inches.
TYPE LOCATION: Custer County, Colorado about 1250 feet south and 250 feet east of the northwest corner Sec. 15, T. 23 S., R. 71 W. U.S.G.S. quad Rosita; Lat. 38 degrees, 3 minutes, 7 seconds N., long. 105 degrees, 17 minutes, 44 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 40 to 44 degrees F. The average summer soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F. Depth to a paralithic contact ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Base saturation ranges from 60 to 100 percent. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent in the A and Bt horizons and from 15 to 35 percent in the C horizon.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. It ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The E horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 through 8 dry, 4 through 7 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. It is typically sandy clay loam, but the fine earth fraction has 18 to 35 percent clay, 5 to 35 percent silt, 40 to 75 percent sand, with more than 35 percent being fine or coarser sand. This horizon is slightly acid or neutral.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR. It ranges from gravelly sandy loam to gravelly clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Amesmont (WY), Beardall (UT), Bramard (ID), Dunlatop (CO), Hub (WY), Nisula (ID), Rimton (WY), Stringam (ID), Swapps (UT), Telcher (ID), and Ula (CO) series.
Bramard, Dunlatop, Hub, Nisula, Stringam, and Telcher soils are deeper than 40 inches to bedrock. Beardall soils have a mixed E and B horizon, a k horizon, and have a lithic contact at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Rimton soils have a mixed E and B horizon. Ula soils have hue of 5YR or redder in the Bt horizon. Amesmont soils have hues in the Bt of 7.5YR and redder, and have mean summer soil temperatures colder than 47 degrees F. Swapps soils have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wix soils are on hills and mountain sides. Slopes range from 3 to 35 percent. The soils formed in material weathered from granite. Elevations range from 7,800 to 9,000 feet. Average annual precipitation ranges from 17 to 20 inches. Mean annual temperature is 38 to 42 degrees F. The frost-free season ranges from 50 to about 75 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Buffork and Redfeather soils. Buffork soils have a mollic epipedon. Redfeather soils are skeletal and have a lithic contact within a depth of 20 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used mainly for timber production, wildlife habitat and limited grazing. Vegetation is mainly ponderosa pine, with some Douglas fir and oakbrush with an understory of Arizona fescue, mountain muhly and native bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Lakewood, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Custer County Area, Colorado, 1979.
REMARK: Diagnostic features include a modified mollic epipedon and an argillic horizon from 8 to 17 inches. Last revised by the state 4/94.