LOCATION ZEALE IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, carbonatic Xeric Calcicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Zeale gravelly loam--on a 25 percent northeast-facing slope at 7,500 feet elevation in rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on June 30, 1981, the soil was moist throughout.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; few lime coatings less than 1mm thick on undersides of rock fragments; strongly effervescent, (35 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
A2--3 to 9 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and few fine and medium roots; common very fine and few fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; few lime coatings 2mm thick on undersides and some sides of rock fragments; strongly effervescent, (45 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Bk1--9 to 13 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) very gravelly loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak very fine and fine granular; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; common lime coatings less than 2mm thick on undersides and some sides of rock fragments; violently effervescent, (65 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
Bk2--13 to 24 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) very gravelly loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine roots; common very fine irregular and tubular pores; 40 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; common lime coatings less than 2mm thick on undersides and some sides of rock fragments; common visible soft masses of secondary lime in old root channels; violently effervescent, (65 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 15 inches thick)
Bk3--24 to 40 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) extremely cobbly loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine irregular and common very fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel, 40 percent cobbles; many lime coatings less than 3mm thick on entire surface of rock fragments; common visible soft masses of secondary lime in old root channels; violently effervescent, (70 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Bk4--40 to 60 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) extremely cobbly loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine irregular and few fine and very fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel, 45 percent cobbles; many lime coatings less than 2mm thick on entire surface of rock fragments; violently effervescent, (70 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.1).
TYPE LOCATION: Custer County, Idaho; about 20 miles north of Mackey, Idaho; about 2,100 feet east and 1,600 feet north of the southwest corner, sec. 13, T. 10 N., R. 24 E. Latitude - 44 degrees, 11 minutes, 42 seconds North; Longitude - 113 degrees, 33 minutes, 47 seconds West.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 37 to 44 degrees F Average summer soil temperature - 46 to 52 degrees F
Mollic epipedon thickness - 8 to 15 inches
Depth to calcic horizon - 8 to 18 inches.
Soil moisture - Dry for 100 to 125 consecutive days in the four months following the summer solstice (Xeric).
Particle-size control section:
Percent clay - 15 to 25
Rock fragments - 40 to 70 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent - 40 to 80 percent for the fine earth fraction
A horizon
Value - 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry, 1 to 3 moist
Bw horizon (when present)
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 25 to 35 percent
Bk or Bkq horizons
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 5 to 8 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma - 2 to 6 dry or moist
Texture - GRV-L, CBX-L, GRX-COSL, GRX-L, GRX-SL Rock fragments - 35 to 75 percent
Reaction - slightly through strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Canyoung (T), Fritz (T), Gepton (T), Hanson, Hardhart, Pahreah, Skaggs, Skibo and Zeelnot soils. Canyoung soils have average summer soil temperature of 54 to 59 degrees F., have 15 to 25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction, and receive 16 to 22 inches of precipitation. Fritz soils have average summer soil temperatures of 52 to 58 degrees F. and are dry for less than 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The tentative Gepton series from Idaho is not clearly separated from the Zeale series. This will be addressed when the Clark County Area Soil Survey is re-activated. Hanson soils have 20 to 40 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the fine earth fraction and receive 16 to 22 inches of precipitation. Hardhart, Pahreah and Skaggs soils are moderately deep to bedrock. Zeelnot soils have 25 to 30 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Skibo soils are dry for 45 to 70 consecutive days.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Zeale soils are on mountains, foothills, moraines, fan terraces, and fan remnants. Elevations range from 5,500 to 9,000 feet. Slopes are 2 to 60 percent. The soils formed in slope alluvium dominantly from limestone. The climate is cold and moist in winter and spring and cool and dry in summer. The average annual precipitation ranges from 11 to 16 inches. The average annual air temperature is 34 to 42 degrees F. The frost-free period is 10 to 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bluedome, Dacont, Firebox, Friedman, Goldhill, Klug, Nielsen, Parkay, Resoot, and Surrett soils. Bluedome and Surrett soils are on outwash fans and fan terraces and have duripans. Dacont, Goldhill, Friedman, Nielsen, Parkay, and Resoot soils are on mountains and have argillic horizons. Firebox soils are on outwash fans and fan terraces and are noncalcareous. Klug soils are on mountains and are noncalcareous.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow or medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used principally for range. Vegetation is mainly low sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern and east-central Idaho. These soils are moderately extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Custer County, Idaho, 1999.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 9 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)
Calcic horizon - the zone from 9 to 60 inches (Bk1, Bk2, Bk3, and Bk4 horizons)
The particle-size control section is the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the Bk1, Bk2, and Bk3 horizons)
Soil moisture regime - xeric.