LOCATION MEYSTRE WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ultic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Meystre loam- woodland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures).
Oi--0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed forest litter. (0 to 2 inches thick)
A1--1 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium platy structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary.
A2--4 to 12 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 9 to 14 inches)
Bt1--12 to 19 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots; few fine tubular pores; few faint patchy clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--19 to 30 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--30 to 42 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few medium roots; few fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films in root channels; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 26 to 49 inches)
C--42 to 61 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; very hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few medium roots; few fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Yakima County, Washington; 2,500 feet east and 1,900 feet south of the northeast corner of section 2, T.16N. R.16E., WM.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches ranges from 48 to 50 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts between depths of 4 and 12 inches for 60 to 75 consecutive days during the 4 month period following the summer solstice. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 18 inches thick and may include part of the argillic horizon. Solum thickness ranges from 35 to 53 inches. The particle-size control section has 25 to 35 percent clay and more than 15 percent fine sand or coarser. The soils are slightly acid or neutral. Base saturation is 60 to 75 percent in the upper 75 cm. Rock fragments in the series control section average 0 to 5 percent. July and January soil temperatures differ by 40 to 45 degrees F.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4 dry and 2 or 3 moist. Texture is loam or stony loam with 10 to 22 percent clay. It has 0 to 2 percent gravel, 0 to 2 percent cobbles, and 0 to 5 percent stones.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. Faces of peds and root channels have faint to prominent clay films. Texture is clay loam, sandy clay loam, or loam with 25 to 35 percent clay. It has 0 to 2 percent gravel, 0 to 2 percent cobbles and 0 to 2 percent stones.
The C horizon is fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam with 10 to 35 percent clay. It has 0 to 10 percent gravel, 0 to 2 percent cobbles, and 0 to 2 percent stones.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Annum, Brownlee, Chirpchatter, (T), Ebadlow, Felton, Fisherhill, Goldendale, Hellake, Lompico, Lorena, Meland, Mendian (T), Quiden, Rehfield, Robbscreek, Schumacher, Stacker, Stardust, Updegraff, Van Horn, and Wakamuticham series.
Annum soils - dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Brownlee soils - 40 to more than 60 inches to paralithic contact (granodiorite); particle-size control section has more than 5 percent coarse fragments and are high in coarse and very coarse sand; lamellae present in lower Bt horizon.
Chirpchatter soils - dry for more than 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Ebadlow soils - dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice; depth to skeletal material ranges from 25 to 36 inches
Felton soils - 40 to 60 inches to paralithic contact (shale); dry for more than 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Fisherhill soils - dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Goldendale soils - 40 to more than 60 inches to bedrock; dry for 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Hellake soils - strongly to moderately acid throughout; 30 to 60 inches to skeletal discontinuity
Lompico soils - 20 to 40 inches to paralithic contact (sandstone); dry for more than 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Lorena soils - 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (basalt); dry for 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Meland soils - 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (basalt)
Mendian soils - dry for 90 to 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice; 25 to 60 inches to skeletal 3Btb horizon
Quiden soils - mean annual soil temperature of 50 to 54 degrees F.; particle-size control section with 18 to 25 percent clay and 10 to 20 percent rock fragments
Rehfield soils - 40 to more than 60 inches to bedrock; dry for 90 to 120 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Robbscreek soils are - 20 to 40 inches to unweathered granodiorite have greater than 15 percent rock fragments in the particle size control section
.
Schumacher soils - 40 to 60 inches to lithic contact (metasediments); dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice; particle-size control section has 5 to 30 percent rock fragments
Stacker soils - 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (basalt); dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Stardust soils - particle-size control section with 5 to 30 percent rock fragments of granitic origin
Updegraff soils - 40 to 60 inches to lithic contact (schist); dry for more than 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Van Horn soils - mean annual soil temperature of 51 to 54 degrees F.; solum contains common to many mica flakes of alluvial or glacial outwash origin; cambic horizon above argillic horizon
Wakamuticham soils - particle size control section has an average of 15 to 35 percent rock fragments; 40 to more than 60 inches to lithic contact (basalt)
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Meystre soils are on uplands and have slopes of 0 to 45 percent. These soils formed in loess mixed with colluvium weathered from sandstone. Elevation is 1,800 to 3,600 feet. The soils are in a climate of warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 22 inches. The average January temperature is 27 degrees F. and the average July temperature is 69 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 48 degrees F. Frost- free season is 75 to 130 days. The growing season (28 degrees F.) is 150 to 175 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Clint, McDaniel, Rock Creek, and Taneum soils. Clint soils are on uplands and McDaniel soils are on hillsides and both soils have more than 35 percent coarse fragments. Rock Creek soils are on plateaus and are less than 20 inches deep to basalt. Taneum soils are on uplands and have more than 75 percent base saturation.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for timber production, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is ponderosa pine, bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, sagebrush, and antelope bitterbrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Washington; MLRA 8. Series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Yakima County, Washington, 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon from the mineral surface to 19 inches
Argillic horizon from 12 to 42 inches
Particle-size control section is from 12 to 32 inches (Bt1, Bt2 and part of the Bt3 horizons).