LOCATION STALEY WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Calcic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Staley silt loam, cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many roots; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
A3--7 to 18 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many roots; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
B21ca--18 to 21 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common roots; common fine pores; lime occurs in moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
B22ca--21 to 29 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common roots; common fine pores; lime occurs in pores, root channels and on peds; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 8 inches thick)
B3ca--29 to 40 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common roots; lime occurs in pores, root channels, and on peds; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
C1ca--40 to 54 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
C2ca--54 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few roots; lime occurs in pores and in root channels; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Whitman County, Washington; 1,140 feet south and 360 feet west of the NE corner of section 27, T.18N., R.43E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum ranges from 20 to 40 inches thick. The mean annual soil temperature at depth of 20 inches ranges from 47 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 80 consecutive days in the summer and autumn. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 18 inches thick. The control section is silt loam and has 20 to 30 percent clay. Depth to secondary lime ranges from 10 to 24 inches.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It has weak or moderate granular or blocky structure and is neutral to mildly alkaline.
The B horizon has weak or moderate prismatic structure and is moderately or strongly alkaline.
The Cca horizon is moderately or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Calouse, Hunters, Kearns, Rhea, and Valby series. Calouse and Rhea soils lack secondary carbonates in the upper part of the B horizon. Hunters soils are frigid. Kearns soils lack prismatic structure, lack loess and ash influence and range to very fine sandy loam in the lower part of the control section. Valby soils are 20 and 40 inches deep to bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils are at elevations of 2,000 to 3,000 feet on nearly level to very steep uplands in a continental, temperate climate with relatively dry summers and cool, moist winters. The soils formed in loess that contains some volcanic ash in the upper part. The annual precipitation ranges from 18 to 23 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 51 degrees F. and the average frost free season is about 110 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Caldwell, Garfield, Konert, Latah, Naff, Palouse, Thatuna, and Tilma soils. Caldwell soils have an irregular distribution of organic matter with depth. Garfield soils lack a mollic epipedon and secondary carbonates. Konert, Latah, and Tilma soils have a fine textured control section and lack secondary carbonates. Naff and Thatuna soils have an argillic horizon and lack secondary carbonates. Palouse soils have a mollic epipedon more than 20 inches thick and lack secondary carbonates.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for production of small grains, peas, lentils, alfalfa, and grasses for hay and pasture. Native vegetation is Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg bluegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Washington. Series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Whitman County, Washington, 1939.
REMARKS: Staley soils were previously classified as Brunizems.