LOCATION WRANGO NVEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Xeric Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Wrango fine sandy loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) 2 percent stones on the surface.
A--0 to 2 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine vesicular pores; 2 percent stones; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
C--2 to 10 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) gravelly fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent in spots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)
2Bk1--10 to 20 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly light loamy sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots; thin lime coats on underside of pebbles; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear very wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
2Bk2--20 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) extremely gravelly sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, few very fine roots; 75 percent pebbles; lime coats on underside of pebbles; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Nye County, Nevada; approximately 0.7 mile east of mouth of Jett Canyon; 0.1 mile south and 0.1 mile east of north one-fourth corner of section 19, T. 10 N., R. 43 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture - Usually dry, Moist in winter and spring, dry June through October.
Soil temperature - 53 to 59 degrees F.
Reaction - Mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Control section - Clay: 0 to 8 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 60 to 75 percent.
Soil profile - Value: 6 or 7 dry, 3 or 4 moist.
Chroma: 2 or 3.
A horizon - Noneffervescent or slightly effervescent.
C horizon - Structure: Massive or subangular blocky.
Texture: Averages loamy coarse sand and sand.
Consistence: Slightly sticky or sticky, slightly plastic or nonplastic.
2Bk horizon - Effervescence: Slightly effervescent to violently effervescent.
Texture of fine earth: Loamy coarse sand, sand or loamy sand.
Structure: Massive or single grained.
Consistence: Soft, slightly hard to loose.
Other Features: The Wrango soils do not contain soft powdery secondary calcium carbonate that is 5 percent or more absolute higher than that of an underlying horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alderdale (T WA), Burbank (WA), Crunkvar (NV), Denio (NV), Doowak (NV), Sheeprock (UT), Skaha (WA) and Ulymeyer (T CA) series. Alderdale soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact. Burbank soils have dominantly loamy sand or loamy fine sand control sections. Crunkvar and Denio soils contain 35 to 60 percent rock fragments in the particle size control section. Doowak soils have soil temperature of 47 to 52 degrees and is noneffervescent in the top 20 inches. Sheeprock soils lack a Bk horizon. Skaha soils are neutral and noncalcareous. Ulymeyer soils have particle size control section that is dominated by cobbles and stones.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wrango soils are on alluvial fans and inset fans These soils formed in alluvium from mixed rocks. Slopes are 0 to 8 percent. Elevations are 5,600 to 7,400 feet. The climate is semiarid continental. The mean annual precipitation is about 8 to 10 inches; mean annual temperature is about 51 to 57 degrees F.; frost-free season is 100 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bluewing, Mazuma, Orovada, Vigus and Wardenot soils. Bluewing soils lack moisture regimes bordering on xeric. Mazuma soils are coarse-loamy. Orovada soils are coarse-loamy and have durinodes in a friable matrix. Vigus soils have an argillic horizon. Wardenot soils have Bqk a horizon and lack moisture regimes that border on xeric.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained, medium runoff; very rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. The vegetation is principally black sagebrush, bud sagebrush, King desertgrass, sand dropseed, bottlebrush squirreltail and Indian ricegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Nevada. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 27,28B,29.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Reno, Nevada
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Nye County (Big Smoky Valley Area), Nevada. 1972.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - The zone from the surface to 7 inches.
Particle-size control section - The zone from 10 to 40 inches.