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  1. Data Collection Methods
  2. Soils
  3. Soil Descriptions
  4. Central Plains Experimental Range NEON (CPER) Soil Descriptions

Central Plains Experimental Range NEON (CPER) Soil Descriptions

Distributed Soils Reports

Pedon Descriptions

Pit‐level observations and field measurements reported using the standard NRCS format. They contain volume estimates for coarse fragments > 20 mm where applicable.

Download

Site Level Plot Summary

A narrative summary that places the sampled soil pedons in the broader context of soils and geomorphology for the entire NEON site.

Download

Megapit Images

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 0-52 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 42-82 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 75-130 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 132-200 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 0-105 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 75-170 cm

soil profile

D10 CPER megapit soil profile 132-200 cm

Download All Images

Megapit Pedon Description

Print Date Apr 1 2015
Description Date Aug 13 2012
Describer Andy Steinert
Site ID S12CO123001
Site Note Central Plains Experimental Range NEON Site
Pedon ID S2012CO123001
Lab Source ID SSL
Lab Pedon # 12N8293
Soil Name as Described/Sampled Ascalon
Classification Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argiustolls
Pedon Type correlates to named soil
Pedon Purpose research site
Taxon Kind series
Physiographic Division Interior Plains
Physiographic Province Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section Colorado Piedmont
Geomorphic Setting on backslope of hill
Upslope Shape convex
Cross Slope Shape concave
Particle Size Control Section 30 to 80 cm.
Description origin Pedon PC 5.0
State Colorado
County Weld
MLRA 67B -- Central High Plains, Southern Part
Soil Survey Area CO617 -- Weld County, Colorado, Northern Part
5-FTM -- Fort Morgan, Colorado
Map Unit 4 -- Ascalon fine sandy loam, 0 to 6 percent slopes
Quad Name Eastman Creek South, Colorado
Std Latitude 40.8131111
Std Longitude -104.7443889
Latitude 40 degrees 48 minutes 47.20 seconds north
Longitude 104 degrees 44 minutes 39.80 seconds west
Datum WGS84
UTM Zone 13
UTM Easting 521558 meters
UTM Northing 4518042 meters
Primary Earth Cover Grass/herbaceous cover
Secondary Earth Cover Grassland rangeland
Existing Vegetation blue grama, needle and thread, plains pricklypear, rabbitbrush, sand sagebrush
Parent Material eolian deposits over residuum weathered from sandstone
Description database KSSL
Diagnostic Features mollic epipedon 0 to 30 cm.
argillic horizon 30 to 81 cm.
Slope (%) 2.0
Elevation (meters) 1,682.5
Aspect (deg) 265
Drainage Class well
Horizon Details

A--0 to 10 centimeters (0.0 to 3.9 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face, moist; 75 percent sand; 11 percent silt; 14 percent clay; single grain, and weak fine subangular blocky; moderately hard, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout and common medium roots throughout and common fine roots throughout; noneffervescent, by HCl, 1 normal; slightly acid, pH 6.2, pH meter; clear smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N04726

BA--10 to 30 centimeters (3.9 to 11.8 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face, moist; 75 percent sand; 9 percent silt; 16 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout and common medium roots throughout and common fine roots throughout; noneffervescent, by HCl, 1 normal; neutral, pH 6.6, pH meter; gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N04727

Bt1--30 to 54 centimeters (11.8 to 21.3 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face, moist; 60 percent sand; 16 percent silt; 24 percent clay; moderate medium prismatic parts to moderate medium angular blocky, and moderate medium prismatic parts to moderate coarse angular blocky, and moderate coarse prismatic parts to moderate medium angular blocky, and moderate coarse prismatic parts to moderate coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout and common fine roots throughout; 5 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; noneffervescent, by HCl, 1 normal; neutral, pH 7.3, pH meter; clear wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N04728, 12N04733

Bt2--54 to 81 centimeters (21.3 to 31.9 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face, moist; 55 percent sand; 14 percent silt; 31 percent clay; strong coarse prismatic parts to strong coarse angular blocky, and strong coarse prismatic parts to strong medium angular blocky, and strong medium prismatic parts to strong coarse angular blocky, and strong medium prismatic parts to strong medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout and common fine roots throughout and ; 20 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; noneffervescent, by HCl, 1 normal; slightly alkaline, pH 7.7, pH meter; clear wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N04729

Bk1--81 to 137 centimeters (31.9 to 53.9 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) broken face, moist; 50 percent sand; 20 percent silt; 30 percent clay; weak coarse prismatic parts to moderate coarse subangular blocky, and weak coarse prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout and common fine roots throughout; 2 percent coarse irregular carbonate masses on faces of peds and 2 percent fine threadlike carbonate masses on faces of peds and 1 percent medium irregular carbonate masses on faces of peds; strong effervescence, by HCl, 1 normal; moderately alkaline, pH 8.1, pH meter; clear wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N04730

Bk2--137 to 181 centimeters (53.9 to 71.3 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) broken face, moist; 55 percent sand; 23 percent silt; 22 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky, and moderate medium subangular blocky, and moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 2 percent fine threadlike carbonate masses on faces of peds; strong effervescence, by HCl, 1 normal; moderately alkaline, pH 8.1, pH meter; abrupt broken boundary. Lab sample # 12N04731

2C--181 to 210 centimeters (71.3 to 82.7 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) broken face silty clay loam, light gray (10YR 7/1) broken face, moist; 18 percent sand; 50 percent silt; 32 percent clay; structureless massive; loose, loose, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 2 percent fine threadlike carbonate masses on faces of peds and 1 percent fine irregular carbonate masses on faces of peds; 6 percent nonflat angular very strongly cemented 5 to 20-millimeter sandstone fragments; strong effervescence, by HCl, 1 normal; moderately alkaline, pH 7.9, pH meter. Lab sample # 12N04737, 12N04732

Credits: This megapit soil pedon description was generously created by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service staff, with particular thanks to Larry West, Jon Hempel, and numerous field staff.

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