Altamont soil and landscape
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Altamont series. Cracking is clearly visible. The soil structure is large blocks between the cracks, which reduce soil strength. The paralithic contact of sandstone is visible at a depth of about 110 centimeters. (Supplement to the Soil Survey of Santa Clara Area, California, Western Part; narratives written by William Reed, natural resources specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Typical landscape of Altamont and Alo soils with characteristic rounded hills. Altamont soils are on the lower and less sloping areas and Alo soils are on the higher, steeper slope segments.
The Altamont series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from fine-grained sandstone and shale. These soils are on gently sloping to very steep uplands. The average annual precipitation is about 17 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 59 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Aridic Haploxererts
Clay content is 35 to 60 percent. They have intersecting slickensides and have cracks more than 1 cm wide to a depth of 20 inches or more that open and close once each year. The cracks close in November or December and remain closed until April or May and remain open the rest of the year. Mean annual soil temperature is 59 degrees to 65 degrees F. Depth to a paralithic contact of shale, sandstone or mudstone is 40 to 60 inches. Roots do not penetrate the paralithic materials except along fractures. Angular prisms 6 to 12 inches in diameter that extend from near the surface to depths of 15 to 30 inches are characteristic of these soils when dry.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and dry farmed grains, mainly barley. The principal vegetation is annual grasses, forbs, and scattered oak trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the Diablo Ranges in the California Coast Ranges in central and southern California and the Sutter Buttes. The soils are extensive. MLRA 15, 18, 20.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/san...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/A/ALTAMONT.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#altamont
Altamont soil and landscape
Soil profile: A representative soil profile of the Altamont series. Cracking is clearly visible. The soil structure is large blocks between the cracks, which reduce soil strength. The paralithic contact of sandstone is visible at a depth of about 110 centimeters. (Supplement to the Soil Survey of Santa Clara Area, California, Western Part; narratives written by William Reed, natural resources specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Landscape: Typical landscape of Altamont and Alo soils with characteristic rounded hills. Altamont soils are on the lower and less sloping areas and Alo soils are on the higher, steeper slope segments.
The Altamont series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from fine-grained sandstone and shale. These soils are on gently sloping to very steep uplands. The average annual precipitation is about 17 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 59 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Aridic Haploxererts
Clay content is 35 to 60 percent. They have intersecting slickensides and have cracks more than 1 cm wide to a depth of 20 inches or more that open and close once each year. The cracks close in November or December and remain closed until April or May and remain open the rest of the year. Mean annual soil temperature is 59 degrees to 65 degrees F. Depth to a paralithic contact of shale, sandstone or mudstone is 40 to 60 inches. Roots do not penetrate the paralithic materials except along fractures. Angular prisms 6 to 12 inches in diameter that extend from near the surface to depths of 15 to 30 inches are characteristic of these soils when dry.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and dry farmed grains, mainly barley. The principal vegetation is annual grasses, forbs, and scattered oak trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the Diablo Ranges in the California Coast Ranges in central and southern California and the Sutter Buttes. The soils are extensive. MLRA 15, 18, 20.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/california/san...
For a detailed soil description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/A/ALTAMONT.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#altamont