Soilscape of Monument Valley; northern Arizona
The soils of the valley floor consist of the Sheppard series, Sheppard, gypsic substratum, and Torriorthents.
The Sheppard series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in eolian material derived from sandstone. Sheppard soils are on structural benches, alluvial fans, dunes on structural benches, and terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 9 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 54 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Typic Torripsamments (No diagnostic features)
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing. Potential vegetation is Mormon-tea, Indian ricegrass, galleta, and Russian thistle.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Utah, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southwest Colorado. LRR D, MLRA 35. This series is of large extent.
The Sheppard, gypsic substratum phase soils are similar to Sheppard soils except they have a gypsic horizon below a depth of about 40 inches and lithic bedrock at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. Sheppard soils typically have no restrictive features within 80 inches.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SHEPPARD.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#sheppard
Torriorthents are the dry Orthents of cool to hot, arid regions. They have an aridic (or torric) moisture regime and a temperature regime warmer than cryic. Generally, they are neutral or calcareous and are on moderate to very steep slopes. A few are on gentle slopes. Many of the gently sloping soils are on rock pediments, are very shallow, have a sandy-skeletal particle-size class, or are salty. Others are on fans where sediments are recent but have little organic carbon. The vegetation on Torriorthents commonly is sparse and consists mostly of xerophytic shrubs and ephemeral grasses and forbs. The vegetation on a few of the soils is saltgrass. Torriorthents are used mainly for grazing. They are extensive in the Western United States.
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
sites.google.com/site/dinpuithai/Home
For more information about describing soils using the USDA-Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...
Soilscape of Monument Valley; northern Arizona
The soils of the valley floor consist of the Sheppard series, Sheppard, gypsic substratum, and Torriorthents.
The Sheppard series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in eolian material derived from sandstone. Sheppard soils are on structural benches, alluvial fans, dunes on structural benches, and terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 9 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 54 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Typic Torripsamments (No diagnostic features)
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing. Potential vegetation is Mormon-tea, Indian ricegrass, galleta, and Russian thistle.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Utah, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southwest Colorado. LRR D, MLRA 35. This series is of large extent.
The Sheppard, gypsic substratum phase soils are similar to Sheppard soils except they have a gypsic horizon below a depth of about 40 inches and lithic bedrock at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. Sheppard soils typically have no restrictive features within 80 inches.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SHEPPARD.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#sheppard
Torriorthents are the dry Orthents of cool to hot, arid regions. They have an aridic (or torric) moisture regime and a temperature regime warmer than cryic. Generally, they are neutral or calcareous and are on moderate to very steep slopes. A few are on gentle slopes. Many of the gently sloping soils are on rock pediments, are very shallow, have a sandy-skeletal particle-size class, or are salty. Others are on fans where sediments are recent but have little organic carbon. The vegetation on Torriorthents commonly is sparse and consists mostly of xerophytic shrubs and ephemeral grasses and forbs. The vegetation on a few of the soils is saltgrass. Torriorthents are used mainly for grazing. They are extensive in the Western United States.
For additional information about soil classification using Soil Taxonomy, visit:
sites.google.com/site/dinpuithai/Home
For more information about describing soils using the USDA-Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_052523...