Introduction and Key to Plant Communities
LOCATION SALAMATOF AK
Established Series
Rev. KMO/JPM/DM
10/2001
SALAMATOF SERIES
The Salamatof series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils formed in deep deposits of coarse sphagnum moss interlayered with sedge peat. Salamatof soils are in depressions in outwash plains. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 34 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 16 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic Sphagnic Cryofibrists
TYPICAL PEDON: Salamatof peat - undisturbed (All colors are for moist soil)
Oi1--0 to 10 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist, brown (10YR 4/2) squeezed dry, sphagnum moss peat and pockets of coarse sedge peat; common roots of woody shrubs; extremely acid (pH 4.4); gradual boundary. (5 to 20 inches thick)
Oi2--10 to 60 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) moist, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) squeezed dry, moss peat interlayered with sedge peat; a few layers of finely divided peat; many woody fragments; extremely acid (pH 4.4.
TYPE LOCATION: Anchorage Area, Alaska; about 1/4 mile south of Six Mile Lake; in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4, section 21 T. 14N, R 3W,: Anchorage B8SE 1:25,000 quad, Seward Meridian; UTM 6797819 north and UTM 0349415 east, zone 6.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The Oi1 horizon is dominantly coarse sphagnum moss. The lower horizons consist of sphagnum moss, sedge peat, woody particles, and in places, finely divided peat.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Salamatof soils are in depressions in outwash plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 5 percent, but are dominantly less than 1 percent. The climate is characterized by cool summers and long moderately cold winters. Average annual temperatures range from about 33 degrees to 38 degrees F. Average annual precipitation ranges from about 14 to 28 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Beluga, Chulitna, Coal Creek, Cohoe, Dinglishna, Homestead, Island, Kalifonsky, Nancy, and Naptowne soils. Chulitna, Cohoe, Homestead, Island, Nancy, and Naptowne soils are all well drained mineral soils of adjacent upland areas. Beluga, Coal Creek and Kalifonsky soils are poorly drained mineral soils occuring along fen and bog borders. The poorly drained Dinglishna soils have a cemented spodic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Rapid permeability. Negligible runoff. Water table is always at or near the surface.
USE AND VEGETATION: Recreation and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of sphagnum moss, dwarf birch, Labrador tea, other low-growing shrubs, sedges, and black spruce.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cook Inlet-Susitna Lowlands. The series is extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Anchorage, Alaska
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenai - Kasilof Area, Alaska, 1960.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this profile include: fibric material from 0 to 60 inches; cryic temperature regime; surface tier is dominated (more than 75 percent) by sphagnum fibers; pH is less than 4.5 (0.01 M CaCl2) throughout the soil. The type location was relocated to the Anchorage Area, Alaska. Salamatof soils were not used when the Matanuska Valley Area, Alaska was updated to Matanuska-Susitna Valley Area, Alaska.
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE SOIL SURVEY
U.S.A.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.
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Introduction and Key to Plant Communities |
| Contact: Mike Gracz Kenai Watershed Forum PO Box 15301 Fritz Creek, AK 99603 907-235-2218 |
04 May 2007 10:25 |
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