LOCATION STARICHKOF AK

Established Series
Rev. RBH-JPM
9/86

STARICHKOF SERIES

The Starichkof series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in soft fibrous peat interlayered with thin strata of coarse peat and mineral material. Starichkof soils are in muskegs, and on seep slopes below upland muskegs. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 34 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 25 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic Fluvaquentic Borohemists

TYPICAL PEDON: Starichkof peat - on a 1 percent slope under native vegetation of sedges, bog birch, and other low-growing shrubs. (All colors are for moist soil)

Oi--0 to 2 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) moist, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) squeezed, living moss; few sedge and shrub roots. (2 to 6 inches thick)

Oe1--2 to 5 inches; black (N 2/0) moist and squeezed; coarse decomposing moss peat; about 85 percent fibers, 65 percent after rubbing; extremely acid. (2 to 8 inches thick)

Oe2--5 to 10 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) moist, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) squeezed; coarse decomposing moss peat; about 75 percent fibers, 40 percent after rubbing; very strongly acid. (4 to 12 inches thick)
Oe3--10 to 60 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) soft fibrous peat; about 55 percent fibers, 25 percent after rubbing; few thin lenses of dark brown (10YR 3/3) silt loam; very strongly acid; thin layer of white sand at upper boundary.

TYPE LOCATION: Kenai-Kasilof Area, Alaska; about 3/4 mile NNE of the village of Kasilof; about 1000 feet west of the southeast corner of section 28, T.3N., R.12W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The organic material ranges from 52 inches to many feet thick. Layers of coarse moss peat up to 8 inches thick may occur at any depth. Thin layers of mineral soil occur within the control section. Thin layers of volcanic ash and woody fragments may also occur. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to very strongly acid. The pH (0.01M CaCl2) of the organic material is less than 4.5 in all parts of the control section.

The surface tier has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR; value moist from 2 to 5; and chroma moist from 2 to 4. Rubbed colors typically have value and chroma moist from 3 through 6. The organic material is commonly decomposing sphagnum moss peat. Fiber content ranges from 80 to 90 percent unrubbed and 40 to 70 percent rubbed.

The subsurface tier has hue ranging from 5YR to 10YR; value moist of 2 or 3, and chroma moist from 2 through 4. Values increase when pressed. The organic material is commonly decomposing coarse sphagnum moss peat interlayered with sedge peat. Fiber content ranges from 60 to 65 percent unrubbed and 20 to 40 percent rubbed. Thin layers of mineral soil are common.

COMPETING SERIES: These include the Doroshin, Maybeso, Nikolai, Salamatof, and Saltery soils in the same order. Doroshin, Maybeso, and Nikolai soils have a continuous mineral substratum beginning within the control section. Salamatof and Saltery soils have dominantly fibric material within the control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Starichkof soils are in muskegs and on seep slopes below upland muskegs. Slopes range from 0 to 7 percent but are dominantly between 0 to 3 percent. Starichkof soils formed in decomposing peat interlayered with thin mineral strata. The average annual temperature ranges from 28 to 36 degrees F. The average annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 30 inches. The climate is maritime.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Cohoe, Kachemak, Mutnala, Spenard, and Whitsol soils. The Cohoe, Kachemak, Mutnala, and Whitsol soils are all well drained soils on adjacent uplands. The Spenard soils are very poorly drained mineral soils along muskeg borders.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Runoff is ponded
to slow. Permeability is rapid. The water table is at or near the surface.

USE AND VEGETATION: The natural vegetation is mainly sedges, sphagnum moss, bog birch, Labrador tea, and other low-growing shrubs and forbs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Alaska. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Anchorage, Alaska

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenai-Kasilof Area, Alaska, 1960.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this profile include: hemic material from 12 to 60 inches; strata of silt loam from 10 to 60 inches; pH (0.01M CaCl2) is less than 4.5 in all parts of the control section.

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE SOIL SURVEY
U.S.A.

Contact: Mike Gracz Kenai Watershed Forum  PO Box 15301 Fritz Creek, AK  99603 907-235-2218

04 May 2007 10:26