Soil Survey of North Star Area, Alaska
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United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey of In cooperation with Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks and Salcha-Big Delta North Star Area, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and University of Alaska Fairbanks Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Alaska This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other Federal agencies, State agencies, and local agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1988. Soil names and descriptions were approved in 1989. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in this publication refer to conditions in the Survey Area in 1988. This survey was made cooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The survey is part of the technical assistance furnished to the Fairbanks and Salcha-Big Delta Soil and Water Conservation District. Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. However, enlargement of these maps could cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover: Bohica soils, in the foreground, have been cleared of forest vegetation to prepare for farming. Fairbanks soils are on the hillslopes. Location of the North Star Soil Survey Area in Alaska ii Soil Survey Table of Contents INDEX TO MAP UNITS....................................................................................................................................... v SUMMARY OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................... vi FOREWORD......................................................................................................................................................vii GENERAL NATURE OF THE SURVEY AREA ................................................................................................... 2 History and Development................................................................................................................................. 2 Climate ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Physiography and Geology .............................................................................................................................. 3 Permafrost ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 HOW THIS SURVEY WAS MADE....................................................................................................................... 4 GENERAL SOIL MAP UNITS ............................................................................................................................. 5 Map Unit Descriptions ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1—Jarvis-Salchaket-Fubar ........................................................................................................................... 5 2—Goldstream-Saulich-Pergelic Cryohemists .............................................................................................. 5 3—Gilmore-Steese-Fairbanks....................................................................................................................... 6 4—Ester-Gilmore-Typic Cryochrepts ............................................................................................................ 6 5—Gilmore-Typic Cryochrepts-Rock outcrop................................................................................................ 6 DETAILED SOIL MAP UNITS............................................................................................................................. 7 Map Unit Descriptions ...................................................................................................................................... 8 USE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOILS ...................................................................................................... 55 Crops and Pasture ......................................................................................................................................... 55 Soils with Agricultural Potential................................................................................................................... 55 Land Clearing ............................................................................................................................................. 55 Fertilizer Requirements............................................................................................................................... 56 Recommended Crops................................................................................................................................. 56 Forest Productivity and Management............................................................................................................. 56 Forestry-Soils Interpretations...................................................................................................................... 56 Wildlife Habitat .............................................................................................................................................. 59 Recreation ..................................................................................................................................................... 59 Engineering.................................................................................................................................................... 60 Building Site Development ......................................................................................................................... 61 Sanitary Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Construction Materials ................................................................................................................................62 Water Management .................................................................................................................................... 64 SOIL PROPERTIES.......................................................................................................................................... 65 Engineering Index Properties ......................................................................................................................... 65 Physical and Chemical Properties.................................................................................................................. 66 Water Features.............................................................................................................................................. 67 North Star Area, Alaska iii Hydric Soils ....................................................................................................................................................68 Soil Features ..................................................................................................................................................69 CLASSIFICATION OF THE SOILS ...................................................................................................................71 SOIL SERIES, HIGHER TAXA, AND THEIR MORPHOLOGY ..........................................................................71 Bohica Series..............................................................................................................................................72 Ester Series ................................................................................................................................................72 Fairbanks Series .........................................................................................................................................73 Fubar Series ...............................................................................................................................................74 Gilmore Series............................................................................................................................................74 Goldstream Series ......................................................................................................................................75