The Martinsdale soil series is unique, like every other soil found throughout the world, with a subgroup of fine-loamy, mixed, superactive frigid Typic Argustolls and a parent material of colluvium, this soil is beautiful. The soil itself has seven different horizons each having a constant loam presence, thus making it a more ideal soil to grow crops rather than others. Although it is susceptible to erosion, it is used to produce a crop very near and dear to my hear – Alfalfa. Now if you are a rancher, or farmer, you know that your cattle depend on this food staple and the success rate of your ranch probably depends on the quality of your cattle – which ultimately depends on the food. Not only is the soil type ideal for ranchers, but also for the environment. As many people, may or may not, realize the carbon footprint from the gasses that soils emit has gone up. With this particular soil type the land use management recommended is to only harvest every other year, this allows for the soil health to stay up and also lessens the nitrous oxide emissions.

The Martinsdale soil series has a subgroup of frigid Typic Argiborolls. With that subgroup the soil is classified into a family of soils that is fine-loamy, meaning the soil has the substances that would be beneficial to soil fertility and it also would provide structure to the soil. Along with the subgroup classification is the location this soil series is typically found. Usually it is found all throughout Montana and parts of Colorado, meaning it is a soil that is typically around cold climates and moderate precipitation. It is found in landforms such as alluvial fans, stream terraces and foot slopes of mountains and hills. It is typically used for the growth of small grains and alfalfa, which gives an idea of the chemistry that goes on within the soil. With organic matter being 1.09%, clay at 27.5%, sand at 35.0% and silt at 37.6% the elements that correspond vary. Since sand%+silt% is greater than clay% the element that dominates the soil is quartz, being 72.6% as the primary mineral and smectite as the secondary mineral at 27.5%

For more fun learning about the Martinsdale soill series, click on the link below.