Nutras soils are on mountain slopes, alluvial fans and valley side slopes. Slopes range from 2 to 65 percent. Nutras stony loam - forest. Mean annual soil temperature is 38 degrees F Mean summer soil temperature is 44 degrees F. with thick O horizons. Sand and silt fractions contain 5 to 20 or more percent dark colored ferromagnesium-rich minerals or fragments of basalt.
Reaction is neutral to moderately acid.
Elevation ranges from 8,500 to 11,500 feet. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 26 to 35 inches with peak periods of precipitation during the spring and summer. Mean annual temperature ranges 32 to 40 degrees F., and mean summer temperature is 43 degrees F. Frost-free period is 40 to 70 days. These are the Sapinero soils and the competing Vulcan soils. Sapinero soils have argillic horizons with less than 35 percent clay and overlie fragmental 2C horizons.