LOCATION MERBETH CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, thermic Mollic Palexeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Merbeth gravelly sandy clay loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, on a south facing 26 percent slope under a cover of wild oats and vetch at an elevation of 774 feet. When described the soil was moist throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 1 inches, (0 to 3 cm) slightly decomposed plant material; abrupt smooth boundary.
A1--1 to 2 inches, (3 to 6 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) broken face gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face moist; 25 percent clay; strong medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 15 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.4 by pH meter 1:1 water; abrupt smooth boundary.
A2--2 to 5 inches, (6 to 13 cm); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face moist; 26 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.2 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary.
A3--5 to 12 inches, (13 to 30 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 28 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.3 by pH meter 1:1 water; gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the A horizons is 11 to 30 centimeters)
Bt1--12 to 20 inches, (30 to 50 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 34 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 30 percent clay films on all faces of peds; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; moderately acid, pH 6.1 by pH meter 1:1 water; gradual smooth boundary.
Bt2--20 to 36 inches, (50 to 92 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 38 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 30 percent clay films on all faces of peds; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; moderately acid, pH 6.1 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--36 to 59 inches, (92 to 150 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 35 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.6 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary.
Bt4--59 to 71 inches, (150 to 180 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 35 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 7.1 by pH meter 1:1 water; clear smooth boundary.
Bt5--71 to 83 inches, (180 to 210 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face moist; 32 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent subrounded indurated 2 to 50 millimeter mixed rock fragments; neutral, pH 6.9 by pH meter 1:1 water. (combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 103 to more than 130 centimeters)
TYPE LOCATION: Santa Clara County, California, Older Fremont Open Space, north of gate FO02, about 1/4 mile from gate, on upper south slope. Section 26, Township 7s, Range 2w; UTM Zone 10, 4127361 Northing, 583426 Easting, NAD83. - U.S.G.S Quad: Cupertino, California.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
The mean annual soil temperature is 60 to 62 degrees F. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about June 15 to October 15 (about 120 days). The particle size control section averages 32 to 45 percent clay, 5 to 35 percent rock fragments, mostly gravel. Organic matter ranges from 1 to 3 percent to a depth of 30 centimeters. Rock fragments on the surface range from 0 to 5 percent are 2 to 50 millimeters in size.
The A horizon dry color is 10YR 5/3, 4/4, or 4/3. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 3/4 or 3/3. Texture is sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from 25 to 32 percent. Rock fragments range from 1 to 15 percent and are 2 to 50 millimeters in size. Reaction ranges from 6.1 to 7.3.
The Bt horizon dry color is 10YR 5/6, 5/4, or 4/4. Moist color is 10YR 5/6, 4/4 or 4/3. Texture is sandy clay loam or sandy clay. Clay content ranges from 32 to
45 percent. Rock fragments range from 5 to 35 percent and are 2 to 75 millimeters in size. Reaction ranges from 6.1 to 7.3.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bapos, Hellman and the Honker soils. Bapos soils have segregated carbonates in the Argillic horizon and 7.5YR and 5YR argillic horizon colors. Hellman soils have a paralithic contact at 60 to 80 inches and have 7.5YR and 5YR argillic horizon colors. Honker soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Merbeth soils are on hills of dissected terraces. Slopes are 15 to 65 percent. These soils formed in alluvium weathered from mixed rock sources.
Elevation is 400 to 1000 feet. Mean annual precipitation is 22 to 26 inches. The mean annual temperature is 60 to 62 degrees F. Frost free season is 275 to 325 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Airship(T), Minlum(T) and Literr(T) soils. Airship(T) soils have loamy skeletal textural control sections. Minlum(T) soils have fine loamy textural control sections. Literr(T) soils have mollic epipedons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation and home sites. Vegetation is annual grasses, brush, oaks and poison oak.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The soils are inextensive and are mapped in Santa Clara county Major Land Resource Area: 15 -- Central California Coast Range
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Santa Clara County, California, 2009.
REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 11.8 to 31 in. (30 to 80 cm)
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Argillic horizon: 12 to 83 inches (30 to 210 cm)
The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about June 15 to October 15 (about 120 days).
NASIS Pedon: 05ca085641245
ADDITIONAL DATA: