LOCATION ABAFT CA
Established Series
ARW/KP
06/2016
ABAFT SERIES
The Abaft series consists of very deep, excessively drained soils that formed in sands from mixed sources. Abaft soils are on stabilized dunes and beach areas along the coast. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 18 inches (457 millimeters) and the mean annual temperature is about 63 degrees F (17 degrees C.)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, thermic Typic Xeropsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Abaft loamy sand at an elevation of 10 feet on a sand dune. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 5 inches, (0 to 12 cm); pale brown (10YR 6/3) stratified loamy sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 2 percent clay; single grain; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; neutral, pH 6.8 by Phenol red; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick, 5 to 15 centimeters)
A2--5 to 13 inches, (12 to 32 cm); pale brown (10YR 6/3) stratified loamy sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 2 percent clay; single grain; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; neutral, pH 6.8 by Phenol red; clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick, 13 to 25 centimeters)
2C--13 to 59 inches, (32 to 150 cm); pale brown (10YR 6/3) stratified sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 2 percent clay; single grain; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; neutral, pH 6.8 by Phenol red.
TYPE LOCATION: Santa Rosa Island, Santa Barbara County, California, in the Channel Islands Soil Survey Area near Carrington Point at 34 degrees North latitude, 01 minutes, 45 seconds and 120 degrees, 03 minutes, 32 seconds West longitude, NAD83; U.S.G.S Quad: Santa Rosa Island, North.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
The mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 64 degrees F. (15 to 18 degrees C.) The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about mid-June to mid-November and is usually moist the rest of the time.
The A horizon dry color is 10YR 7/2, 6/2, 6/3, 6/4. Moist color is 10YR 5/2, 4/2, 4/3, 4/4.
Textures are loamy sand or sand throughout.
Coarse fragments are usually absent but in some cases there may be 1 to 2 percent small gravels.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Arnold,
Briones,
Calhi,
Corralitos,
Delhi,
Monoridge,
Monvero and
Tujunga series. Arnold soils have bedrock at 40 to 60 inches and have 7.5YR hues in the C horizons. Briones and Monoridge soils are 20 to 40 inches to bedrock with 7.5YR hues in the C horizons. Calhi soils are calcareous and strongly alkaline throughout, and have mean annual soil temperatures of 67 degrees F. Corralitos soils formed in sandy alluvium on alluvial fans, and are moderately acid. Delhi soils do not have rock fragments and stratification, and the mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures differ by 25 to 35 degrees F. Monvero soils are calcareous and are slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline. Tujunga soils formed in alluvium on alluvial fans and floodplains, and have rock fragments of 2 to 35 percent throughout.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Abaft soils are on dunes and beaches usually in coastal areas or islands. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent. The soils formed in eolian and wave reworked sands from mixed sources. Elevations are 1 to 300 feet (1 to 95 meters). The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters with potential fog common all year. The mean annual precipitation is 13 to 34 inches (330 to 864 mm), the mean annual temperature is 59 to 73 degrees F. (15 to 23 degrees C.), and the frost free season is 365 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Bereme and
Ironshot soils. Bereme soils are shallow to bedrock and have argillic horizons. Ironshot soils have mollic epipedons and cambic horizons. Both these soils are on hills.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; negligible runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat, recreation and building site development. Vegetation is low shrubs and annual grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Santa Barbara County, California on Santa Cruz Island. The soil is not extensive. MLRA 20.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Santa Barbara County, California, 2005.
REMARKS: The series name is coined. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon--The zone from the soil surface to a depth of about 13 inches (32 centimeters (A horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.