LOCATION ARENISCO TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, hyperthermic Typic Ustipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Arenisco fine sand--in complex with Lopeno and Potrero soils in rangeland at an elevation of 6.4 meters (21 ft). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 in); brown (10YR 4/3) fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3), dry; single grain; loose, loose; common fine roots and many very fine roots; neutral, pH 7.0; gradual smooth boundary.
A2--25 to 89 cm (10 to 35 in); brown (10YR 4/3) fine sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; single grain; loose, loose; common very fine and fine roots; silt coats and 2 percent carbonate coats; neutral, pH 7.2; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 53 to 142 cm [21 to 56 in].)
C1--89 to 122 cm (35 to 48 in); brown (10YR 5/3) fine sand, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; single grain; loose, loose; common very fine and fine roots; neutral, pH 7.2; clear smooth boundary.
C2--122 to 163 cm (48 to 64 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) fine sand, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) dry; single grain; loose, loose; common very fine and fine roots; 1 percent fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), moist, and 3 percent fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; neutral, pH 7.3; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the C horizon is 61 to 152 cm [24 to 60 in].)
C3--163 to 203 cm (64 to 80 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sand, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) dry; single grain; loose, loose; common very fine and fine roots; 3 percent fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline, pH 7.4.
TYPE LOCATION: Kenedy County, Texas; from the intersection of La Parra Avenue and U.S. Highway 77 in Sarita; 4.8 miles south on U.S. Highway 77 to ranch gate; 4.95 miles east on ranch road; 1.3 miles south and southeast on ranch road; 0.9 mile southeast on ranch road; 2700 feet in rangeland. La Parra Ranch, Texas USGS topographic quadrangle; Latitude: 27 degrees, 07 minutes, 46.82 seconds N. and Longitude: 97 degrees, 41 minutes, 31.87 seconds W., NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: An Ustic moisture regime. The Soil Moisture Control Section (SMCS) is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 days cumulative in normal years. The SMCS is also either moist in some or all parts for 180 cumulative days or more or moist for 90 or more consecutive days in normal years. June through September are the driest months.
A water table is present in most pedons at depths of 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 in) in most years from October to May.
Depth to redox concentrations: 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 in)
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 1 to 5 percent
Sand content: 91 to 97 percent
A1 horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 (3 to 5 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sand
Clay content: 0.5 to 6 percent
EC (dS/m): 0.1 to 2.0
SAR: 0.1 to 9.0
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline
A2 horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 (4 to 6 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sand
Clay content: 0.5 to 6 percent
EC (dS/m): 0.1 to 2.0
SAR: 0.1 to 9.0
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline
C1 and C2 horizons
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 (5 to 7 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sand
Clay content: 1 to 5 percent
EC (dS/m): 0.1 to 0.6
SAR: 0.1 to 6.0
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline
C3 and C4 horizons (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 to 8 (5 to 7 moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sand
Clay content: 1 to 4 percent
Redox concentrations: amount- none to common, size- fine to medium, contrast- distinct to prominent, and with diffuse boundaries.
EC (dS/m): 0.1 to 2.0
SAR: 0.1 to 6.0
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Atiras (TX),
Falfurrias (TX), and
Medanito (TX) series in the same family. Similar soils include the
Arenosa (TX),
Estella (TX),
Galveston (TX),
Lopeno (TX),
Meros (PR),
Mustang (TX),
Sarita (TX),
Tatton (TX),
Tivoli (OK), and the
Tonkawa (TX) series.
Atiras soils: have a buried soil from 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 in).
Falfurrias soils: are more acid in the surface horizon and do not have a fluctuating water table within 203 cm (80 in) of the surface.
Medanito soils: have a buried soil from 51 to 120 cm (20 to 40 in).
Arenosa and Tonkawa soils: have a thermic temperature regime and in addition, have less than 5 percent weatherable minerals in the control section.
Galveston soils: have a udic moisture regime.
Lopeno soils: have a buried soil within 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 in) from the surface.
Meros soils: have an isohyperthermic temperature regime.
Mustang and Tatton soils: have a permanent water table within 102 cm (40 in) of the surface.
Sarita and Estella soils: have an argillic horizon.
Tivoli soils: have a thermic temperature regime.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: sandy eolian sediments of Holocene age
Landform: interdune, lag ridge or dunal areas of vegetated sand dunes
Slope: 0 to 5 percent
Mean annual air temperature: 22 to 23 degrees C (72 to 74 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 635 to 762 mm (25 to 30 in)
Frost-free period: 310 to 330 days
Elevation: 2 to 8 m (5 to 25 ft)
Thornthwaite P-E Index: 31 to 36
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the
Cayo,
Lopeno,
Noria,
Potrero,
Saucel,
Sauz, and
Topo series.
Cayo and Topo soils: are calcareous throughout and are on lower landforms.
Lopeno, Noria, and Potrero soils: have buried soils and are on lower landforms.
Saucel and Sauz soils: are in a coarse-loamy particle-size family and are on lower landforms.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained. Rapid permeability. Runoff is negligible. Soils are very rarely flooded for very brief periods during severe tropical storms by tidal surges in the months of May through November.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Vegetation consists mostly of short to mid grasses such as sand bur, hairy grama, seacoast bluestem, gulfdune paspalum and threeawn. Forbs such as partridge pea, croton, ragweed, beebalm, false indigo, also many yellow and white flowered asteraceae of an unknown species at this time. The ecolocical site is Coastal Sand, PE 31-44 (150BY648TX).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Gulf Coast Saline Prairies (MLRA 150B in LRR T) of south Texas. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenedy County, Texas; 2007.
REMARKS: This soil was formerly included in the Falfurrias series. The Arenisco series was separated based on the occurrence of a water table at 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 inches).
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon 0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 in). (A horizon)
Particle size control section - The zone from 25 to 102 cm (10 to 40 in)
Redoximorphic concentrations 163 to 203 cm (64 to 80 in). (C3 horizon)
Apparent water table 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 in) in most years
ADDITIONAL DATA: TAMU data from Kenedy County, TX (S98TX-261-007).
TAXONOMIC VERSION: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Tenth Edition, 2006