LOCATION ARMONA CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, thermic Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Armona loam, on a slope of less than 1 percent under irrigated cultivation at 200 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on 2/14/77 the soil was moist throughout and had a water table at a depth of 51 inches.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) loam, black (5Y 2/1) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; electrical conductivity is 3.0 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 2; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 11 inches thick)
Bknz--9 to 14 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) loam, very dark gray (5Y 3/1) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulation, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; common fine gypsum crystals; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 13.5 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 18; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Bkgnyz--14 to 19 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; massive; very hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulations, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; common fine gypsum crystals; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 18 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 25; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
2Bkgnz1--19 to 22 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) sandy loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; massive; very hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulation, dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) and reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity 16 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio 32; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
2Bkgnz2--22 to 25 inches; light gray (5Y 7/2) sandy loam, olive gray (5Y 5/2) moist; massive; very hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulation, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 19 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 30; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
3Bkgnyz--25 to 30 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; massive; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and very plastic; many very fine and fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) and common fine faint dark gray (5Y 4/1) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulation, brown (7.5YR 4/4) and black (5Y 2.5/1) moist; common fine gypsum crystals; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 20 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 30; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
4Bkgnzb1--30 to 36 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) loam, dark olive gray (5Y 3/2) moist; massive; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and very plastic; many very fine and fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) and common fine faint dark gray (5Y 4/1) redoximorphic masses of iron depletion, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) and black (5Y 2.5/1) moist; common fine gypsum crystals; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 18 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 18; slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
4Bkgnzb2--36 to 41 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) silt loam, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; massive; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; common fine distinct very dark gray (5Y 3/1) moist redoximorphic masses of iron depletion; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; electrical conductivity is 17 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 26; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary (2 to 6 inches thick)
5Bgnzb--41 to 60 inches; light gray (5Y 7/1) sand, gray (5Y 6/1) moist; massive; hard, loose; many very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; common fine prominent brown (7.5YR 4/4) redoximorphic masses of iron accumulation, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; electrical conductivity is 21 decisiemens per meter; sodium adsorption ratio is 19; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5).
TYPE LOCATION: Kings County, California; about 0.75 mile south of the city Stratford, about 200 feet north of the Tulare Lake Canal and 300 feet west of 20 1/2 Avenue; 900 feet south and 2,300 feet east of the northwest corner of section 20 T. 20 S., R. 20 E., MDB&M; Latitude 36 degrees, 10 minutes, 46 seconds north Longitude 119 degrees, 49 minutes, 32 seconds west; USGS Stratford Topographic Quadrangle, NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil is 60 inches or more deep. The soil is saturated in some part during the year, unless artificially drained. The mean annual soil temperature is 60 degrees to 62 degrees F. Depth to stratified alluvium is 11 to 14 inches. Organic matter is 1 to 2 percent in the surface horizon and decreases irregularly with increasing depth. The soil is saline-sodic in some part during the year.
The A horizon has color of 10YR 4/1, 5/1, 5/2; 2.5Y 5/2; 5Y 4/1, 5/1 or 5/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/1, 3/2; 2.5Y 3/2; 5Y 2/1, 2/2, 3/1 or 3/2. Faint to prominent moist redoximorphic concentrations are present in some pedons. Texture is sandy loam or loam. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 1 to 5 percent. Gypsum content is 0 to 3 percent. Electrical conductivity is 0 to 16 decisiemens per meter. Sodium adsorption ratio is 2 to 30. Electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio and gypsum content are affected by agricultural practices and the depth to a high water table. Reaction is slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline.
The B horizon has color of 10YR 5/1; 2.5Y 5/2, 6/2, 7/2; 5Y 5/1, 5/2, 6/2, 6/3, 7/1 or 7/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/1, 3/2; 2.5Y 3/2, 4/2; 5Y 2/1, 3/1, 4/1, 4/2, 5/1, 5/2, 5/3, 6/1 or 6/2. Moist redoximorphic accumulations and depletions of iron and manganese are faint to prominent. Texture is stratified sandy loam, loam or clay loam and clay content averages 20 to 35 percent, but the particle-size control section has thin horizons that range from sand to clay. Clay content is 18 to 35 percent in the upper part and 0 to 45 percent in the lower part. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 1 to 10 percent. Gypsum content is 0 to 4 percent. Electrical conductivity is 0 to 30 decisiemens per meter. Sodium adsorption ratio is 2 to 80. Electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio and gypsum content are affected by agricultural practices and the depth to a high water table. Some pedons contain up to 15 percent durinodes and/or carbonate concretions at a depth below 40 inches. Reaction is slightly alkaline to very strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series at this time.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Armona soils are on flood plains on basin floors and basin rims. Slope is 0 to 1 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from igneous and/or sedimentary rock. Elevations are 115 to 250 feet. The climate is semiarid with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 7 to 8 inches. Mean January temperature is about 45 degrees F.; mean July temperature is about 82 degrees F.; mean annual temperature is 62 to 66 degrees F. Frost-free season is 220 to 275 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Gepford, Grangeville, Tachi and Tulare soils. Gepford soils, on flood plains and basin floors, have a fine particle-size control section. Grangeville soils, on alluvial fans and flood plains, have a coarse-loamy particle-size control section. Tachi soils, on flood plains and basin floors, have a very fine particle-size control section. Tulare soils, on basins, have a fine particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; This soil has altered drainage because of dams and reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada, pumping from the water table, the use of tile and interceptor drains, and filling and leveling of the sloughs in the vicinity. This soil is protected from flooding by dams, canals and levees. Negligible or low runoff; moderately slow or slow permeability due to sodicity and stratification. A perched water table occurs at a depth of 24 to 72 inches from January through December. The soil is wet throughout from December through March, unless drained. The soil remains moist below a depth of 6 inches from April through November, unless drained.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for irrigated crops such as wheat, barley and cotton. The natural vegetation is iodine bush (Allenrolfea occidentalis) and alkali blite.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Joaquin Valley. Series is moderately extensive. MLRA 17.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kings County, California, 1980.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
1.0 Mollic Epipedon--The zone from the soil surface to a depth of about 14 inches (Ap and Bknz horizons).
2.0 Particle Size Family--Fine-loamy, the 10 to 40 inch particle size control section averages 20 to 35 percent clay.
3.0 Aquic Moisture Regime--The soil is saturated in some or all parts most of the year, or is drained. Redoximorphic features are present.
4.0 Stratification--The soil is highly stratified from a depth of about 11 inches to 60 inches. Organic matter decreases irregularly with increasing depth.
5.0 Calcium Carbonate--The 10 to 20 inch zone in the soil always has 1 to 5 percent calcium carbonate, and is always effervescent throughout.
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL Pedon S84CA-031-006 (CP85CA052) sampled near the series type location, and S88CA-107-010 (RP88CA259).