LOCATION BALKO OK+KS TX
Established Series
SLM-TGM
10/2018
BALKO SERIES
The Balko series consists of very deep, well drained, slowly permeable soils formed in calcareous loess of late Pleistocene age to early Holocene age. These nearly level to gently sloping soils occur on plains of the Southern High Plains, Northern Part (MLRA 77A). The slope ranges from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 13.5 degrees C (56 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 508 mm (20 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, mesic Pachic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Balko silt loam -- on a 2 percent linear slope in rangeland at an elevation of about 855 m (2805 ft).
(Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 18 cm (0 to 7 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm; many very fine, many fine, and few medium roots throughout; few very fine and few fine pores; many fine worm casts throughout; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline, pH 7.5; clear smooth boundary. Thickness is 15 to 38 cm (6 to 15 in)
Bt--18 to 35 cm (7 to 14 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist; strong coarse prismatic parting to strong medium prismatic parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm; many very fine and common fine roots throughout; common very fine and few fine pores; few faint clay films on all faces of peds and common distinct clay films on vertical faces of peds; many fine worm casts throughout; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline, pH 7.7; clear smooth boundary. Thickness is 0 to 66 cm (0 to 26 in)
Btk1--35 to 53 cm (14 to 21 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist; strong coarse prismatic parting to strong medium prismatic parting to strong coarse angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; common very fine and few fine roots throughout; few very fine pores; common distinct clay films on all faces of peds; few fine carbonate masses throughout; slightly effervescent (4 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 8.2; gradual smooth boundary.
Btk2--53 to 81 cm (21 to 32 in); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), moist; strong medium prismatic parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine pores throughout; common distinct clay films on all faces of peds; common fine carbonate masses and common medium carbonate masses throughout, and few medium spherical carbonate masses between peds; strongly effervescent (1 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 8.3; clear smooth boundary.
Btk3--81 to 129 cm (32 to 51 in); strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) silty clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4), moist; strong medium prismatic parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine pores; common distinct clay films on all faces of peds and common prominent organic stains on vertical faces of peds; few fine carbonate nodules and common fine carbonate masses throughout; common medium cylindrical carbonate masses and common medium spherical carbonate masses between peds; slightly effervescent (2 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 7.9; abrupt smooth boundary. Combined thickness of Btk horizons is 38 to 152 cm (15 to 60 in)
2Bkk1--129 to 154 cm (51 to 61 in); pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2) clay loam, pink (7.5YR 7/3), moist; weak medium platy structure; soft, very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine and few medium pores; finely disseminated carbonate in matrix; violently effervescent (54 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 8.1; gradual smooth boundary.
2Bkk2--154 to 182 cm (61 to 72 in); pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2) silt loam, pink (7.5YR 7/4), moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; few very fine pores; finely disseminated carbonate in matrix and few medium carbonate nodules throughout; violently effervescent (54 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 8.1; gradual smooth boundary. Combined thickness of 2Bkk horizons is 0 to 94 cm (0 to 37 in)
2BCk--182 to 206 cm (72 to 81 in); pink (7.5YR 7/4) very gravelly silt loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4), moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine spherical relict iron-manganese concretions throughout; finely disseminated carbonate in matrix; common fine carbonate nodules, common medium and common coarse carbonate masses throughout; 8 percent 2 to 5 mm, 25 percent 5 to 20 mm, and 5 percent 20 to 75 mm strongly cemented carbonate nodules and caliche fragments; violently effervescent (45 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); moderately alkaline, pH 8.1.
TYPE LOCATION:
Beaver County, Oklahoma; located about 8 miles west and 1 mile north of Elmwood, Oklahoma; then 1820 ft south and 710 ft east of the northwest corner of Section 14, Township 2N, Range 23E (Cimarron meridian).
USGS topographic quadrangle: Balko, Oklahoma
Latitude: 36 degrees, 38 minutes, 25.50 seconds N
Longitude: 100 degrees, 39 minutes, 51.80 seconds W
Datum: WGS84
Decimal Degrees
Std Latitude: 36.6404152
Std Longitude: -100.6643906
UTM Northing: 4056275
UTM Easting: 351208
UTM zone: 14S
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: An ustic moisture regime bordering on aridic. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 180 but less than 205 days, cumulative, in normal years.
Solum thickness: More than 203 cm (80 in)
Thickness of mollic epipedon: 50 to 91 cm (20 to 36 in)
Thickness of argillic horizon: 74 to 165 cm (29 to 65 in)
Depth to secondary carbonates: 25 to 91 cm (10 to 36 in)
Depth to calcic horizon: typically 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 in), but may be more than 203 cm (80 in)
Linear extensibility: Average of 4.5 to 5.7 cm to a depth of 100 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Total clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Carbonate clay content : 0 to 2 percent
Coarse fragments: none
A or Ap horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 moist or dry
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Total clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Carbonate clay content: none
Coarse fragments: none
Identifiable secondary carbonate: none
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 1 percent
Effervescence: none to slight
Reaction (pH): neutral to slightly alkaline (6.6-7.8)
Bt horizons (where present):
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist or dry
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, clay, silty clay
Total clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Carbonate clay content: 0 to 1 percent
Coarse fragments: none
Identifiable secondary carbonate: none
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 1 percent
Effervescence: none to slight
Reaction (pH): neutral to slightly alkaline (6.6-7.8)
Btk horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5 moist or dry
Chroma: 2 to 6, 3 or 4 moist
Texture: typically silty clay loam, clay loam, clay, or silty clay, but also includes loam and silt loam below 100 cm
Total clay content: 23 to 50 percent
Carbonate clay content: 0 to 5 percent
Coarse fragments: 0 to 2 percent, fine gravel of strongly cemented to very strongly cemented carbonate nodules and concretions
Identifiable secondary carbonate: 1 to 15 percent; fine to coarse; finely disseminated carbonate, masses, nodules, and concretions
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 10 percent
Effervescence: slight to violent
Reaction (pH): slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (7.4-8.4)
Bk and BCk horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 6 to 8 moist or dry
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist or dry
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, loam, or clay loam and their gravelly or very gravelly counterparts
Total clay content: 15 to 32 percent
Carbonate clay content: 2 to 10 percent
Coarse Fragments: 0 to 45 percent; fine to coarse gravel of strongly cemented to very strongly cemented carbonate nodules, concretions, and caliche fragments
Identifiable secondary carbonates: 25 to 60 percent; fine to very coarse; finely disseminated carbonate, masses, nodules, and concretions
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 40 to 65 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction (pH): slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (7.4-8.4)
COMPETING SERIES:
These are the
Conchovar,
Irwin,
Knifehill,
Lubbock,
Millpaw,
Nutreeah,
Ruidoso, and
Tully series in the same family.
Conchovar soils: formed in alluvium in a cooler, drier climate at higher elevations and are somewhat poorly drained with a seasonal water table between 76 to 152 cm (30 to 60 in) of the soil surface
Irwin soils: formed in residuum weathered from shale and occur in a moister climate at lower elevations
Knifehill soils: formed in alluvium derived from sandstone and shale and occur on stream terraces and valley floors in a cooler, drier climate at higher elevations
Lubbock soils: formed in loess over alluvium and occur on slight depressional areas on paleoterraces
Millpaw soils: formed in alluvium and occur on alluvial fans and valley sides in a cooler, drier climate at higher elevations
Nutreeah soils: are formed in alluvium from sandstone and shale, occur on valley floors in a cooler, drier climate at higher elevations, and have accumulations of sodium within 50 to 89 cm (20 to 35 in) of the soil surface
Ruidoso soils: formed in colluvium from sedimentary and igneous rocks and occur on alluvial fans and valley sides in a drier climate at higher elevations
Tully soils: formed in clayey alluvium and colluvium, have up to 35 percent chert or limestone fragments in the particle-size control section, and occur on foot slopes in a moister climate at lower elevations
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent Material: calcareous loess
Landscape: high plains
Landform: plains and interfluves
Slopes: 0 to 5 percent
Precipitation pattern: These soils are intermittently moist in September through November and March through June. July and August and December through February are the driest months.
Mean annual precipitation: 432 to 584 mm (17 to 23 in)
Thornthwaite annual P-E Index Vales: 25 to 36
Mean annual air temperature: 12.8 to 13.9 degrees C (55 to 57 degrees F)
Frost-free period: 170 to 200 days
Elevation: 701.0 to 1249.7 m (2300 to 4100 ft)
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
These are the
Belfon,
Canina,
Conlen,
Forgan,
Hansford,
Hugoton,
Knoblaw,
Lautz,
Oslo,
Plack,
Twichell, and
Waka series.
Belfon soils: occur on slightly higher positions and have a fine-loamy particle-size class with a fine or fine-silty discontinuity within 100 cm (40 in) of the soil surface
Canina soils: occur on higher positions, have an ochric epipedon, a fine-silty particle-size class, and a calcic horizon within 50 cm (20 in) of the soil surface
Conlen soils: occur on lower positions, have a coarse-loamy particle-size class, do not have an argillic horizon, and have carbonatic mineralogy
Forgan soils: occur on similar positions and have a fine-loamy particle-size class
Hansford,
Knoblaw, and
Lautz soils occur in lower playa positions and have redox features within 50 cm (20 in) of the soil surface.
Hugoton and
Oslo soils: occur on similar positions and have a fine-silty particle-size class
Plack soils: occur on lower positions and have a petrocalcic horizon within 50 cm (20 in) of the soil surface
Twichell soils: occur on similar positions, have surface textures with more than 30 percent silicate clay, and slickensides within 50 cm (20 in) of the soil surface
Waka soils: occur in lower drainageway positions, have an irregular decrease in organic carbon, and a fine-silty particle-size class
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY:
Drainage class: well drained
Permeability class: slow
Runoff: medium on 0 to 1 percent slopes, high on 1 to 5 percent slopes
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major uses: crop production and livestock grazing
Native vegetation: predominantly buffalo grass and blue grama with some purple threeawn and prickly pear
Ecological sites assigned to phases and components of this series are listed below. Current ecological site assignments are in Web Soil Survey. Components of this series include the following ecological sites: Deep Hardland
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
General area: northern Texas panhandle and Oklahoma panhandle
Land Resource Region: H - Central Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range Region
MLRA 77A - Southern High Plains, Northern Part
Extent: large
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lipscomb County, TX during the "MLRA 77E - Quanah (Paloduro, Veal, and Portales) soils and Paloduro loam and clay loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes" project. Proposed during the extensive revision update of Beaver County, OK. The name is from a community in the southwestern part of Beaver County, OK.
REMARKS:
These soils were formerly included in the Richfield series.
Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon:
Particle-size control section: 18 to 68 cm (7 to 27_in)
Mollic epipedon: 0 to 81 cm (0 to 32 in) (A, Bt, Btk1, and Btk2 horizons)
Argillic horizon: 18 to 129 cm (7 to 51 in) (Bt and Btk horizons)
Secondary carbonates: 35 to 206 cm (14 to 81 in) (Btk, 2Bkk, and 2BCk horizons)
Calcic horizon: 129 to 206 cm (51 to 81 in) (2Bkk and 2BCk horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: KSSL data available. S2004OK007004 (TL-Beaver County, OK); S1994TX357007 (Ochiltree County, TX)
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.