LOCATION BLANCONIA TX

Established Series
JAD-JKW-RM
05/2014

BLANCONIA SERIES

The Blanconia series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in loamy alluvium of Pleistocene age. These nearly level to very gently sloping soils are on terraces of streams. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 965 mm (38 in) and the mean annual air temperature is about 21 degrees C (70 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Oxyaquic Paleustalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Blanconia loamy fine sand- on southwest-facing, convex, 0.8 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of 35.5 m (115 ft) (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 23 cm (0 to 9 in); brown (10YR 4/3) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; single grain; loose, very friable; many fine and common medium roots; common fine interstitial pores; 2 percent fine faint brown (7.5YR 4/3) iron concentrations with clear boundaries lining pores; 1 percent fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron concentrations with diffuse boundaries lining pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (18 to 33 cm [7 to 13 in] thick)

E--23 to 38 cm (9 to 15 in); brown (10YR 5/3) loamy fine sand, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; single grain; loose, very friable; common fine roots; common fine interstitial pores; 2 percent fine faint brown (7.5YR 4/3) iron concentrations with clear boundaries lining pores; 2 percent fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron concentrations with diffuse boundaries lining pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 25 cm [4 to 10 in] thick)

Bt1--38 to 64 cm (15 to 25 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm; common fine roots; common fine tubular pores; few distinct dark gray pressure surfaces; few distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on surfaces of peds; 3 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries in root pores; 1 percent fine prominent yellow (10YR 7/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries on surfaces of peds; a 1 inch zone, in upper part of horizon in contact with E horizon, of interfingering of white (10YR 8/1) albic materials; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--64 to 76 cm (25 to 30 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy clay, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2); moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; few distinct pressure surfaces; few distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on surfaces of peds; few rounded siliceous pebbles; 1 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries on surfaces of peds; 3 percent fine prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) iron concentrations with clear boundaries on interiors of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--76 to 104 cm (30 to 41 in); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine and medium angular blocky; hard, firm; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; few faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) pressure surfaces; few distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on surfaces of peds; few rounded siliceous pebbles; 2 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries on surfaces of peds; 2 percent fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries on surfaces of peds; neutral; gradual smooth boundary.

Bt4--104 to 127 cm (41 to 50 in); light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; few faint brown (10YR 5/3) pressure surfaces; few faint brown (10YR 5/3) clay films on surfaces of peds; few fine rounded iron-manganese nodules between peds, few fine masses of calcium carbonate; few rounded siliceous pebbles; 1 percent fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron concentrations with clear and sharp boundaries on surfaces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 66 to 114 cm [26 to 45 in])

Bk--127 to 180 cm (50 to 71 in); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sandy clay loam, light gray (2.5Y 7/2) dry; few fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) mottles; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; common fine and medium masses of iron-manganese in cracks; many fine nodules of calcium carbonate; many fine and medium masses of calcium carbonate; matrix is noneffervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (38 to 64 cm [15 to 25 in] thick)

BCk--180 to 203 cm (71 to 80 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/2) sandy clay loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2); weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; many fine nodules of calcium carbonate; many fine and medium masses of calcium carbonate; few lenses of coarse sand 2 to 8 mm (1/8 to 1/4 in thick) in lower part; matrix is noneffervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Goliad County, Texas; from the intersection of Texas Highway 202 and Farm Road 2441 in Bee County; 5.6 miles north on Farm Road 2441; 2.9 miles east on private ranch road across Sarco Creek to caliche road; 0.75 mile north on caliche road past oilwell site to fenceline; 0.1 mile west along fenceline; 100 ft in rangeland. Ryanville USGS Quad; Latitude: 28N, 28, 20; Longitude: 97W, 22, 16; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is more than 80 in.
Soil Moisture: An ustic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section, 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in), is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 but less than 120 cumulative days in normal years. July through September, December, and March are the driest months.
Mean annual soil temperature: 21.5 to 22 degrees C (71 to 72 degrees F)
Depth to argillic horizon: 27 to 49 cm (11 to 19 in)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 70 to 152 cm (28 to 60 in)
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 35 to 45 percent

A Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry or moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture: loamy fine sand or loamy sand
Clay content: 3 to 10 percent
Iron concentrations: amount-0 to 3 percent, size-fine, contrast-faint or distinct, shades-brown, boundary-sharp or clear, location-throughout
Reaction: strongly acid or moderately acid
E Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry or moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture: loamy fine sand or loamy sand
Clay content: 3 to 10 percent
Iron concentrations: amount-2 to 5 percent size-fine, contrast-faint or distinct, shades-brown, boundary-sharp or clear, location-throughout
Reaction: strongly acid or moderately acid

Bt Horizon
(Upper Bt Horizon)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry or moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay, clay
Clay content: 35 to 45 percent
Clay films: location-surfaces of peds, contrast-faint or distinct
Iron concentrations: amount-2 to 10 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint to prominent, shades-brown, yellow, or red, boundary-sharp or clear, location-throughout
Iron depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, size-fine, contrast-faint, shades-gray, boundary-sharp, location-ped interiors
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bt Horizon (Lower Bt Horizon)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry or moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, sandy clay
Clay content: 25 to 35 percent
Clay films: location-surfaces of peds, contrast-faint or distinct
Iron concentrations: amount-2 to 15 percent, size-fine to coarse, contrast-faint to prominent, shades-brown, yellow, or red, boundary-sharp or clear, location-throughout
Iron depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, size-fine, contrast-faint, boundary-sharp, location-ped interiors
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Bk Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry or moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Clay films: location-surfaces of peds, contrast-faint or distinct
Iron concentrations: amount-0 to 5, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, shades-brown or yellow, boundary-clear, location-throughout
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 15 percent
Visible calcium carbonate: amount-15 to 30 percent, size-fine and medium as nodules and masses
Effervescence: none to slightly
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline

BCk Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 6 or 7 dry or moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 22 to 35 percent
Clay films: location-surfaces of peds, contrast-faint or distinct
Iron concentrations: amount-0 to 5, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, shades-brown or yellow, boundary-clear, location-throughout
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 15 percent
Visible calcium carbonate: amount-15 to 30 percent, size-fine and medium as nodules and masses
Effervescence: none to slightly
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no series in the same family. Similar soils are the Delfina, Inez, Papalote, and Telferner series.
Delfina series: These soils have a fine-loamy particle-size control section and a mixed mineralogy.
Inez series: These soils are classified as Aquertic Chromic Hapludalfs.
Papalote series: These soils are classified as Typic Paleustalfs.
Telferner series: These soils are classified as Aquertic Chromic Hapludalfs.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: Loamy alluvium of Pleistocene age
Landscape: coastal plain
Landform: terraces
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Mean annual air temperature: 20.6 to 22.8 degrees C (69 to 73 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 838 to 991 mm (33 to 39 in)
Precipitation Pattern: The majority of the yearly amount occurs during the fall to spring months. The summertime months are normally dry but with infrequent coastal showers. The summertime months are subject to periods of high intense rainfall as a result of tropical disturbances.
Frost-free period: 270 to 300 days
Elevation: 30.5 to 76 m (100 to 250 ft)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 40 to 46

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nusil and Rhymes series on the same landform. The Orelia, Vidauri, and Wyick series on the Gulf Coast Prairie MLRA, and the Papalote series on the Rio Grande Plain MLRA.
Nusil soils: These soils have a sandy surface layer more than 20 in thick and are on a similar landscape position.
Rhymes soils: These soils have a sandy surface layer more than 40 in thick and are on a similar landscape position.
Orelia soils: These soils have a fine-loamy particle-size control section and are on a higher landscape position.
Vidauri soils: These soils have aquic conditions for longer periods of time and are on a slightly lower landscape position.
Wyick soils: These soils have a fine-loamy particle-size control section and are on a similar landscape position.
Papalote soils: These soils do not have iron concentrations in the surface layer and are on a slightly higher landscape position.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Permeability is moderately slow. Runoff is low.These soils are saturated on top of the clayey argillichorizon for short periods during the wetter times of the year.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used as rangeland and pasture. Native vegetation includes Blackjack oak, post oak, live oak, and little bluestem.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Antonio River to the Nueces River where MLRA 150A and 83A merge; LRR T; moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Goliad County, Texas, 2009. The name is for a small community near the type location.

REMARKS: These soils were previously included with the Inez series. The Inez series province is in the udic moisture regime east of the San Antonio River. These soils would classify in the proposed classification of Epiaquic Paleustalfs.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle size control section: 38 to 89 cm (15 to 35 in) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons)
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 38 cm (0 to 15 in) (A and E horizons)
Argillic horizon: 38 to 127 cm (15 to 50 in) (Bt horizons)
Calcic horizon: 127 to 203 cm (50 to 80 in) (Bk and BCk horizons)
Redoximorphic concentrations: 46 to 127 cm (18 to 50 in) (Bt horizons)
Abrupt textural change: At the upper boundary of the Bt horizon.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data from type location by MLRA 150 Soil Survey Office.
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.