LOCATION BUTLER NE+KS
Established Series
Rev. PJC, RRZ, DJK
01/2022
BUTLER SERIES
The Butler series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in loess. Butler soils are on flat or slightly concave swales on loess uplands and loess-covered stream terraces on river valleys in the Central Loess Plains, MLRA 75. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 680 millimeters (27 inches) and mean annual temperature is about 11 degrees C (51 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Argiaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Butler silt loam with a slope of less than 1 percent in a cultivated field at an elevation of 493 meters (1618 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silt loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1), dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granular; friable, slightly hard; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (15 to 36 cm thick)(6 to 14 inches)
E--25 to 30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silt loam, gray (10YR 5/1), dry; weak fine platy structure; friable, soft; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 8 cm thick)(0 to 3 inches)
Bt1--30 to 58 centimeters (12 to 23 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silty clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), dry; strong coarse prismatic structure parting to strong medium subangular blocky; very firm, very hard; thin dark coatings on faces of peds; few fine dark brown soft rounded iron-manganese masses; neutral; gradual smooth boundary.
Bt2--58 to 81 centimeters (23 to 32 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silty clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1), dry; strong coarse prismatic structure parting to strong medium subangular blocky; very firm, very hard; thin dark coatings on faces of peds; many fine dark brown soft rounded iron-manganese masses; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizon 30 to 127 cm)(12 to 50 inches)
BC--81 to 97 centimeters (32 to 38 inches); dark olive gray (5Y 3/2) silty clay loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1), dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm, hard; few fine carbonate masses; strong effervescence; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 38 cm thick)(6 to 15 inches)
C1--97 to 127 centimeters (38 to 50 inches); dark olive gray (5Y 3/2) silt loam, gray (5Y 6/1), dry; massive; friable, slightly hard; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
C2--127 to 157 centimeters (50 to 62 inches); olive gray (5Y 5/2) silt loam, gray (5Y 6/1), dry; massive; friable, slightly hard; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
C3--157 to 200 centimeters (62 to 80 inches); light olive gray (5Y 6/2) silt loam, light gray (5Y 7/1), dry; massive; friable, slightly hard; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Thayer County, Nebraska; about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) south and 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Carlton; located about 564 meters (1850 feet) east and 15 meters (50 feet) south of the northwest corner, sec. 26, T. 4 N., R 4 W.; Carleton USGS quadrangle; latitude 40 degrees 17 minutes 32.3 seconds N. and longitude 97 degrees 44 minutes 21.1 seconds W., NAD83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: The soil moisture control section is wet from March to July; Aquic moisture regime
Mean annual soil temperature: 10 to 13 degrees C (50 to 55 degrees F.)
Mollic epipedon thickness: 50 to 127 cm (20 to 50 inches)
Depth to argillic horizon: 20 to 58 cm (8 to 23 inches)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 60 to 200 cm (24 to 80 inches) within the soil matrix; few to common, 2 to 10 mm, firm, white (5Y 8/2) carbonates as masses or concretions exist from 76 cm (30 inches) to greater than 100 cm (40 inches)
Depth to redoximorphic features: If not masked by the dark soil color, concentrations begin at the base of the E horizon and extend to a depth of greater than 200 cm (80 inches). These concentrations range from few to many, faint to prominent, (brown(7.5YR 4/4) to yellowish brown (10YR 5/6)). They are fine to coarse in size and exists as weakly cemented masses. Also included are few, faint (10YR or 2.5Y(2/1 or 0) fine, black, soft masses of Iron-Manganese
Depth to episaturation: 15 to 91 centimeters (6 to 36 inches) from March to July
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 42 to 55 percent
Sand content: 2 to 8 percent
Ap or A horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Sand content: 4 to 10 percent
Reaction: Strongly acid to neutral
Thickness: 15 to 36 cm
E horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 moist
Chroma: 1 dry or moist
Texture: Silt loam
Clay content: 18 to 26 percent
Sand content: 4 to 10 percent
Reaction: Strongly acid to neutral
Thickness: 0 to 8 cm
Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist
Texture: Silty clay
Clay content: 42 to 55 percent
Sand content: 2 to 8 percent
Reaction: Slightly acid to slightly alkaline
Thickness: 30 to 127 cm
BC horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist
Texture: Silty clay loam or silty clay
Clay content: 32 to 45 percent
Sand content: 3 to 8 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: Neutral to moderately alkaline
Thickness: 15 to 38 cm
C horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3 dry or moist
Texture: Silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Sand content: 3 to 10 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 4 percent
Reaction: Neutral to moderately alkaline
When there are secondary carbonates present, the BC and C horizons are now being called Bk horizons to indicate soil development. Bk horizons would have the same properties as described in the Range in Characteristics for the BC and C horizons.
COMPETING SERIES: These are
Carbika,
Chancellor,
Clarinda,
Coatsburg,
Edinburg,
Fosterburg,
Haig,
Lodgepole,
Mazaska,
Minnetonka,
Sacville,
Sampsel,
Taintor,
Terrabella,
Virden,
Winterset, and
Worthing series.
Carbika,
Clarinda,
Edinburg, and Minnetokna soils are poorly drained.
Chancellor soils have accumulations of gypsum and other salts.
Coatsburg soils are poorly drained and have 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser material in the PSCS.
Fosterburg soils are poorly drained and have 5 to 15 percent exchangeable sodium in the subsoil.
Haig soils are poorly drained and have greater than 35 percent clay in the lower parts of the series control section.
Lodgepole soils occur in areas receiving only 360 to 460 millimeters (14 to 18 inches).
Mazaska soils are poorly drained, have 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser material in the PSCS, and have 2 to 8 percent coarse fragments in the series control section.
Olbut soils have accumulations of salts.
Sacville soils are poorly drained and have 1 to 60 percent gravels or cobbles in the series control section.
Sampsel soils are poorly drained and have a paralithic contact with shale within 200 centimeters.
Taintor and
Winterset soils are poorly drained and only have 35 to 42 percent clay in the PSCS.
Terrabella soils are poorly drained and have matrix hues of 5YR or 7.5YR in the argillic horizon.
Virden soils are poorly drained and have 35 to 40 percent clay in the PSCS.
Worthing soils are poorly or very poorly drained.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: Loess
Landform: Flat or slightly concave swales on loess uplands and loess-covered stream terraces on river valleys
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Elevation: 405 to 760 meters (1330 to 2490 feet
Mean annual temperature: 9 to 12 degrees C (48 to 53 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 559 to 762 millimeters (22 to 30 inches)
Precipitation pattern: Precipitation is usually evenly distributed throughout the year with the exception of November through February being the driest months and May and June being the wettest months. Summer precipitation occurs during intense summer thunderstorms.
Frost-free period: 150 to 175 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Crete,
Fillmore,
Hastings, and
Scott soils.
Crete soils are on slightly higher landform positions and are moderately well drained.
Fillmore soils are in closed depressions lower in the landscape, have an albic horizon, and pond water for brief to long durations.
Hastings soils are on higher landform positions, are well drained, and have 35 to 42 percent clay in the argillic horizon.
Scott soils are in closed depressions lower in the landscape and are poorly or very poorly drained.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage: Somewhat poorly drained
Saturated hydraulic conductivity: moderately low
Saturation: these soils are saturated at a depth of 15 centimeters (6 inches) to a depth of about 91 centimeters (36 inches) by a perched water table during part of the growing season in most years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all is cultivated. Sorghum and winter wheat are the principal dryland crops. Corn, soybeans, sorghum, and alfalfa are the principal crops where the soils are irrigated.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mainly in south-central Nebraska and adjoining parts of north-central Kansas; Land Resource Regions H and M; Major Land Resource Areas 71, 75, 102C, and 106. The Butler series is extensive.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Butler County, Nebraska, 1924.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle-size control section: The zone from 30 to 80 centimeters (12 to 32 inches). (upper 50 centimeters of Bt horizons)
Mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 97 centimeters (0 to 38 inches)(Ap, E, Bt and BC horizons)
Argillic horizon: The zone from 30 to 81 centimeters (12 to 32 inches). (Bt horizons)
Redoximorphic concentrations: In the zone from 30 to 97 centimeters (12 to 38 inches). (Bt and BC horizons)
Vertic features: The presence of linear extensibility of 6.0 cm or more between 0 and 100 centimeters (0 to 40 inches). This was determined from lab data for Butler and similar soils.
Episaturation: The zone of saturation is from 15 to 91 centimeters (6 to 36 inches). (Bt horizons)
Abrupt textural change: At the upper boundary of the Bt horizon.
OSD Modification:6/2002RRZ changed zone of saturation to 0 to 24 inches.
OSD Modification: 12/2011 DJK Updated OSD to meet MO5 guides. Added in metric conversions. Deleted mixed alluvium and loess from what formed from in opening paragraph. Changed mean annual temperature to 11 degrees C. Added C3 horizon to typical pedon using original description. Added in elevation of typical pedon. Added quad and lat/long to type location. In RIC, added in depth to argillic, edited mollic thickness, deleted albic horizon and solum statements, edited clay and sand contents for PSCS to match Bt horizons, and added sand contents to each horizon. Allowed Ap and E horizons to have reaction of neutral. Deleted clay texture class as choice for Bt horizon. Edited the whole competing series section to compete against correct classification of soils. Added elevation to geographic setting and deleted high stream terraces from landform. Deleted Holdrege and Wymore from geographically associated soil because don't occur near type location. Changed permeability to Ksat. Updated saturation statement in Drainage and Ksat section. Added soybeans to crops. Added in LRRs and MLRAs to Distribution and Extent. Deleted albic horizon from diagnostic features because doesn't meet requirements. Changed depth to episaturation from 0 to 24 inches to 6 to 36 inches.
OSD Modification: 8/2012 DJK Changed mean annual soil temperature to 10 to 13 degrees C. Changed lower clay content of PSCS and Bt horizon to 42. Lowered the sand content in PSCS and the Bt horizon from 3 to 2 percent. Removed moderately acid from reaction for the Bt horizon. Added CCE to the BC and C horizons in RIC and added statement on now being Bk horizons. Updated competing series. Changed saturated hydraulic conductivity from low to moderately low. Added precipitation pattern to geographic setting. Edited vertic features depths to appropriate range.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.