LOCATION BITCREEK CA
Tentative Series
Rev. EJR/MRS/KDA/KP
12/2022
BITCREEK SERIES
The Bitcreek series consists of very deep, well drained soils. These soils formed in residuum weathered from shale and/or sandstone. Bitcreek soils are on hillslopes. Slope is 2 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 300 mm (12 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C (64 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Pachic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Bitcreek loam, on a southwest facing slope of 20 percent under red brome, red stem filaree, California poppy and other annual forbs and grasses at an elevation of 1,128 meters (3,700 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise indicated. When described on April 20, 1993, the soil was moist throughout).
A1--0 to 8 cm (0 to 3 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 27 percent clay; strong medium granular structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; 12 percent strongly coherent shale gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 13 cm [2 to 5 in] thick)
A2--8 to 20 cm (3 to 8 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; 27 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine tubular and interstitial pores; 9 percent strongly coherent shale gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 13 cm [2 to 5 in] thick)
ABt--20 to 48 cm (8 to 19 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; 29 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; common very fine tubular and many very fine interstitial pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds and bridging sand grains; 11 percent strongly coherent shale gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 51 cm [0 to 20 in] thick)
Bt1--48 to 79 cm (19 to 31 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; 33 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular and interstitial pores; few distinct and many faint clay films on faces of peds and along surface of pores; 12 percent strongly coherent shale gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (25 to 36 cm (10 to 14 in) thick)
Bt2--79 to 97 cm (31 to 38 in); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam; brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 29 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular and interstitial pores; many faint clay films on faces of peds and along surfaces of pores; 12 percent strongly coherent shale gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 25 cm (5 to 10 in) thick)
Bt3--97 to 152 cm (31 to 60 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; 49 percent clay; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular and interstitial pores; common distinct thick clay films on faces of peds and along surfaces of pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5).
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California, Southwest part; in map unit 930, Bitcreek-Shimmon-Balhud complex, 9 to 50 percent slopes; southwest of Maricopa, in the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge; 95 meters (310 feet) north and 332 meters (1,090 feet) west of the projected southeast corner of section 24, T. 10 N., R. 23 W.; latitude 34 degrees 55 minutes 56 seconds north and longitude 119 degrees 23 minutes 26 seconds west; USGS Ballinger Canyon, California, Quadrangle, NAD83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: Average annual is 16 to 18 degrees C (60 to 64 degrees F) and the soil temperature is rarely below 8 degrees C (47 degrees F). The soils have a thermic temperature regime.
Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry throughout from about June to early December in most years.
Diagnostic feature(s):
Mollic epipedon thickness: 50 to 100 cm
Argillic horizon thickness: 50 to 150 cm
Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Clay content: 19 to 35 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
Surface fragments: 0 to 20 percent sandstone and/or shale gravel.
A and ABt horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Content of clay: 19 to 35 percent
Content of organic matter: 1 to 4 percent
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Content of clay: 19 to 55 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.05 to 1.5 percent
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Alumrock (MLRA 15),
Arujo,
Botella (MLRA 14, 15, and 19),
Chico (MLRA 17),
Elkhorn,
Havala,
Kawenga (MLRA 15 and 19),
Lockwood,
Mccoy (MLRA 15),
Minlum (MLRA 15),
Rimtrail (MLRA 14),
Saltcanyon (MLRA 14 and 15),
Sapwi (MLRA 19), and
Tongva (MLRA 19) series. Alumrock soils are moderately deep. The Arujo and Kawenga soils have a paralithic contact between 100 and 150 cm. The Mccoy and Sapwi soils have a paralithic contact between 50 and 100 cm. The Botella soils are on valley bottoms and alluvial fans with mean annual precipitation of 460 mm. Chico soils are on low fan terraces with 0 to 2 percent slopes. Elkhorn soils are on coastal terraces with mean annual precipitation of 460 mm. Havala soils are on old stream terraces and alluvial fans in mountain valleys and are neutral to moderately alkaline throughout. Lockwood soils are on alluvial fans and bench terraces with mean annual precipitation of 510 mm. Minlum soils have dry or moist chromas of 4 or 6 and do not have 7.5YR colors in the argillic horizon, and have mean annual precipitation of about 550 mm. Rimtrail soils are on valley floors with 0 to 5 percent slopes, do not have 7.5YR colors in the argillic horizon, and have mean annual precipitation of about 430 mm. Saltcanyon soils are on alluvial fans with 1 to 9 percent slopes, do not have 7.5YR colors in the argillic horizon, and have mean annual precipitation of about 510 mm. Tongva soils have a paralithic contact to weathered andesite or basalt between 50 and 100 cm.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Bitcreek soils are on backslopes of hillslopes at elevations of 356 to 1,583 meters (1,168 to 5,194 feet). These soils formed in material weathered from shale and/or sandstone fragments. Slope is 2 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 200 to 356 mm (8 to 14 in) and the mean annual air temperature is 14 to 18 degrees C (57 to 64 degrees F). The frost-free season is 150 to 300 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Shimmon,
Balhud,
Ballinger, and
Dibble soils. Shimmon soils are on toeslopes of hillslopes and have a paralithic contact between 50 and 100 cm. Balhud soils are on shoulders of hillslopes and have a paralithic contact between 25 and 50 cm. Dibble soils are on hills and fan remnants and have a fine particle size control section and smectitic mineralogy..
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; high or very high runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for grazing, recreation, wildlife habitat, and homesite development. The vegetation is mainly red brome, red stem filaree, California poppy and other annual forbs and grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Hills in the southern most part of the San Joaquin Valley, MLRA 15, with small extents in MLRA 18 and 19. These soils are of limited extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES PROPOSED: Kern County, California 1993; Kern County, Southwest Part Soil Survey. Source of name is a stream called Bittercreek near the modal site.
REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 48 to 98 cm.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic Epipedon 0 to 79 cm
Argillic Horizon 48 to 152 cm
Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.