LOCATION CARIB VIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, isohyperthermic Mollic Endoaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Carib clay loam. (Colors are for moist conditions.)
A--0 to 8 inches; very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) clay loam; moderate fine and medium granular structure; firm; common fine and medium roots; common fine charcoal fragments; common medium calcium carbonate nodules; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 10 inches thick)
Bkg1--8 to 21 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common fine charcoal fragments; common medium calcium carbonate nodules; about 5 percent, by volume, pebbles; common medium iron-manganese concretions; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; common medium faint very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) and common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
Bkg2--21 to 32 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common fine charcoal fragments; common medium calcium carbonate nodules; about 5 percent, by volume, pebbles; common medium iron-manganese concretions; few fine prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of iron accumulation; common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
Bkg3--32 to 45 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common medium charcoal fragments; common fine calcium carbonate nodules; about 10 percent, by volume, pebbles; common medium iron-manganese concretions; few fine prominent light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) masses of iron accumulation; common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bkg horizons ranges from 4 to 50 inches)
BCkg--45 to 52 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam; weak fine to medium subangular blocky structure; common medium charcoal fragments; common fine calcium carbonate nodules; about 10 percent, by volume, pebbles; common medium iron-manganese concretions; common medium faint light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) masses of iron accumulation; common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 20 inches thick)
Cg--52 to 60 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay loam; massive; common fine calcium carbonate nodules; about 10 percent, by volume, pebbles; common fine iron-manganese concretions; common medium faint light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) masses of iron accumulation; common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: St. Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. From the intersection of VI-80 and VI-78, 0.5 mile NE on VI-80 (Northshore Road), about 75 feet southeast of VI-80 in flood plain. Christiansted quadrangle; lat. 17 degrees 46 minutes 5 seconds N., long. 64 degrees 45 minutes 38 seconds W.; PRD 1940.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum is 20 to 60 inches thick. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline throughout the profile. The soil is non-saline in the upper part and very slightly saline in the lower part.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 2 or 3. Redoximorphic features in shades of brown range from none to common. The content of pebbles and cobbles ranges from 0 to 30 percent, by volume.
The Bkg horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 7, and chroma of 2 or less. Redoximorphic features in shades of brown, yellow, and gray range from few to many. The content of pebbles and cobbles ranges from 0 to 30 percent, by volume.
The BCkg horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 2 or less. Redoximorphic features in shades of brown, yellow, and gray range from common to many. Texture is clay loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam. Content of pebbles and cobbles ranges from 0 to 30 percent, by volume.
The Cg horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 2 or less. Redoximorphic features in shades of brown, yellow, and gray range from few to many. Texture is clay loam, sandy loam, or sandy clay loam. Content of pebbles and cobbles ranges form 0 to 15 percent, by volume.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Carib soils are on flood plains of fresh water guts. They formed in alluvium weathered from adjacent limestone and volcanic mountains and hills. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. The climate is tropical semiarid. The average annual air temperature ranges from 76 to 82 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is about 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Glynn, Sandy Point, Sugar Beach, Sion, and Solitude soils. Glynn soils are well drained and are on higher terraces and alluvial fans. Sandy Point and Sugar Beach soils are very poorly drained, and in lower saline marshes, ponds, and flats adjacent to the sea. In addition, Sugar Beach soils are organic. Sion soils are well drained and are on higher positions. Solitude soils are more saline and are on slightly lower positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; moderately slowly permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Carib soils are used for pasture or rangeland. The vegetation primarily consists of guinea grass, and other grasses and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: St. Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. They are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Raleigh, North Carolina
SERIES ESTABLISHED: St. Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, 1995.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Ochric epipedon - zone from 0 to 8 inches (A horizon)
Calcic horizon - zone from 8 to 52 inches (Bkg and BCg horizons)
MLRA: 273.
SIR: VI0003.