LOCATION CHINA TX

Established Series
GWC-CLN
07/2014

CHINA SERIES

The China series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils. These nearly level soils formed in clayey fluviomarine deposits derived from the Beaumont Formation. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 20.5 degrees C (69 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1397 mm (55 in).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Oxyaquic Dystruderts

TYPICAL PEDON: China clay--cropland.(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 10 cm, (0 to 4 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; many fine and medium roots; few fine pores; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 10 to 41 cm [4 to 16 in])

A--10 to 23 cm, (4 to 9 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate coarse platy structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; extremely hard, extremely firm; common fine and medium roots; few fine pores; common fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) iron accumulation with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bw--23 to 50 cm, (9 to 20 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine and medium roots; few fine pores; common fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) iron accumulations with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; few distinct pressure faces; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (20 to 44 cm [8 to 17 in] thick)

Bss1--50 to 72 cm, (20 to 28 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) iron accumulations with clear boundaries along root channels and pores; common prominent pressure faces; few distinct slickensides; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Bss horizons is 27 to 70 cm [11 to 28 in])

Bss2--72 to 93 cm, (28 to 37 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) iron accumulations with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; many prominent pressure faces; common prominent slickensides; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.

Bss3--93 to 107 cm, (37 to 42 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine angular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) iron accumulations with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; many prominent pressure faces; common prominent slickensides; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.

Bssy1--107 to 140 cm, (42 to 55 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to strong fine angular blocky; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) iron accumulations with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; many prominent pressure faces; common prominent slickensides; 5 percent fine and 20 percent medium gypsum crystals in clusters; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Bssy horizons is 30 to 113 cm [12 to 45 in])

Bssy2--140 to 153 cm, (55 to 60 in); gray (10YR 5/1) clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to strong fine angular blocky; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; common fine and medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and common fine prominent dark red (2.5YR 3/6) iron accumulations with sharp boundaries along root channels and pores; many prominent pressure faces; common prominent slickensides; 20 percent fine crystals of gypsum dispersed in horizon and 10 percent medium gypsum crystals in clusters and seams; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.

Bssg--153 to 203 cm, (60 to 80 in); gray (10YR 6/1) clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to strong fine angular blocky; extremely hard, extremely firm; few fine roots; few fine pores; common fine and medium prominent dark red (2.5YR 3/6) with sharp boundaries in matrix; common fine and medium prominent yellow (2.5Y 7/6) iron accumulations with diffuse boundaries in matrix; many prominent pressure faces; common prominent slickensides; about 5 percent dark gray crayfish krotovina; strongly acid.

TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Texas; from the intersection of Interstate Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 90 in Beaumont; 12.2 miles west on U.S. Highway 90; 3.8 miles south on South China Road; 400 ft east on field road that crosses a canal; 75 ft south in cropland. (Fannett West USGS quad; Latitude: 29 degrees, 59 minutes, 34 seconds N; Longitude: 94 degrees, 20 minutes, 07 seconds W; WGS84)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

The range in characteristics includes 50 percent or more of the pedon.
When dry, cracks 1.3 to 2.5 cm (0.5 to about 1 in) wide extend from the surface to a depth of 30 cm (12 in) or more. Cracks remain open for less than 60 cumulative days during most years.

Slickensides and wedge shaped peds begin at a depth ranging from 20 to 44 cm (8 to 17 in). Undisturbed areas have gilgai microrelief with microknolls 15 to 38 cm (6 to 15 in) higher than microdepressions. Distance from center of the microknoll to center of microdepression ranges from 1 to 3.7 m (3 to 12 ft). Microknolls make up 5 to 25 percent of the pedon. Typically, colors in the microknoll have higher value than the microdepressions. Calcium carbonate concretions, mainly in clusters, range from 1 to 5 percent in the lower part of the microknoll in some pedons.
Soil Moisture: A udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is moist in some or all parts for more than 275 days in normal years. The summer months are the driest, while Fall through Spring months are the wettest months.
Mean annual soil temperature: 21.7 to 22.2 degrees C (71 to 72 degrees F)

Depth to a gypsic horizon is about 100 cm (40 in), but ranges from 64 to 127 cm (25 to 50 in).
Gypsum crystals: 5 to 25 percent of the gypsic horizon. The gypsic horizon is best expressed and thickest in the microknoll and is thinner and deeper in the microdepression.

Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 50 to 60 percent

Ap and A Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1
Texture: clay
Clay content: 40 to 67 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-none to common, location-lining pores and along roots, shades-brown, yellow or red
Redox depletions: amount-none or few, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 2
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 12 (SAR values more than 4 are associated with areas subject to storm surge)
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid

Bw Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1
Texture: clay
Clay content: 40 to 69 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-few or common, location-lining pores and along roots, shades-brown, yellow or red
Redox depletions: amount-none or common, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 2
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 12 (SAR values more than 4 are associated with areas subject to storm surge)
Reaction: very strongly acid

Bss Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay
Clay content: 50 to 67 percent
Redox concentrations: amount- common or many, location-lining pores and along roots, shades-brown, yellow or red
Redox depletions: amount-none to common, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 4
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 2 to 12 (SAR values more than 4 are associated with areas subject to storm surge)
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

Bssy Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay
Clay content: 50 to 67 percent
Redox concentrations: amount- common or many, location-lining pores and along roots, shades-brown, yellow or red
Redox depletions: amount-none to common, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-
Secondary carbonates: 0 to 5 percent; kind-nodules
Gypsum: 5 to 25 percent
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 2 to 4
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 2 to 12 (SAR values more than 6 are associated with areas subject to storm surge)
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

Bssg Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay
Clay content: 50 to 71 percent
Redox concentrations: amount- common or many, location-lining pores and along roots, shades-brown, yellow or red
Redox depletions: amount-none to common, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-
Secondary carbonates: 0 to 5 percent; kind-nodules
Gypsum: 0 to 2 percent
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 4
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 2 to 12 (SAR values more than 6 are associated with areas subject to storm surge)
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no series in the same family. Similar soils are the Beaumont (TX) League (TX), and Vamont (TX) series.
Beaumont soils: are poorly drained; have no gypsum accumulations
League soils: have no gypsum accumulations
Vamont soils: have no gypsum accumulations; have value greater than 3 in the upper part.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: clayey fluviomarine deposits derived from the Beaumont Formation of Pleistocene age
Landscape: coastal plains
Landform: flats
Slope: 0 to 1 percent
Mean annual air temperature range: 20 to 22.2 degrees C (68 to 72 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation range: 1219 to 1575 mm (48 to 62 in)
Precipitation Pattern: Rainfall is fairly uniform throughout the year with slight peaks in the fall and spring months.
Frost-free period: 270 to 300 days
Elevation: 3 to 30.5 m (10 to 100 ft)

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Beaumont, Labelle, League and Morey (TX) series.
Beaumont soils: on a slightly lower position on a similar landform
Labelle and Morey soils: loamy surface; slightly higher position on a similar landform
League soils: on a similar landform

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: somewhat poorly drained. Permeability is very slow. Runoff is high. Rarely flooded for very brief to brief periods. Flooding occurs as a result of storm surge during tropical storms which occurs in areas less than 4.6 m (15 ft) elevation. These soils have episaturation from 47 to 122 cm (18 to 48 in) below the soil surface from January to March and endosaturation from 153 to 203 cm (60 to 80 in) below the surface during the same period.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly used for growing rice and pasture. Rice is usually grown on a 1 in 4 year rotation. Improved pasture is used for bahia grass production. Some areas are used for native pasture. Native grasses are mainly little bluestem, indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, switchgrass, Florida paspalum, big bluestem, brownseed paspalum, knotroot bristlegrass, sedges and rushes.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Texas generally east of the Trinity River; Land Resource Region T: MLRA 150A. moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Texas; 1996. The name comes from the nearby town of China.

REMARKS: These soils were formerly included with the Beaumont and Lake Charles series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon- 0 to 23 cm (0 to 9 in. (Ap and A horizon)

Gypsic horizon 107 to 153 cm (42 to 60 in. (Bssy1 and Bssy2 horizon)

Vertisols feature-slickensides at a depth of 50 to 203 cm (20 to 80 in). Cracks that are 1 to 2.5 cm (1/2 to about 1 in) wide at a depth of 30 cm (12 in) or more when dry.

Oxyaquic feature saturated without reducing conditions from 47 to 122 cm (18 to 48 in) below the soil surface from January to March

Additional Comments: These soils have mollic colors but do not make a mollic epipedon due to consistence.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Jefferson County, Texas; NSSL sample S90TX-245-022 and S90TX-245-023.

Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.