LOCATION CIENO TX

Established Series
WLM-SAK-AKS
07/2019

CIENO SERIES

The Cieno series consists of very deep, poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in loamy sediments of Pleistocene Age. These nearly level soils occur on oval depressionson flat coastal plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1041 mm (41 in) and the mean annual air temperature is about 22 degrees C (71 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, active, hyperthermic Typic Vermaqualfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Cieno loam, in a depression in rangeland at an elevation of 35 m (115 ft). (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise stated).

A--0 to 19 cm (0 to 8 in); 50 percent dark gray (10YR 4/1) and 25 percent dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2)and 15 percent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, 50 percent gray (10YR 5/1) and 25 percent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and 15 percent light gray (10YR 7/2), dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, hard; common fine and medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 10 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; 15 percent crayfish krotovinas; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 41 cm [3 to 16 in] thick)

E/B--19 to 40 cm (8 to 16 in); 30 percent dark gray (10YR 4/1) and 20 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, 30 percent gray (10YR 5/1) and 20 percent very pale brown (10YR 7/3), dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very hard; common fine roots and few medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 5 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries lining pores and 10 percent fine prominent light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions with sharp boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations and 30 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 50 percent crayfish krotovinas; 20 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules; 30 percent of the krotovinas are filled with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 30 cm [0 to 12 in] thick)

Btg1--40 to 62 cm (16 to 24 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1), dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm, very hard; few fine and medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 2 percent patchy faint black (10YR 2/1) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 10 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 55 percent crayfish krotovinas; 20 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules; 35 percent of the krotovinas are filled with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Btg horizons is 132 to 177 cm [52 to 70 in])

Btg2--62 to 92 cm (24 to 36 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1), dry; strong coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm, very hard; few fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 2 percent patchy faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 10 percent medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 50 percent crayfish krotovinas; 20 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules; 30 percent of the krotovinas are filled with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.

Btg3--92 to 118 cm (36 to 47 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1), dry; strong coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse angular blocky; firm, very hard; few fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 2 percent patchy faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix and 10 percent medium distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 30 percent crayfish krotovinas; 5 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules; 25 percent of the krotovinas are filled with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.

Btg4--118 to 143 cm (47 to 56 in); 55 percent dark gray (10YR 4/1) and 45 percent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sandy clay loam, 55 percent gray (10YR 5/1) and 45 percent light gray (2.5Y 7/2), dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse angular blocky; firm, very hard; few fine and medium roots; 10 percent patchy faint black (10YR 2/1) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent fine yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix and 1 percent fine black (7.5YR 2.5/1) iron-manganese masses with sharp boundaries in matrix; 25 percent crayfish krotovinas; 10 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules with dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay lined cups at the base of the tubule; 15 percent of the krotovinas are filled in with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary.

Btg5--143 to 185 cm (56 to 73 in); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sandy clay loam, light gray (2.5Y 7/2), dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse angular blocky; firm, hard; 15 percent discontinuous faint grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), moist, clay films on faces of peds and 50 percent distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sand coats on vertical faces of peds; 1 percent medium yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix and 1 percent fine black (7.5YR 2.5/1) iron-manganese masses with sharp boundaries in matrix; 25 percent crayfish krotovinas; 10 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules with dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay lined cups at the base of the tubule; 15 percent of the krotovinas are filled in with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; few coarse masses of calcium carbonate; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.

Btg6--185 to 216 cm (73 to 85 in); light gray (10YR 7/1) sandy clay loam, light gray (10YR 7/1), dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, hard; few very fine roots; 2 percent faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2), moist, sand coats on vertical faces of peds and 2 percent patchy faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent medium prominent red (2.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 1 percent fine distinct black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese nodules with sharp boundaries in matrix; 15 percent crayfish krotovinas; 5 percent of the krotovinas are active tubules with dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay lined cups at the base of the tubule; 10 percent of the krotovinas are filled in with a mixture of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; few fine masses of calcium carbonate; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

TYPE LOCATION: Victoria County, Texas; from the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and Farm Road 1315; 3.0 miles northeast on Farm Road 1315 to gravel road; 0.4 mile southeast and 0.2 mi northeast on gravel road; 460 ft northwest in rangeland.
USGS topographic quad: Victoria East; TX
Latitude: 28 degrees 52 minutes 28.00 seconds N
Longitude: 96 degrees 57 minutes 26.00 seconds W
Datum: NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The COLE of the argillic horizon is typically about 0.04 but ranges from 0.02 to 0.08. Uncoated sand grains are on the surface of some peds and interfingers of uncoated sand 2 to 4 cm long and about 1 cm wide range from none to a few throughout the argillic horizon and comprise less than 5 percent of the matrix.

Soil Moisture: An aquic soil moisture regime.
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 27 to 35 percent

A Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 25 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Crayfish bioturbation: 10 to 35 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral.
E/B Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Crayfish bioturbation: 30 to 55 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral.

Btg Horizon
(upper part)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 10 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-gray
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, size- 4 to 8 mm, shades-brown or black
Crayfish bioturbation: 50 to 60 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral.

Btg Horizon
(lower part)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy clay loam,clay loam, or sandy clay
Clay content: 25 to 40 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 10 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-brown
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, size- 4 to 8 mm, shades-brown or black
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-1 to 5 percent, kind-films, masses, nodules, or threads,
Crayfish bioturbation: 10 to 45 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

Bg or BC Horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 10 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-brown
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, size- 4 to 8 mm; shades-brown or black
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-1 to 5 percent, kind-films, masses, nodules, or threads,
Crayfish bioturbation: 10 to 45 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are the Gessner (TX) and Tomball (T) (TX) series in the same family. Similar soils are the Camptown (TX), Nona (TX), and Plank (TX) and Sorter (TX) series.

Gessner soils: occur in areas of higher rainfall; are more acidic in the lower part of the profile
Tomball soils: have a glossic horizon
Camptown and Nona soils: have a fine-silty particle-size control section; are in thermic soil temperature regime
Plank soils: have a coarse-silty particle-size control section; are in a thermic soil temperature regime
Sorter soils: have a coarse-loamy particle-size control section; are in a thermic soil temperature regime

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: loamy fluviomarine deposits of Pleistocene Age of the Lissie and Beaumont formations
Landscape: flat Coastal plain
Landform: oval enclosed depression (These depressions are a defined part of this geology, and are very distinctive on aerial photography.)
Slope: 0 to 1 percent
Precipitation Pattern: Precipitation is fairly uniform throughout the year with slight peaks from May to June and September to October.
Mean annual precipitation range: 914 to 1245 cm (39 to 49 in)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 44 to 66
Mean annual air temperature range: 21 to 22 degrees cm (69 to 72 degrees F.
Frost-free period: 280 to 305 days
Elevation: 5 to 85 m (16 to about 280 ft)

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Garcitas (TX), Garwood (TX), Morales (TX), Nada (TX), Telferner (TX) and the Texana(TX) series.
Garcitas soils: have gravelly sandy A horizons more than 20 in thick and they are above on gently sloping knolls or low ridges
Garwood soils: are in the fine family, have thicker A horizons, and are in slightly higher positions.
Morales and Nada soils: are better drained; are commonly mapped in a complex with Cieno soils; are on a slightly higher landscape position
Telferner soils: are better drained; are on a slightly higher landscape position
Texana: soils are better drained; on a higher landform; have a mollic epipedon

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY:
Drainage class: Poorly
Permeability class: very slow
Runoff: negligible
Ponding: These soils are for periods of several days to more than a month in duration from September to June in normal years.
Seasonal water table: A perched water table exists from the soil surface to about 61 cm (24 in) and extends to 91 cm (36 in) from September to June in normal years. The hydrology and ponding in these soils is by direct precipitation, throughflow and runoff from the surrounding higher ground.

USE AND VEGETATION:
Major uses: rangeland and cropland. Rice is the major crop produced.
Native vegetation: mainly water tolerant grasses and sedges. The sienne bean, a woody-like shrub, is commonly found on these soils. Ecological sites assigned to phases and components of this series are listed below. Current ecological site assignments are in Web Soil Survey. Components of this series include the following ecological sites: Lowland

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
General location: Coastal Prairie of Texas
Land Resource Region: T (Atlantic and Gulf Coast Lowland Forest and Crop Region)
Major Land Resource Area: 150A (Gulf Coast Prairies)
Extent: moderate

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Victoria County, Texas; 1980.

REMARKS:
These soils were formerly mapped as the Crowley or Gessner series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon: 0 to 40 cm (0 to 16 in. (A and E/B horizon)

Argillic horizon: 40 to 203 cm (16 to 80 incs. (Btg horizons)

Aquic moisture regime and aquic conditions: 19 to 118 cm (8 to 47 in).

Episaturation - While the soil exhibits gleyed colors throughout, 7 years of monitoring in Victoria County, Texas indicate that reducing conditions occur in the upper 50 cm (20 in) of the soil more than 50 percent of the time, while at 100 cm (40 in) they occur less than 10 percent of the time. For detailed information on the hydrology of these soils, refer to,"Ponded Depression Wetlands in the Texas Gulf Coast Prairie MLRA; Geolgy, Soils, Landscape, and Hydrology Field Studies", Wes Miller, USDA-NRCS, Soil Scientist, Technical Specialist Wet Soils, Texas (retired), September 2009.

ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL data on the type location, 88TX469004, and additional pedon data are available on pedon S79TX-469-001 and S79TX-469-004. Soil interpretation record: TX0903

Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.