LOCATION CLAUNCH NMEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Calcigypsids
TYPICAL PEDON: Claunch fine sandy loam--on a 3 percent convex southwest-facing slope on a fan terrace-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 2 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; slightly effervescent; disseminated calcium carbonate; mildly alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Bk1--2 to 18 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine roots; strongly effervescent; disseminated calcium carbonate and segregated in few fine irregular soft masses and few fine filaments; mildly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)
Bk2--18 to 28 inches; pink (7.5YR 7/4) loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; strongly effervescent; calcium carbonate disseminated and segregated in common fine irregular soft accumulations; moderately alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
By--28 to 36 inches; pink (7.5YR 8/4) loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few fine and very fine roots; many coarse, rounded, soft accumulations of gypsum; slightly effervescent; disseminated calcium carbonate; mildly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 18 inches thick)
BCy--36 to 51 inches; pink (7.5YR 8/4) loam, pink (7.5YR 7/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; 5 percent pebbles; common, coarse, rounded, soft accumulations of gypsum; slightly effervescent; disseminated calcium carbonate; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (12 to 21 inches thick)
C--51 to 60 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) sandy loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; 5 percent pebbles; common, coarse, rounded, soft accumulations of gypsum; slightly effervescent; disseminated calcium carbonate; mildly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Socorro County, New Mexico; about 12 miles northeast of Bingham; Sec. 27, T. 3 S., R. 6 E., 2,310 feet west and 1,330 feet south of the northeast corner of section.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
The soil moisture control section is moist in some part during December and January and for intermittent periods during July, August and September after convective storms.
Depth to the calcic horizon: 10 to 20 inches
Percent calcium carbonate in the calcic horizon: 15 to 35
Depth to gypsic horizon: 17 to 35 inches
Particle-size control section clay content: 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 pebbles
Bk horizon: Value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist
By horizon: Percent carbonates: 5 to 15 by weight
Percent gypsum: 40 to 50 by weight
Salinity: slightly saline (4 to 8 mmhos/cm)
BCy horizon: Hue - 5YR OR 7.5YR
Value: 5 through 8 dry, 4 through 7 moist
Chroma: 4 through 6
Percent clay: below control section, clay averages less than 18 percent
Percent gypsum: 25 to 35 by weight
Percent carbonates: 5 to 15 by weight
Salinity: slightly saline, 4 to 8 (mmhos/cm)
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other competing series in the same family. Similar soils in other families are the Jornaham, Milner, and Trident series. Jornaham soils are coarse-loamy and have more than 15 percent rock fragments. Milner and Trident soils are fine-silty.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Claunch soils are on fan terraces, bajadas and knolls. Slopes range from 2 to 7 percent. Elevation ranges from5,500 to 6,500 feet. The soils formed in alluvium from limestone and gypsum rock. The average annual precipitation is 10 to 13 inches and the air average annual temperature is 53 to 57 degrees F. The frost-free period is 150 to 180 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Jornaham, La Fonda, Netoma and Rayohill soils. Jornaham soils are coarse-loamy. La Fonda soils lack calcic and gypsic horizons. Netoma soils lack calcic horizons. Rayohill soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a paralithic contact.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, medium runoff; permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Claunch soils are used for grazing. Native vegetation is black grama, blue grama, sideoats grama, winterfat, cholla and one-seed juniper.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central New Mexico. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Socorro County, New Mexico, 1984.
REMARKS: DIAGNOSTIC HORIZONS AND FEATURES RECOGNIZED IN THIS PEDON ARE: Calcic horizon - the zone from about 18 to 28 inches. (Bk2 horizon) Gypsic horizon - the zone from about 28 to 36 inches. (By horizon)
ADDITIONAL DATA:
(1) Salinity values in range of characteristics determined by electrolytic (wheatstone) bridge.
(2) Calcium carbonate equivalent determined using a a volume calcimeter.
(3) Calcium carbonate and gypsum percentage verified by NSSL Pedon S82-NM-053-4.
National Cooperative Soil Survey