LOCATION COLFER NEEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Aridic Ustipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Colfer sand on a convex, 1 percent slope, in irrigated cropland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 7 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
AC--7 to 24 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; many fine prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron masses in the matrix; the matrix color and iron accumulations are relict redoximorphic features; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium granular; soft, very friable; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
C1--24 to 43 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; common medium prominent dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) iron masses in the matrix; the matrix color and iron accumulations are relict redoximorphic features; single grain; loose; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
C2--43 to 50 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; common medium prominent dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) iron masses in the matrix; the matric color and iron accumulations are relict redoximorphic features; single grain; loose; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the C horizons is 15 to 40 inches)
2Bkb--50 to 55 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; common medium prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) and common medium prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron masses in the matrix; the matrix color and iron accumulations are relict redoximorphic features; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; common visible secondary calcium carbonate as nodules and soft masses; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
2C--55 to 60 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) loamy sand, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) moist; common medium prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron masses in the matrix; the matrix color and iron accumulations are relict redoximorphic features; single grain; slightly hard, very friable; few visible secondary calcium carbonate as nodules and soft masses; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Dundy County, Nebraska, about 18 miles north and 2 miles west of Haigler; 200 feet north and 1700 feet west of the southeast corner of Sec. 29, T. 4 N., R. 41 W. USGS Resevoir Lake SW topographic quadrangle; latitude 40 degrees, 17 minutes, 14 seconds North and longitude 101 degrees, 58 minutes, 25 seconds West.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to iron masses in the matrix ranges from 6 to 20 inches. The iron masses in the matrix are relic and not indicative of the current soil-water state. Depth to carbonates typically ranges from 40 to 60 inches but may range from 16 to 60 inches. Depth to the 2Bk and 2C material ranges from 40 to 60 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6 (3 or 4 moist), and chroma of 2 or 3. It is sand or loamy sand. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 6 to 8 (4 to 7 moist), and chroma of 2 to 4. It is loamy sand, sand, or loamy fine sand. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The 2Bkb and 2C horizon have hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 to 8 (5 to 7 moist), and chroma of 1 or 2. The 2Bkb horizon is fine sandy loam or loam. The 2C horizon is sand to loamy fine sand. Calcium carbonate equivalents range from 10 to 30 percent in the 2Bk horizon. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline in both horizons.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dankworth, Optima and Scoville series in the same family. Curtis Siding (T), Dwyer, Mespun, Mido, Orpha, Pensom, Pinavetes (T), Reepo (T), Tullock, Valent and Wigton series may be reclassified to this family. Dankworth and Optima soils do not have contrasting loamy layers in the lower part of the series control section. Scoville soils formed in alluvium that has more very fine sand and less medium sand. Curtis Siding soils contain more than 15 percent by volume of gravel in the particle size control section. Dwyer soils lack a lithologic discontinuity and are calcareous above 15 inches. Mespun and Valent soils are excessively drained and lack a lithologic discontinuity. Mido soils are deep over sandstone. Orpha and Pinavetes soils are very deep over sandstone. Reepo and Tullock soils are moderately deep over sandstone. Wigton soils have hard or very hard consistence in the C horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Colfer soils are in sandhill valleys. These soils formed in eolian sand deposited over lacustrine sediments. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Average annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 18 inches. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 50 to 53 degrees F. Frost free days range from 140 to 160 days per year.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Dailey, Jayem, Laird, Overlake (T), and Valent soils. Dailey soils lack a calcareous substratum, have a mollic epipedon, and are slightly higher on the landscape. Jayem soils are well drained, coarse-loamy, and are higher on the landscape. Laird soils have a calcareous, loamy, substratum at depths less than 20 inches below the surface and are on concave, lower, landscape positions. Overlake soils have a loamy, calcareous substratum at depths between 20 and 40 inches and are on slightly lower landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. Runoff is low. Permeability is rapid in the particle size control section and moderately rapid in the loamy underlying material.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the acreage of this soil is in irrigated cropland. Corn and alfalfa are the principal crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Nebraska and possibly northeastern Colorado. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Dundy County, Nebraska, 1995.
REMARKS: Colfer soils were previously mapped with the Elsmere soils in the 1963 soil survey of Dundy County. Since then, the ground water table in the areas of the Colfer soils has declined from a depth of a few feet to depths of more than 10 feet. Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of about 7 inches (the A horizon).