LOCATION CRONESE                 CA

Established Series
Rev: PBF/CAH/ET
04/2015

CRONESE SERIES

The Cronese series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium from igneous rock. The Cronese soils are on alluvial fans, fan aprons and fan remnants. Slopes range from 2 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 138 millimeters (5.5 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C (64.5 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haplocalcids

TYPICAL PEDON: On Coyote-Cronese complex, 2 to 30 percent slopes at an elevation of 710 meters (2,325 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) The soil surface is covered by 40 percent gravel.

A1 -- 0 to 7 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly loamy coarse sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; weak thin platy structure; soft, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and few fine roots throughout; few fine vesicular pores throughout; 30 percent gravel; strongly effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 1 percent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

A2 -- 7 to 36 centimeters (3 to 14 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) coarse sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; moderate medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots throughout; 10 percent gravel; strongly effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 1 percent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 5 to 36 centimeters)

BAk -- 36 to 51 centimeters (14 to 20 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) coarse sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak medium granular structure; moderately hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; disseminated calcium carbonate throughout; few very fine, fine and medium roots throughout; 5 percent gravel; violently effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 7 percent); moderately alkaline (pH 8.3); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 15 centimeters thick)

Bkq -- 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) coarse sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common distinct fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate concretions and common fine threads and irregular masses of calcium carbonate in the matrix; few, thin (0.5 to 1.0 inch) brittle, discontinuous strata weakly cemented by calcium carbonate; common medium distinct irregular durinodes in the matrix; few very fine, fine and medium roots throughout; 5 percent gravel; violently effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 7 percent); strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary.

Ck -- 102 to 178 centimeters (40 to 70 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; very hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine threads and irregular masses of calcium carbonate in the matrix; common very fine and fine and few medium roots throughout; 11 percent gravel; violently effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 7 percent); strongly alkaline (pH 8.9); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bk horizon is 38 to 178 centimeters)

2Btk -- 178 to 203 centimeters (70 to 80 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine threads and few fine irregular masses of calcium carbonate in the matrix; few thin patchy clay films bridging mineral grains and lining pores; few very fine, fine and medium roots throughout; 20 percent gravel; violently effervescent (calcium carbonate equivalent of 10 percent); strongly alkaline (pH 9.0).

TYPE LOCATION: San Bernardino County, California; about 425 meters (1,400 feet) east and 400 meters (1,300 feet) north of the SW corner of sec. 11, T. 12 N., R. 2 E., San Bernardino Base and Meridian; 35 degrees, 08 minutes and 37 seconds north latitude and 116 degrees, 44 minutes and 39 seconds west longitude; USGS Langford Well 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; UTM 11S, 0523376e 3888821n (DTM: NAD83).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture control section: usually dry, moist in some part for short
periods during winter and early spring and for 10 to 20 days cumulative between July and September following convection storms. The soils have a typic-aridic soil moisture regime.

Soil temperature: 19 to 22 degrees C (66 to 72 degrees F).
Organic matter: 0 to 0.5 percent.
Surface rock fragments: 15 to 75 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles and 0 to 5 percent stones.

Control section -
Clay content: averages between 8 to 18 percent.
Texture of the fine earth: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam.
Rock fragments: average 5 to 30 percent, mainly gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent.
Durinodes: 0 to 15 percent.

A horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y.
Value: 6 or 7, dry and 4 or 5, moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist.
Texture of the fine earth: loamy coarse sand, loamy sand or coarse
sandy loam.
Clay content: 5 to 15 percent.
Rock fragments: 10 to 60 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles and
stones; range is from 10 to 60 percent.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent.
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline.

Bk and Bqk horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y.
Value: 6 or 7, dry and 5 or 6, moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist.
Texture of the fine earth: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam.
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 35 percent, mainly gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 20 percent.
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline.

Ck horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y.
Value: 6 or 7, dry and 4 to 6, moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist.
Texture of the fine earth: loamy coarse sand and loamy sand.
Clay content: 5 to 10 percent.
Rock fragments: 5 to 15 percent, mainly gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 20 percent.
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline.

2Btk horizon (when present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y.
Value: 6 or 7, dry and 5 to 7, moist.
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist.
Clay content: 15 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: 10 to 35 percent gravel.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 20 percent.
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Agustin (TX), Algerita (NM) Grapevine (NV) and Kinley (AZ) series. Agustin soils receive most precipitation in the spring through early autumn. Algerita soils are intermittently moist in some part of the moisture control section from for more than 20 days, cumulative, between July and September. Grapevine soils have an accumulation of gypsum in the substratum. Kinley have a calcium carbonate equivalent of 15 to 40 percent within the particle size control section and receive up to 12 inches of precipitation.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Cronese soils are on alluvial fans. Slopes range from 2 to 15 percent. The soils formed in mixed sources. Elevations are 1,800 to 3,600 feet. The climate is arid, with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Most precipitation comes in the winter but in some areas it is sporadic. The mean annual precipitation is 3 to 7 inches. The mean annual temperature is 61 to 70 degrees F. Mean July temperature is about 78 degrees F., and mean January temperature is about 42 degrees F. The frost-free period is 240 to 340 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Arizo, Cajon Crosgrain, Coyote, and Popups soils. Arizo and Cajon soils have sandy-skeletal and sandy particle-size control sections, respectively, and are found in inset fans. Crosgrain soils are on ballenas and fan remnants, have a loam-skeletal particle-size control section, and are shallow to a duripan. Coyote soils are found on similar landscape positions as well as summits and upper side slopes of nearby hills, have a sandy particle-size control section and a durinodic layer. Popups soils are on fan remnants, have an argillic horizon, and are 20 to 40 inches to a weak or moderately cemented duripan.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; very low to low runoff; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Cronese soils are used for military exercises and wildlife habitat. The present vegetation is dominantly white bursage, creosotebush, ephedra, and range ratney.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mojave Desert of southeastern California. MLRA 30. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: PHOENIX, ARIZONA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: San Bernardino County, California, Fort Irwin Soil Survey Area, 2000. The name is from a nearby mountain range.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:

1. Ochric epipedon -- 0 to 20 inches (A1, A2, and BAk horizons)
2. Calcic horizon -- 14 to 80 inches (BAk, Bkq, horizons)
3. Particle-size control section -- 10 to 40 inches (part of the A2, the
BAk and BKq horizons)

Responsibility for this series was transferred from Davis to Phoenix 4/2015. The last revision to the series was 10/2012. ET

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.