LOCATION ESPINOSA PREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, isohyperthermic Typic Kandiudults
TYPICAL PEDON: Espinosa sandy loam - sugarcane. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam; weak fine granular structure parting to single grain; friable; nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine roots; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Bt1--10 to 16 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; slightly sticky, plastic; many fine roots; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--16 to 36 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; slightly sticky, plastic; few fine roots; few thin clay films; many black (10YR 2/1) stains on ped surfaces; many fine quartz grains; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--36 to 47 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; slightly sticky, plastic; few fine roots; few faint clay films on ped faces; many fine quartz grains; many medium distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt4--47 to 66 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky, plastic; few faint yellowish brown clay films on ped faces; few fine distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) areas of iron depletions; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Atlantico SCD, Puerto Rico; approximately 33 meters east of kilometer marker 3.2 on Highway 119. Photo GS-LR 2DD-80.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness and Kandic horizon is more than 60 inches. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout. Organic carbon content in the upper 6 inches of the argillic horizon is less than 0.9 percent.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is sandy loam, sandy clay loam or clay.
The upper part of the Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 6 to 8. Texture is sandy clay loam, sandy clay, or clay. The lower Bt horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 2 to 8. Redoximorphic features in shades of brown and yellow, and below 40 inches, gray range from none to common. Texture is clay.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no known series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Espinosa soils are on valley-like positions in the coastal plains and between limestone hills. Slopes range from of 2 to 12 percent. They formed in fine-textured sediments of mixed origin. The climate is humid tropical. The average annual precipitation ranges from 65 to 70 inches and the average annual temperature ranges from 76 to 80 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Almirante, Bayamon, and Vega Alta. Almirante and Bayamon soils are on similar positions, have more clay in the control section, and are Oxisols. In addition, Almirante soils contain more than 5 percent plinthite in some horizons. Vega Alta soils are on similar positions but have parasesquic mineralogy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Espinosa soils are used for pineapple, food crops and pasture. The vegetation consists of native and introduced grasses, shrubs, and trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern humid coastal plains. The series is of minor extent with about 8,000 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Raleigh, North Carolina.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Soil Survey of Puerto Rico; 1942.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 10 inches (Ap horizon).
Kandic horizon - the zone from 10 to 66 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, and Bt4 horizons).