LOCATION FASKIN TX+NMEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, superactive, thermic Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Faskin fine sandy loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak fine granular and subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; common very fine roots and pores; few fine roots; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 18 inches thick)
Bt1--8 to 20 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) sandy clay loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; very hard, friable; common very fine roots; distinct, discontinuous clay films on ped and prism faces; sand grains coated and bridged with clay; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 35 inches thick)
Bt2--20 to 34 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; very hard, friable; few very fine to fine roots; common, distinct, nearly continuous clay films on prisms faces, and distinct, patchy clay films on ped faces; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (12 to 29 inches thick)
Bt3--34 to 42 inches; red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam, dark red (2.5YR 3/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common very fine pores; distinct, common, distinct, nearly continuous clay films on prisms faces, and common distinct, patchy clay films on ped faces; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 20 inches thick)
Btk1--42 to 66 inches; red (2.5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, red (2.5YR 4/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; common distinct, patchy clay films on ped faces; 10 percent masses of calcium carbonate, mainly as coatings on ped faces; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 24 inches thick)
Btk2--66 to 80 inches; reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 5/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few distinct, discontinuous clay films on ped faces; many films and threads of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Andrews County, Texas; from the courthouse in Andrews, Texas, 9 miles east on Texas Highway 176 to intersection of Farm Road 1788, 13.1 miles south on Farm Road 1788, 0.6 miles west of road in rangeland. Latitude: 32 minutes, 08 seconds, 43 minutes N; Longitude: 102 minutes, 20 seconds, 36 minutes W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is greater than 80 inches. The upper 20 inches of the Bt horizon is loam, sandy clay loam or clay loam, with clay content of 20 to 35 percent. Depth to a calcic horizon ranges from 40 to 60 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline. Texture is fine sand, loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam, or sandy clay loam.
The Bt horizons above the Btk horizon has hue of 2.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 to 6. Texture is loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam. Reaction ranges from slightly to moderately alkaline.
The Btk horizon has hue of 2.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma that is dominantly 6. Texture is loam, clay loam or sandy clay loam. Masses of calcium carbonate comprise 10 to 50 percent by volume of this horizon.
The Bt horizon below the Btk horizon has hue of 2.5YR or 5YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4 to 6. Visible calcium carbonate comprises about 1 to 10 percent, mainly in the form of films, threads and powdery masses. Some pedons have a petrocalcic horizon at depths below 60 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils are the Berino, and Triomas series. Berino soils are dry in the moisture control section for longer periods. Triomas soils have a calcic horizon below 60 inches..
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils occupy nearly level to gently sloping uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. The regolith consists of eolian sediments. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 17 inches and mean annual temperature ranges from 63 to 68 degrees F. Frost free days range from 210 to 240 days and elevation ranges from 2,750 to 3,400 feet. Thornthwaite annual P-E indices are less than 25.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Douro, Maljamar and Palomas, Portales, Ratliff, Stegall, and Slaughter soils. Douro soils have petrocalcic horizons from 20 to 40 and are on similar postions. Maljamar soils are in similar positions. Portales soils have a mollic epipedon and Ratliff soils lack an argillic horizon. Slaughter and Stegall soils are more clayey and have a petrocalcic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is negligible on 0 to 1 percent slopes and low on 1 to 3 percent slopes. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mostly for rangeland. Vegetation consists of black grama, plains bristlegrass, sand dropseed, buffalograss, Arizona cottontop, little bluestem and threeawn grasses, broom snakeweed, catclaw, and a few small mesquite trees. A few areas are irrigated or dry farmed to cotton and grain sorghums.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern part of the High Plains in west Texas. The series is extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Andrews County, Texas; 1970.
REMARKS: Classification was changed in 2001 from Ustollic Haplargids to Ustic Calciargids due to changes in Soil Taxonomy. Family classification of siliceous mineralogy is based on data from closely associated soils.
These soils were formerly included in the Berino series.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the A horizon from 0 to 8 inches.
Argillic horizon - the Bt horizons from 8 to 80 inches.
Calcic horizon - the Btk horizon from 42 to 66 inches.