LOCATION FAUSSE LA+TX

Established Series
Rev. JDS
10/2018

FAUSSE SERIES

The Fausse series consists of very deep, very poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in clayey alluvium. These soils are in low, ponded backswamp areas of the lower Mississippi River alluvial plain. Slopes are less than 1 percent.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, smectitic, nonacid, hyperthermic Vertic Endoaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Fausse clay, in a water tupelo and bald cypress swamp. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Oa-- 0 to 1 inch; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) muck; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many medium roots and partially decayed woody material; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)

A--1 to 11 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay; weak coarse prismatic structure; very sticky; common fine and medium roots; common fine distinct dark brown (10YR 3/3) masses of iron accumulation; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (1 to 12 inches thick)

Bg1--11 to 23 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) clay; weak medium angular blocky structure parting to weak fine angular blocky; very sticky, common fine roots; many medium and fine prominent brown (7.5YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation; slightly acid; gradual irregular boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)

Bg2--23 to 32 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine angular blocky; very sticky; few fine roots; shiny surfaces on peds; many medium prominent dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) masses of iron accumulation; neutral; gradual irregular boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)

Bg3--32 to 47 inches; gray (5Y 5/1; N 5/0) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine angular blocky; very sticky; few fine roots; shiny surfaces on peds; few medium prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) masses of iron accumulation throughout; neutral; gradual irregular boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)

BCg--47 to 61 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay; weak medium angular blocky structure; very sticky; few fine roots; shiny surfaces on peds; common medium prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) and few medium prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Iberia Parish, Louisiana; about 2.5 miles south of Loreauville and 6.75 miles east of junction of Bayou Teche and Loreauville Canal; 80 yards north of Loreauville Canal; SW1/4NE1/4 sec. 9 T. 12 S., R. 8 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 40 to more than 80 inches. COLE ranges from 0.09 to 0.18 in all mineral layers. The n-value is variable within 36 inches of the soil surface but is 0.7 or less in some subhorizon between 8 and 20 inches. The n-value of subhorizons below 36 inches is less than 0.7. Cracks do not form in the upper parts of the subsoil in most years. Salinity is typically less than 4 dS/m but ranges up to 16 dS/m in subsided areas where saltwater has encroached.

The O horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1; or value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 2; or it is neutral with value of 4. Texture is muck or mucky peat.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 1 or 2, or it is neutral with value of 4. Texture is mucky clay or clay. Where the A horizon has value of 3 it is less than 10 inches thick. Reaction in the 0 and A horizons ranges from strongly acid to neutral, except in areas where salt water has encroached.

The Bg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5GY, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1, or it is neutral with value of 4 or 5. Texture is clay. Masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown range from none to common. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to moderately alkaline.

The BCg horizon has hue of 2.5Y to 5BG, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1, or it is neutral with value of 4 or 5. Texture is clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline. Organic carbon decreases irregularly with depth and is more than 0.2 percent at 50 inches below the soil surface.

The C horizon, where present has hue of 5Y to 5BG, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1, or it is neutral with value of 4 or 5. Texture is clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam, with n-value ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Harahan series. Harahan soils are on slightly lower drained positions and have n-value more than 0.7 in all layers below a depth of 20 and 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Fausse soils are on low ponded backswamp positions on the lower Mississippi River delta system They formed in thick deposits of clayey alluvium. Elevation ranges from 0 to 45 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 64 inches, and the mean annual temperature is about 70 degrees F. near the type location. Annual frost free days range from 235 to 350.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Harahan series, and the Barbary, Gentilly and Schriever series. Barbary and Gentilly soils are on slightly lower, undrained positions. Barbary soils have n-values more than 0.7 in all layers within the upper 40 inches. Gentilly soils have n-values more than 0.7 in all layers between 8 and 20 inches below the mineral surface. Schriever soils are on slightly higher or drained positions, have intersecting slickensides within the upper 40 inches, and form cracks.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; Fausse soils are saturated in all layers during normal years. They remain constantly saturated in all layers below a depth of 24 inches. Permeability is very slow. Runoff is low. Unless protected by levees and pumps they are flooded most years for 6 to 10 months with up to 5 feet of water.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are mainly used for growing timber and for wildlife habitat. The vegetation is dominantly bald cypress, water tupelo, and red maple.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Flood plain of the Mississippi River in Louisiana (MLRA 131, 151). The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AUBURN, ALABAMA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ascension Parish, Louisiana; 1972.

REMARKS: The Fausse series was formerly considered as part of the Swamp clayey miscellaneous land type. Soil does not crack most years to a depth of 20 inches due to a continuous high water table. If the water table is lowered to a depth of about 2 feet, Fausse soils may develop characteristics after drainage which would change the classification.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 11 inches (Oa and A horizon)

Cambic horizon - 11 to 47 inches (Bg1, Bg2 and Bg3 horizons)

Endosaturation - 0 to 61 inches. The soil is saturated with water in all layers in most years.

Aquic features - Redoximorphic features; reduction and saturation throughout the pedon in normal years.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.