LOCATION FRELSBURG TX
Established Series
GLL:RM:RMR
09/2014
FRELSBURG SERIES
The Frelsburg series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in calcareous clayey residuum of Tertiary Age derived from shale. These very gently to moderately sloping soils are on ridges of inland dissected coastal plains. Slope ranges from 1 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1066 mm (42 in) and the mean annual air temperature is about 20.4 degrees C (69 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Udic Calciusterts
TYPICAL PEDON: Frelsburg clay--on a 3 percent slope in rangeland; pedon is midway between center of microknoll and microdepression (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).
A--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry, moderate very fine subangular blocky and moderate very fine granular structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine roots; common fine pores; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.(Thickness of the A horizon is 10 to 41 cm [4 to 16 in])
Bk--20 to 51 cm (8 to 20 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1), vertical streaks of A material along cracks; moderate fine subangular blocky and very fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots; few fine pores; few distinct pressure faces; 1 percent fine iron-manganese concretions; 1 percent fine carbonate concretions; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.(Thickness of the Bk horizon is 0 to 51 cm [0 to 20 in])
Bkss1--51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1) vertical streaks of A material along cracks; moderate medium wedge and moderate coarse wedge structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots; cracks from 2 to 4 cm wide extend through the horizon; 20 percent distinct slickensides tilted from horizontal 30 to 60 degrees; 1 percent fine iron-manganese concretions; 1 percent fine carbonate concretions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.(Thickness of the upper Bkss subhorizon is 15 to 51 cm [6 to 20 in])
Bkss2--91 to 132 cm (36 to 52 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry, few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1) vertical streaks of A material along cracks; moderate medium wedge and moderate coarse wedge structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; cracks from 2 to 4 cm wide extend through the horizon; 20 percent distinct slickensides tilted from horizontal 30 to 60 degrees; 1 percent fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) masses of oxidized iron and 1 percent fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) iron-manganese concretions and 10 percent medium faint grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) iron depletions; 10 percent fine carbonate masses and 10 percent fine carbonate concretions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bkss3--132 to 152 cm (52 to 60 in); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay; few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1) vertical streaks of A material along cracks; moderate fine wedge and moderate medium wedge structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; cracks from 2 to 4 cm wide extend through the horizon; many distinct slickensides tilted from horizontal 30 to 60 degrees; 1 percent fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent fine carbonate concretions and 10 percent fine carbonate masses; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bkss4-- 152 to 180 cm (60 to 71 in); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay; few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1) vertical streaks of A material along cracks; moderate fine subangular blocky and moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; very few fine roots; common faint slickensides tilted from horizontal 30 to 60 degrees; 1 percent fine distinct iron-manganese concretions and 10 percent medium distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent medium carbonate masses and 1 percent medium carbonate concretions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bkss horizon is 61 to 140 cm [24 to 55 in])
BCkss--180 to 203 cm (71 to 80 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/2) clay; few medium very dark gray (10YR 3/1) vertical streaks of A material along cracks; few thin dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) discontinuous and horizontally oriented bedding planes; weak coarse angular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; very few fine roots; common faint grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) slickensides tilted from horizontal 30 to 60 degrees; 1 percent iron-manganese concretions and 1 percent fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; 1 percent fine masses of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Lavaca County, Texas; from the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and Farm Road 532, 9 miles north of Hallettsville; 8 miles west on Farm Road 532; located about 500 ft east of Komensky store in rangeland. Komensky USGS topographic quadrangle; Latitude: 29 degrees, 34 minutes, 13 seconds North; Longitude: 97 degrees, 02 minutes, 44 seconds West.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Solum depth: greater than 203 cm (80 in)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 15 to 91 cm (6 to 36 in)
Depth to calcic horizon: 20 to 91 cm (8 to 36 in)
Depth to cambic horizon: 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 in)
Depth to redox concentrations: 20 to 178 cm (8 to 70 in)
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 45 to 60 percent
Silt content: 25 to 46 percent
Sand content: 8 to 22 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 6 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
A and Ap Horizon
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 2 to 5
Chroma: 1
Texture: clay or silty clay
Clay content: 40 to 54 percent
Effervescence: slight to violent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Bw and Bk Horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 1
Texture: clay
Clay content: 45 to 57 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-1 or 2 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, boundary-clear, color-shades of brown or yellow
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 20 percent
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-0 to 1 percent, size-fine, kind-carbonate concretions, location-throughout
Pressure faces: 5 to 50 percent
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Bkss Horizon
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay or silty clay
Clay content: 45 to 57 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-1 or 2 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, boundary-clear, color-shades of brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, boundary-clear or diffuse, color-shades of gray
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 47 percent
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-3 to 20 percent, size-fine or medium, Kind-carbonate concretions or masses, location-throughout
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline
BCss or BCkss Horizon (where present)
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay or silty clay
Clay content: 45 to 60 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-1 to 2 percent, size-fine or medium, size-faint or distinct, boundary-clear, color-shades of brown, or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, boundary-clear or diffuse, colors-shades of gray
Rock fragments: 0 to 3 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 47 percent
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-3 to 40 percent, size-fine or medium, kind-carbonate concretions or masses, location-throughout
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Chapel (TX),
Dreyer (TX), and
Latium (TX) series. Similar soils are the
Bleiblerville (TX) series.
Chapel soils: have chroma of 2 or more within 13 cm (5 in) of the surface
Dreyer soils: have sola less than 203 cm (80 in) thick over interbedded shale and have chromas of 2 or more within 18 cm (7 in) of the surface
Latium soils: have sola less than 203 cm (80 in) thick over interbedded shale and siltstone and have chromas of 2 or more within 30 cm (12 in) of the surface
Bleiblerville soils: have values of 3 or less dry within 30 cm (12 in) and do not have a calcic horizon within 100 cm (40 in)
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: Calcareous clayey residuum weathered from shale of Tertiary Age from the Fleming and Oakville formations
Landscape: Inland dissected coastal plains
Landform: ridges
Microrelief: on circular gilgai in undisturbed areas where microknolls and microdepressions are repeated at 1.5 to 4.5 m (5 to 15 ft) intervals, microknolls are 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) higher than microdepressions and the external microrelief is typically a tiger striped pattern on areas with a slope gradient that exceeds 3 percent
Slope: 1 to 8 percent
Soil moisture: dry in some or all parts of the soil moisture control section,
for 90 or more cumulative days and moist, in some part, either for more than 180 cumulative days per year, or for 90 or more consecutive days in normal years; ustic moisture regime that borders on udic
Mean annual soil temperature: 15 to 22 degrees C (59 to 72 degrees F)
Mean annual air temperature: 20 to 21 degrees C (68 to 69 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 812 to 1121 mm (32 to 44 in)
Frost-free period: 260 to 290 days
Elevation: 61 to 168 m (200 to 550 ft)
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing
Latium series and the similar
Bleiblerville (TX),
Brenham (TX),
Carbengle (TX), and
Renish (TX)series
Latium soils: well drained and are on similar to slightly more sloping associated landscapes.
Bleiblerville soils: have mollic colors to a depth of more than 30 cm (12 in) and are on similar but slightly smoother associated landscapes.
Brenham soils: are on lower associated slopes and have mollic epipedons.
Carbengle soils: are on lower associated slopes and have mollic epipedons.
Renish soils: are on lower associated slopes, have mollic epipedons, and are shallow to calcareous sandstone.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Permeability is Very slow. Runoff is very high.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for rangeland. A few areas are cultivated. Most areas have been cultivated in the past to corn and annual hay crops. The native plant community produces little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, Texas wintergrass, Virginia wildrye, net leaf hackberry, and cedar elm.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Blackland Prairie of Texas; LRR J, MLRA 86B. The series is of large extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Washington County, Texas; 1978. The name "Frelsburg" comes from a community in Colorado County, Texas.
REMARKS: This soil was formerly included in the Heiden series. Classification change from Chromic Udic Haplusterts to Udic Calciusterts based on application of the 6th edition of Soil Taxonomy.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle-size control section: 25 to 100 cm (10 to 40 in)(A, Bk, Bkss1, and Bkss2 horizons)
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 in) (A horizon)
Cambic horizon: 20 to 51 cm (8 to 20 in) (Bk horizon)
Calcic horizon: 91 to 180 cm (36 to 71 in) (Bkss2, Bkss3, and Bkss4 horizons)
Vertic features: presence of slickensides at 51 to 203 cm (20 to 80 in) (Bkss1, Bkss2, Bkss3, Bkss4, and BCkss horizons)
Ustic features: Cracks that remain open 90 to 150 cumulative days in most years.
Redoximorphic concentrations: 20 to 203 cm (8 to 80 in). (A, Bk, Bkss1, Bkss2, Bkss3, Bkss4, and BCkss horizons)
Redoximorphic depletions: 91 to 132 cm (36 to 52 in). (Bkss2 horizons)
Identifiable secondary carbonates: 91 to 203 (36 to 80 in). (Bkss2, Bkss3, Bkss4, and BCkss)
Additional Comments: When dry, the soil has cracks up to 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) wide at the surface and extends to a depth greater than 51 cm (20 in) or more. The cracks remain open for a period of 90 to 150 cumulative days in most years. Slickensides begin at a depth of 30 to 61 cm (12 to 24 in) below the surface and extend throughout the solum. The range includes 50 percent or more of the pedon. Colors are not included for the chimneys, or high value materials that extend to the surface on some microknolls, and the center of some microdepressions that are thicker and/or darker. These conditions make up 5 to 25 percent of most pedons.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil was described and sampled from 9 m (30 ft) long pit. Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory: S77TX-477-5 (78PO102-78PO104). Texas Ag Exp. Station Laboratory: S83TX-285-02 (1931-1937) type location pedon.
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.