LOCATION GOSPER NEEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Gosper loam on a less than 1 percent slope in a cultivated field. When described the soil was moist to 24 inches. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 7 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--7 to 12 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; slightly hard, friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizon is 8 to 18 inches thick.)
Bt1--12 to 19 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; shiny ped faces; mildly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--19 to 31 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; shiny ped faces; strong effervescence; mildly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bt horizon is 12 to 24 inches.)
C1--31 to 41 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 20 inches thick)
C2--41 to 53 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; few medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist mottles; single grain; loose; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
C3--53 to 60 inches; white (10YR 8/2) coarse sand, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; single grain; loose; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Dawson County, Nebraska; about 1 mile west and 2 miles south of Overton, Nebraska; 2,500 feet east and 600 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 26, T. 9 N., R. 20 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum ranges from 20 to 42 inches, and depth to free carbonates ranges from 10 to 24 inches. The mollic epipedon ranges from 8 to 20 inches in thickness and includes the upper part of the argillic horizon in some pedons. Up to 0.2 percent soluble salts are present in the lower B horizon and upper C horizon in some pedons.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 through 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is commonly loam and less commonly silt loam or fine sandy loam. It ranges from neutral through moderately alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 through 6 and 2 through 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 with the darker colors in the upper part. It typically is loam or sandy clay loam and less commonly fine sandy loam. Clay ranges from 18 to 27 percent. It ranges from neutral through moderately alkaline.
A BC horizon is present in some pedons. It has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6 and 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is fine sandy loam, loam, or sandy loam. It is mildly or moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 through 8 and 4 through 7 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Above a depth of about 40 inches the texture is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam. Below this depth the texture is more sandy with loamy sand, sand, and coarse sand being typical. It is mildly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Glenham, Houdek, Ree, Wewela, and Wineg series. Glenham and Houdek soils typically have more clay in the lower part of the B horizon and C horizon and firmer consistence having formed in glacial till, and in addition, the Glenham soils typically have a thinner solum. Ree soils typically have more clay in the argillic horizon and less sand in the C horizon. Wewela soils have more clay in the lower part of the 10- to 40- inch section and are over shale. Wineg soils have a drier climate.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Gosper soils are formed in alluvium on nearly level high bottom lands or low stream terraces. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual temperature ranges from 49 to 55 degrees F, and the mean annual precipitation ranges from 18 to 24 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cozad, Hord, Rusco, and Silver Creek soils. Cozad soils have coarse-silty control sections. The Hord and Rusco soils have fine-silty control sections. In addition, Cozad soils are slightly higher in the landscape, Hord soils hve mollic colors greater than 20 inches thick, and Rusco soils are in depressions or basins. Silver Creek soils are in the fine family and have a natric horizon and occur on similar landscapes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability within the control section is moderate and is moderately rapid to very rapid below a depth of 40 inches. The seasonal high water table ranges from 3 to 5 feet in depth during winter and early spring, and recedes to a depth of 6 or 8 feet in late summer and fall.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the acreage is cultivated and irrigated. Corn and alfalfa are the principal crops. A few areas are in native grass. Big and little bluestem, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass are the dominant species.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Nebraska. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Dawson County, Nebraska, 1975.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory data on the typifying pedon are available from Soil Survey Investigation Unit, SCS, Lincoln, Nebraska, (sample number S73NE-24-14).