LOCATION HACKBERRY LA

Established Series
Rev. CTM-JLD-CLN
05/2018

HACKBERRY SERIES

The Hackberry series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in sandy and loamy beach deposits. These soils are on the toe slopes of low ridges that are generally parallel to the gulf coast shoreline. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, hyperthermic Aeric Endoaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Hackberry loamy fine sand, on a nearly level ridge--cropland.
(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

Ap--0 to 6 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) loamy fine sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; very friable; many fine and medium roots; common yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) oxidation stains along root channels; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)

Bw1--6 to 13 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; friable; many fine and medium roots; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and few fine faint grayish brown iron concentrations; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) coatings on peds; common soft black accumulations; black coatings on walls of root channels; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 13 inches thick)

Bw2--13 to 17 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) very fine sandy loam; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; moist, very friable; many fine and medium roots; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron concentrations; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) coatings on surface of peds; few brown masses; strongly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)

Bw3--17 to 28 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium roots; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and common medium faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron accumulations; few brown masses, black coatings in root channels; strongly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)

BC--28 to 37 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly fine sand; single grained; loose; few fine and medium roots; common coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) and few fine faint light gray redox features; common black masses; shell fragments and shells ranging to as much as 25 mm in diameter comprise about 40 percent of the horizon; very strongly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 23 inches tick)

BCg--37 to 40 inches; gray (10YR 6/1) fine sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky; friable; few fine roots; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron accumulations; common brown masses; black stains along root channels; strongly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)

BC'--40 to 61 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) wet; fine sand; single grained; loose; common medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron concentrations; shell fragments and shells ranging up to about 30 mm in diameter comprise about 15 percent of the horizon; many black streaks; very strongly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Cameron Parish, Louisiana; 3 miles east of Cameron, 300 feet north of LA Highway 27, 250 feet east of parish road, NW 1/4NE1/4 sec. 27, T 15 S, R 9 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum typically is more than 80 inches thick. Content of shell fragments is variable throughout the profile, but ranges from 2 to 15 percent (weighted average) in the 10- to 40-inch particle size control section.

The A or Ap horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 1 to 3. Texture is fine sandy loam or loamy fine sand, or is sandy clay loam, sandy clay, or clay in overwash phases. Shell fragments range from none to 15 percent. Reaction of the A horizon ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.

The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 3 and has iron concentrations in shades of brown. Subhorizons of the Bw horizon have chroma of 1 or 2 within a depth of 20 inches of the soil surface. The Bw horizon is dominantly loamy fine sand, very fine sandy loam, or sand, but at least 1 subhorizon below a depth of 10 inches is very fine sandy loam. Reaction ranges from neutral to strongly alkaline.

The BC and BCg horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 3 and have iron concentrations in shades of brown. Texture is fine sand, loamy fine sand, or fine sandy loam. Reaction ranges from neutral to very strongly alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are no other series in the same family. Similar soils are the Dianola, Felicity, Mustang, and Peveto series. All of these soils do not have a cambic horizon. In addition, Felicity soils have a higher salt content and Peveto soils are better drained.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Hackberry soils are on low ridges generally parallel to the coast, at a elevation of 4 to 7 feet above sea level. They formed in sandy and loamy beach deposits. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. The mean air temperature is 60 degrees F, and the mean annual rainfall is about 53 inches near the type location.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bancker, Creole, Mermentau, and Scatlake series and the competing Peveto series. Bancker and Scatlake soils are on lower positions and have a very-fine particle-size control section. Creole soils are on lower positions and have a fine particle-size control section. Mermentau soils are on lower positions and have a clayey over sandy particle-size control section.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Hackberry soils are somewhat poorly drained; runoff is slow; permeability is moderate. The water table fluctuates between a depth of 1/2 to 4 feet below the surface throughout the year.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly utilized for pasture and homesites. Some areas are used for gardens and orchards. Native vegetation is common bermudagrass, carpetgrass, smutgrass, palmetto, sugarberry trees, and huisache.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Along the gulf coast of Louisiana and possibly Texas (MLRA 151). The series is of moderate extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AUBURN, ALABAMA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cameron Parish, Louisiana; 1984. Name is derived from the name of a small town in Cameron Parish.

REMARKS: These soils were formerly mapped as Palm Beach soils. Some data indicate these soils may marginally classify in a Fluvaquentic subgroup.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon - 0 to 6 inches
Cambic horizon - 6 to 28 inches.
Aquic Conditions - periodic saturation and reduction from 13 to 61 inches.

ADDITIONAL DATA: LSU data from Cameron Parish (S84LA-023-001).

TAXONOMIC VERSION: Soil Taxonomy, Second Edition, 1999.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.