LOCATION HANFORD CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, thermic Typic Xerorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Hanford fine sandy loam, pasture. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 12 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots in the upper few inches; many fine interstitial pores; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)
C1--12 to 36 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine interstitial pores; neutral; diffuse boundary. (10 to 24 inches thick)
C2--36 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) fine sandy loam and sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Madera County, California; SW1/4 NW1/4 section 30, T. 10 S., R. 18 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is about 59 to 68 degrees F., and the soil temperature is not below 47 degrees F. for any significant period. Soil between the depths of about 8 to 24 inches usually is dry all of the time from late April or May until November or early December and usually is moist in some or all parts of this section all the rest of the year. The 10 to 40 inch control section averages sandy loam, coarse sandy loam, fine sandy loam or gravelly equivalents of each. The coarse fragments range from 0 to 35 percent. The particle size control section has little or no stratification. Clay content usually averages 6 to 18 percent. Organic matter is less than 1 percent and decreases regularly with increasing depth. Below a depth of 40 inches some pedons have marked stratification. The soils are medium acid to slightly alkaline and usually become more alkaline with depth. Secondary free carbonates do not occur above a depth of 40 inches. In some cases carbonates have been added to the soil by farmers which results in slight effervescence in the surface layers.
The A horizon is pale brown or light brownish gray (10YR 5/2, 5/3, 6/3, 6/2).
The C horizon is very pale brown, pale brown or light yellowish brown (10YR 5/3, 6/3, 6/4, 7/3, 7/4).
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Honcut, Pollasky and Saugus series. Honcut soils have more silt or clay in the 10 to 40 inch particle-size control section, lower available water holding capacity, and/or redder hues. Pollasky soils are underlain by unrelated moderately consolidated sandy sediments at depths of less than 40 inches. Saugus soils have a paralithic contact at depths of more than 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Hanford soils are on stream bottoms, floodplains and alluvial fans at elevations of 150 to 3,500 feet. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. The soils formed in deep, moderately coarse textured alluvium dominantly from granite and other quartz bearing rocks of similar texture. The climate is dry subhumid mesothermal with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 20 inches. The mean annual temperature is 62 to 65 degrees F.; the mean January temperature is about 45 degrees F.; and the mean July temperature is about 81 degrees F. The frost free season is 200 to 280 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Elder, Dinuba, Ramona, and Tujunga soils. Elder soils have mollic epipedons. Dinuba and Ramona soils have argillic horizons and Tujunga soils are sand or loamy sand throughout the 10 to 40 inch control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; negligible to low runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Hanford soils are used for growing a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and general farm crops. They are also used for urban development and dairies. Vegetation in uncultivated areas is mainly annual grasses and associated herbaceous plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Widely distributed in the San Joaquin Valley and in the valleys of central and southern California. The soils are extensive. MLRA 17
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kings County (Hanford Area), California, 1901.