LOCATION HEPLER                  KS+MO

Established Series
Rev. ACP-PRF-RGC
09/2015

HEPLER SERIES

The Hepler series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in silty alluvial sediments. These nearly level to very gently sloping soils are on flood plains in the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112) and Ozark Highlands (MLRA 116A). Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1067 mm (42 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 14 degrees C (58 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, thermic Mollic Endoaqualfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Hepler silt loam- in a cultivated field, at an elevation of 262 meters (860 feet) above sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 20 centimeters (0 to 8 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) exterior silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) exterior, dry; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly acid, pH 6.3; clear smooth boundary. (15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) thick).

E1--20 to 46 centimeters (8 to 18 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) exterior silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) exterior and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) rubbed, dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; 1 percent fine N 2.5/1), moist, iron-manganese concretions and 5 percent medium faint 10YR 6/1), moist, masses of reduced iron and 5 percent medium faint 10YR 4/3), moist, masses of oxidized iron; strongly acid, pH 5.3; gradual smooth boundary.

E2--46 to 56 centimeters (18 to 22 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) exterior silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) exterior, dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; few shiny ped surfaces; 1 percent fine faint 10YR 4/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron; strongly acid, pH 5.3; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the E horizons 25 to 76 cm (10 to 30 inches) thick).

Btg--56 to 89 centimeters (22 to 35 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) exterior silty clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) exterior, dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; 1 percent medium faint 10YR 6/1), moist, masses of reduced iron and 5 percent fine faint 10YR 4/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron; strongly acid, pH 5.3; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon 15 to 64 cm (6 to 25 inches) thick).

BCg--89 to 130 centimeters (35 to 51 inches); dark gray (10YR 4/1) exterior silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) exterior, dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; 1 percent fine N 2.5/1), moist, iron-manganese concretions and 5 percent medium distinct 10YR 5/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron; moderately acid, pH 5.8; diffuse boundary.

C--130 to 152 centimeters (51 to 60 inches); silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) exterior, dry; massive; very hard, very firm; 20 percent coarse distinct 10YR 5/8), moist, masses of oxidized iron; slightly acid, pH 6.3.

TYPE LOCATION: Crawford County, Kansas; 243 meters (800 feet) east and 274 meters (900 feet) north of the southwest corner of sec. 21, T. 29S., R. 23 E; USGS Brazilton, Kansas topographic quadrangle; lat. 37 degrees 30 minutes 7.77 seconds N. and long. 94 degrees 54 minutes 11.57 seconds W.; UTM Zone 15; 331768 easting and 4152285 northing, NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to argillic horizon: 41 to 76 cm (16 to 30 inches)
Depth to redox concentrations: 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 inches)
Depth to endosaturation: 30 to 201 cm (12 to 79 inches) from January to May.
Particle-size control section: (weighted average) 18 to 35 percent clay, 4 to 15 percent sand

Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3, 3 to 4 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: silt loam
Clay content: 9 to 27 percent
Base saturation: 59 to 79 percent
Reaction: Neutral to strongly acid

E horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5, 5 to 7 dry
Chroma: 2 or 3
Redoximorphic features: none to common masses of iron accumulations, none to common masses of iron-manganese, none to few iron-manganese concretions
Texture: silt loam
Clay content: 9 to 18 percent
Base saturation: 40 to 62 percent
Reaction: Neutral to very strongly acid

Bt (Btg) horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3 to 5, 4 to 6 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: few to many masses of iron accumulations, none to few iron-manganese concretions, none to common masses of iron-manganese
Texture: silty clay loam, silt loam, silty clay
Clay content: 15 to 45 percent
Base saturation: 40 to 94 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to very strongly acid

2Bt horizon (where present):
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5, 4 to 6 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: few to many masses of iron accumulations, none to few iron-manganese concretions, none to common masses of iron-manganese
Texture: silty clay loam, silt loam, and silty clay
Clay content: 31 to 45 percent
Base saturation: 85 to 90 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to very strongly acid

C or 2C and BCg or 2BCg horizons (where present):
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 4 to 6 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: few to many masses of iron accumulations, none to few iron-manganese concretions, none to common masses of iron-manganese
Texture: loam, silty clay loam, silt loam, silty clay
Clay content: 24 to 47 percent
Base saturation: 59 to 70 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to very strongly acid

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils are the Quarles, Moniteau, and McGirk series. Quarles soils are fine textured in the particle size control section. McGirk soils have a mesic soil temperature regime, fine textured in the control section, and a smectitic mineralogy. Leanna soils have a fine textured control section and occur on stream terraces on river valleys. Moniteau soils: are in the mesic soil temperature regime.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Hepler soils are on high flood plains on river valleys. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. The soils formed in silty alluvial sediments. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 813 to 1295 mm (32 to 51 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 7.2 to 19.4 degrees C (45 to 67 degrees F). Annual Thornthwaite P-E Index: 64 to 78.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cherokee, Lightning, Mason, Osage, Parsons, Radley, Verdigris, Wynona, Leanna, and McCune soils. Cherokee soils have a fine particle size control section, and occur on low terraces on river valleys. Lightning soils have a fine particle size control section, poorly drained, and occur on floodplain steps on River valleys. Mason soils contain a mollic epipedon, well to moderately well drained, rarely flooded, and occur on higher floodplain steps on river valleys. Osage soils have a mollic epipedon, are fine textured, do not have an argillic horizon, and occur on similar landscape positions. Parsons soils have a fine particle size control section and occur on uplands of plains. Radley soils have a mollic epipedon, do not have an argillic horizon, moderately well drained, and occur on floodplain steps of river valleys. Verdigris soils: have a mollic epipedon, do not have an argillic horizon, well drained, and occur on similar landscape positions. Wynona soils have a mollic epipedon, do not have an argillic horizon, and occur on floodplain steps on river valleys. McCune soils have a glossic horizon and occur on low terraces on plains.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Depth to the top of an apparent seasonal high water table ranges from 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 inches) between January and May in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is low or very slow. Sturated hydraulic conductivity is Moderately High. Permeability is moderately slow. Hepler series is subject to occasional or frequent flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly cultivated. Principal crops are winter wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum, and corn. Native vegetation is hardwood forest with an understory of tall prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 112 and 116 in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and eastern Oklahoma. The type location is in MLRA 112. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Crawford County, Kansas, 1969.

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: 0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches) (A and Ap horizons)
Albic horizon: The zone from 20 to 56 cm (8 to 22 inches) (E1 and E2 horizons)
Argillic horizon: 56 to 89 cm (22 to 35 inches) (Bt horizons)
Redoximorphic concentrations: 20 to 152 cm (8 to 60 inches)
Endosaturation: 20 to 152 cm (8 to 60 inches).
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014

ADDITIONAL DATA:
Data mapunit ID 757473 represents Hepler silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, frequently flooded.
Data mapunit ID 751073 represents Hepler silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

7/19/01 - PRF - formatted to semi tab. Included water saturation and redox features.
Kansas University lab data is available for the typical pedon, Lab Pedon ID 1969KS037008.

TABULAR SERIES DATA
Supporting NSSC Soil Characterization Lab data pedons:
69KS037008
82P0743
82P0744
82P0747
82P0748
84P0826
M8901342
M9105781
M9405703
M9309707
M9509707
M9509722
M9609704
M9409747
M9609705
M9609708

Supporting User Pedons:

94KS121025
94KS121026
94KS121035
1996MO011012
1996MO217011
1998MO013010
1998MO109008
1998MO145012
1993MO057035
1993MO057036
1993MO097029
S1984KS021002
1983KS021012

1979KS121005
1991MO057080
11OK147100
11OK147100
2005MO097034
2006MO145054
2006MO145055
2006MO145078
1972KS207009
87KS099011
82KS021012

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.