LOCATION HOLT SD+NEEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Holt fine sandy loam - on nearly level tableland in native grass. When described the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--6 to 11 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 9 inches thick)
Bt2--11 to 17 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak and moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few faint clay films on faces of peds; slightly alkaline; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
BC--17 to 22 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; very weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable; few weakly cemented rock fragments 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
Cr1--22 to 27 inches; white (10YR 8/1) weathered soft sandstone; gray (10YR 6/1) moist; crushing easily to loamy fine sand, slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
Cr2--27 to 60 inches; white 10YR 8/1) moderately cemented sandstone, gray (10YR 6/1) moist; difficult to dig with a spade; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Todd County, South Dakota; 4 miles west and 8 miles south of Mission; 1740 feet west and 100 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 10, T.7 N., R. 29 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 36 inches. Depth to carbonate is 14 to 30 inches. The mollic epipedon is 7 to 19 inches thick and extends into the B horizon of most pedons.
The A horizon has 10YR hue, value of 3 to 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy fine sand. It ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has 10YR hue, value of 4 or 5, and 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It typically is fine sandy loam. It is neutral or slightly alkaline.
The BC horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 8 and 4 to 7 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy fine sand. It ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline. Some pedons have a Bk horizon.
Some pedons have a C horizon.
The Cr horizon is cemented sandstone. Very few roots penetrate the Cr horizon. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing other series. Closely related series in other families are the Anselmo, Mawer, Manter, Ronson, and Rosebud soils. All the above soils except the Anselmo and Ronson soils have slightly drier climate. Anselmo and Manter soils do not have bedrock within 40 inches of the surface. Mawer soils are underlain by sand and gravel at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Ronson soils do not have an argillic horizon and contain free carbonates within a depth of 10 inches. Rosebud soils are fine-loamy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Holt soils are on nearly level to moderately steep uplands having convex surfaces. Slope gradients range from 0 to 15 percent, but usually are less than 10 percent. They formed in loamy residuum weathered from moderately soft calcareous sandstone. The mean annual temperature is 45 to 51 degrees F, and the annual precipitation is 15 to 22 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Anselmo, Manter, Ronson, Tassel, and Vetal soils. Anselmo, Manter, and Ronson soils are on similar nearby landscapes. Tassel soils have bedrock at depths less than 20 inches and are on steeper landscapes. Vetal soils are in swales and do not have an argillic horizon. In addition, Vetal soils have a mollic epipedon that is more than 20 inches thick.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Surface runoff is medium or high. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: The gentle slopes are mostly in cropland; small grains and alfalfa are the principal crops. The more sloping areas are in native range. Little bluestem, prairie sandreed, needleandthread, western wheatgrass, blue grama, and big bluestem are the main grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central South Dakota and north-central Nebraska. The Holt soils are extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Antelope County, Nebraska, 1921.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of about 11 inches (A, Bt1 horizons); argillic horizon - the zone from about 6 to 17 inches (Bt1, Bt2 horizons); paralithic contact - the boundary at 22 inches (Cr horizon).