LOCATION KANZA KSEstablished Series
The Kanza series consists of very deep, poorly and somewhat poorly drained soils on floodplains. Permeability is rapid above ground watertable. They formed from alluvium and reworked eolian sands. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 28 inches ( 71 centimeters) , and mean annual temperature is 58 degrees F (14 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Mollic Psammaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Kanza loamy fine sand - native grass. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 8 inches (0 to 20 centimeters); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loamy fine sand, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonplastic and nonsticky; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick, 15 to 23 centimeters)
AC--8 to 15 inches (20 to 38 centimeters); gray (10YR 5/1) loamy fine sand, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; single grain; soft, very friable, nonplastic and nonsticky; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick, 13 to 38 centimeters)
C--15 to 80 inches (38 to 203 centimeters); light gray (10YR 7/2) loamy fine sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; common coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) mottles; single grain; loose, soft, neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Harper County, Kansas; about 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) north and 7 1/4 miles (11.6 kilometers) east of Harper, Kansas; 1,320 feet (396 meters) east and 50 feet (15 meters) south of the northwest corner of sec. 8, T. 31 S., R. 5 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: aquic.
Mean annual soil temperature: 56 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C)
Depth to redox concentrations: 0 to 15 inches, (0 to 38 centimeters)
Thickness of the ochric epipedon: 5 to 15 inches, (13 to 38 centimeters)
A horizon:
Hue7.5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5 and 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or less
Texture: loamy fine sand or clay loam
Reaction: moderately acid or slightly acid.
AC horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6 and 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or less
Texture: loamy fine sand or loamy sand
Reaction: moderately acid or slightly acid.
Rock fragments: 1 to 10 percent
C horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 7 or 8 and 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: fine sand, sand, or loamy fine sand
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
Rock fragments: 1 to 10 percent
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Glendora (MI), Kingsville (OH), Marlake (NE), Pay (ID), Plev (KS), Tobico (MI), and Vestaburg (MI) series. Plev soils are in interdunal depressions. All of the other series have a lower mean annual air temperature.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kanza soils are on nearly level floodplains. Slope gradients are dominantly 0 to 1 percent but range from 0 to 2 percent. These soils are formed from well sorted eolian fine sands which are subirrigated. Average annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 28 inches (48 to 71 centimeters), and mean annual temperature ranges from 56 to 58 degrees F ( 13 to 14 degrees C). Thornthwaite Annual P-E Index ranges from 31 to 58.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The most common associated soils are the Ninnescah, Pratt, Plevna and Tivoli series. The Ninnescah soils have a mollic epipedon and are calcareous throughout. The coarse-loamy Plevna soils are on similar positions as Kanza soils. The well drained Pratt soils and excessively drained Tivoli soils are on higher positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly and somewhat poorly drained. Runoff is very slow. Permeability is rapid above the apparent water table, which is usually at depths of 0 to 3 feet.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly used for native range or meadows. Native vegetation is dominated indiangrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, prairie cordgrass and a few sedges.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and south central Kansas near sandhills bordering through flowing streams. The series is of moderate extent,
covering about 14,000 acres (5,600 hectares).
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harper County, Kansas, 1970
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Ochric epipedon - 0 to 8 inches; aquic moisture regime.