LOCATION KEALOHA HI

Established Series
RTG-MRK
05/2012

KEALOHA SERIES

The Kealoha series consists of deep, well drained soils. These soils formed in basic volcanic ash over `a`a lava. Slopes range from 2 to 50 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 890 millimeters (35 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 13 degrees C (55 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial-skeletal, amorphic, isomesic Pachic Haplustands

TYPICAL PEDON: Kealoha very gravelly medial silt loam, on a west facing, slightly convex, 10 percent slope under pasture at an elevation of 1405 meters (4610 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured with organic dyes. When described on July 23, 1997 the soil was moist to 26 inches and dry below.)

A/2C1--0 to 13 centimeters (0 to 5 inches); very gravelly medial silt loam, black (5YR 2/1); moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent subangular `a`a gravel and 5 percent angular `a`a cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); The 2C part of this horizon consist of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) thick)

Bw1/2C2--13 to 33 centimeters (5 to 13 inches); very gravelly medial loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2); moderate fine subangular blocky; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 50 percent subangular `a`a gravel and 5 percent angular `a`a cobbles; moderately acid (pH 5.8); The 2C part of this horizon consist of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; abrupt wavy boundary. (20 to 33 centimeters {8 to 13 inches} thick)

Bw2/2C3--33 to 41 centimeters (13 to 16 inches); very gravelly medial loam, black (N 2/0); moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 45 percent subangular `a`a gravel and 5 percent angular `a`a cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); The 2C part of this horizon consist of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size; abrupt broken boundary. (0 to 15 centimeters {0 to 6 inches} thick)

2C4/Bw3--41 to 66 centimeters (16 to 26 inches); extremely gravelly medial loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2); weak very fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 55 percent subangular `a`a gravel, 15 percent angular `a`a cobbles, and 5 percent angular `a`a stones; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 25 centimeters {3 to 10 inches} thick)

2C5--66 to 76 centimeters (26 to 30 inches); extremely gravelly sand, lithochromic very dusky red (2.5YR 2/2); single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 55 percent subangular `a`a gravel, 15 percent angular `a`a cobbles, and 5 percent angular `a`a stones; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 13 centimeters {2 to 5 inches} thick)

2C6--76 to 127 centimeters (30 to 50 inches); extremely gravelly sand, lithochromic very dusky red (2.5YR 2/2); single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine, and few medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 55 percent subangular `a`a gravel, 15 percent angular `a`a cobbles, and 5 percent angular `a`a stones; slightly acid (pH 6.2).

2R--127 centimeters (50 inches); hard, massive `a`a bluerock.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii; on Kealia Ranch, at Big Hill Camp turn left at the first gate and drive north thru two gates for 1.0 mile, pedon is located 15 meters (50 feet) downslope of 4WD road. Kaunene Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 24 minutes 54.0 seconds N. and long. 155 degrees 48 minutes 49.3 seconds W. ( Old Hawaiian datum)).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches).
Mean annual soil temperature: 13 to 15 degrees C (55 to 59 degrees F).
Rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to stones.

A/2C1 horizon
Hue: 5YR or neutral.
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist or 2 or 3 dry.
Chroma: 0 or 1 moist or 1 or 2 dry.
Texture: Cobbly, very cobbly, or very gravelly medial silt loam or silty clay loam.
Structure: Weak to moderate granular or subangular blocky.
Reaction: pH of the A horizon is strongly acid to moderately acid (pH 5.1 to 6.0).

Bw/2C horizon
Hue: Neutral, 5YR, or 7.5YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist or dry.
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist or dry.
Texture: Very gravelly, extremely gravelly, or very cobbly medial silt loam, loam, or loamy sand.
Structure: Weak to moderate subangular blocky.
Reaction: pH of the Bw horizon is moderately acid to neutral (pH 5.6 to 7.3).

2C horizon
Hue: 2.5YR or 5YR.
Texture: Very or extremely gravelly loamy sand or sand.
Structure: Massive or single grain.
Reaction: pH of the 2C horizon is moderately acid to neutral (pH 5.6 to 7.3).

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Halekula series. Halekula soils have a lithic contact at 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches) and are moist in the control section from January to July.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kealoha soils are on upper elevation, leeward slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes at elevations from 1067 to 2134 meters (3500 to 7000 feet). The soils are on all hillslope positions of constructional landscapes consisting of undulating to very steep `a`a flows that are 1,500 to 3,000 years old. Slope gradients range from 2 to 50 percent. The soils formed in basic volcanic ash over `a`a lava. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 510 to 1270 millimeters (20 to 50 inches), with most of the rainfall occurring from April through October. The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1020 to 1780 millimeters (40 to 70 inches). The mean annual temperature ranges from 12 to 14 degrees C (53 to 57 degrees F). The mean summer soil temperature and the mean winter soil temperature differ by less than 6 degrees C (11 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Hapuu, Hokukano, Kekake, Manahaa, Mawae, and Puukala series. Hapuu soils are sandy-skeletal, have a solum that is less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) thick, and have an ochric epipedon. Hokukano and Puukala soils have lithic contact at 25 to 50 centimeters (10 to 20 inches). Kekake and Mawae soils are organic soils. Manahaa soils have a lithic contact at 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches).

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is very low to low. Permeability is rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for pasture and wildlife habitat. The natural vegetation is kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum), ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), koa (Acacia koa), and brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North and South Kona districts, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 161B. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii 2012. Proposed 1997.

REMARKS: The soils are usually moist, but are dry in some or all parts for 90 or more days during the months of October through April in most years (Ustic moisture regime).

Diagnostic Horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon- from 0 to 66 centimeters (0 to 26 inches) (A/2C1, Bw1/2C2, Bw2/2C3, and 2C4/Bw3 horizons).
Andic soil properties - from 0 to 66 centimeters (0 to 26 inches) (A/2C1, Bw1/2C2, Bw2/2C3, and 2C4/Bw3 horizons).
Lithic contact- at 127 centimeters (50 inches) (2R horizon).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 01HI601013. NSSL sample S97-HI-001-012.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.