LOCATION KERBER COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Natrargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Kerber loamy sand - rangeland (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
E1--0 to 2 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) loamy sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak medium platy structure that parts to weak fine granules; soft, very friable; common fine roots; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.9); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
E2--2 to 8 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loamy sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine platy structure that parts to weak fine granules; soft, very friable; common fine roots; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.9); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Btn--8 to 16 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse columnar structure that parts to weak medium subangular blocks; slightly hard, friable; slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots; few faint clay films on sand grains and ped faces; strongly effervescent; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 16 inches thick)
BCkn--16 to 20 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable; nonsticky, nonplastic; violently effervescent; small spots of visible calcium carbonate; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Ckng--20 to 27 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; common fine distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) moist redox features; massive; slightly hard, very friable; violently effervescent; disseminated visible calcium carbonate; strongly alkaline (ph 9.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 20 inches thick)
2Cg--27 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; common fine distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) moist redox features; single grained; about 10 percent pebbles; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Saguache County, Colorado; 1,000 feet north and 100 feet east of the SW corner of Sec. 9, T. 41 N., R. 10 E. U.S.G.S. Deadman Camp SW quad.; Lat. 37 degrees, 48 minutes, 37 seconds N., and Long. 105 degrees, 53 minutes, 28 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 43 to 46 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 60 to 63 degrees F. Exchangeable sodium ranges from 15 to 50 percent in the Bt horizon and a majority of subhorizons, but is less than 15 percent in the A and E horizons in some pedons. Depth to uniformly calcareous material ranges from 0 to 12 inches. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 10 to 40 inches. Depth to continuous subhorizons of visible secondary calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, and other soluble salt accumulation ranges from 10 to 40 inches. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent in the lower part of the C horizon and are dominantly 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter.
The A horizon, if present, has hue of 5Y to 7.5YR, and chroma of 2 through 4 dry or moist. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The E horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 through 6, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma 2 through 6. Reaction is strongly alkaline or very strongly alkaline.
The BC and C horizons have hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 through 8, 3 through 7 moist, and chroma of 1 through4. Redox features are common in the lower part of the solum and C horizon, and ranges from faint to distinct, with both dull and bright chroma usually present. This soil is saturated with water in some horizons above one meter for significant periods when the soil temperature is greater than 41 degrees F. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The 2C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR. It is sand or gravelly sand and has 0 to 35 percent pebbles.
COMPETING SERIES: At present there are no other soils in this family and subgroup.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils are on valley floors and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. Kerber soils formed in alluvium from igneous rocks. Elevation ranges from 7,600 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 8 inches and the mean annual temperature is 40 to 43 degrees F. Mean summer temperature is 59 to 62 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 80 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Gunbarrel soils and the previously competing Mosca and San Luis soils. Gunbarrel soils lack an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained or somewhat poorly drained; slow runoff; moderate permeability. A water table is at 2 to 3 feet during the irrigation season.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used for rangeland and irrigated cropland. The principal native plants are alkali sacaton, alkali cordgrass, rubber rabbitbrush, and black greasewood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Saguache County Area, Colorado, 1981.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: an ochric epipedon; a natric horizon from 8 to 16 inches; redox features from 20 to 60 inches; high watertable at 2 to 3 feet during the irrigation season; somewhat poorly drained conditions; visible calcium carbonate in the BCkn and Ckn horizons; and a frigid temperature regime. Last updated by the state 6/95.
The superactive cation exchange activity class was added in 03/2003 to the taxonomic classification by the National Soil Survey Center on request of the Lakewood MLRA office, without review of the soil series property data. The remainder of this document has not been updated.