LOCATION KERNFORK CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Cumulic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kernfork fine sandy loam - fallow pasture, at an elevation of 2670 feet (814 meters). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches (0 to 15 centimeters); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches or 0 to 25 cm. thick).
Bg--6 to 27 inches (15 to 69 centimeters); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist redoximorphic accumulations of iron; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 23 inches or 25 to 59 cm. thick).
Cg1--27 to 30 inches (69 to 76 centimeters); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; few fine and medium distinct brown (10YR 5/3) and dark yellowish brown(10YR 4/4) moist redoximorphic accumulations of iron, and very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist depletions of iron; very slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); 2 percent gravel; abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 10 inches or 5 to 25 cm. thick).
Cg2--30 to 42 inches (76 to 107 centimeters); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; few medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist redoximorphic accumulations of iron; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 20 inches or 10 to 51 cm. thick).
Cg3--42 to 45 inches (107 to 114 centimeters); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist redoximorphic accumulations of iron; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches or 0 to 25 cm. thick).
Cg4--45 to 60 inches (114 to 153 centimeters); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and common fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist redoximorphic accumulations of iron; slightly effervescent, carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; About one mile northeast of Weldon, California in South Fork Valley; about 90 feet east and 420 feet south of the northwest corner of Sec. 18, T. 26 S., R 35 E.; SBB&M; Latitude 35 degrees, 40 minutes, 22 seconds north and Longitude 118 degrees, 16 minutes and 15 seconds west; Weldon California Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 65 degrees F. (15 to 18 degrees C.). The 10 to 40 inch (25 to 102 cm.) control section is stratified and averages less than 18 percent clay by weight and has more than 15 percent sand coarser than very fine sand. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent. EC is 8 or less Ds/m. SAR is 30 or less. Organic matter is 1 to 5 percent in the upper 27 inches (69 cm.). Organic matter decreases irregularly with depth below 27 inches (69 cm.).
Redoximorphic depletions and accumulations are present within a depth of 30 inches (76 cm.). Redoximorphic depletions and accumulations occur within the mollic epipedon in some pedons.
The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 4/2, 4/3 or 5/2. Moist color is 10YR 2/1, 2/2, 3/2 or 3/3. Texture is fine sandy loam or loam.
The B horizon has dry color of 10YR 4/2, 5/2, or 5/3. Moist color is 10YR 2/2, 3/2 or 3/3. Texture is stratified sandy loam to silt loam.
The C horizon has dry color of 10YR 5/2, 5/3, 6/2 or 6/3. Moist color is 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 3/4, 4/2 or 4/3. Texture is stratified loamy coarse sand to silt loam.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other soils in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kernfork soils are on floodplains at elevations of 2000 to 4400 feet (610 to 1340 meters). Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. The soils formed in alluvium dominantly derived from granitic rock sources. The climate is dry subhumid with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 6 to 12 inches. Mean annual temperature is 57 to 64 degrees F. (14 to 18 degrees C.). The frost-free season is 180 to 220 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Inyo, Kelval and Southlake soils. All these soils lack aquic conditions within the soil profile. In addition, Inyo and Kelval soils have a sandy particle-size class, and Southlake soils have loamy-skeletal particle-size class.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Slow runoff; moderate or moderately rapid permeability above the water table. The water table is at depths of 12 to 36 inches (30 to 92 cm.) in the frequently flooded phase and 36 to 60 inches (92 to 153 cm.) in the occasionally flooded phase. Some part of the soil profile is always saturated at some time during most years. The soil lacks saturation between depths of 40 and 50 centimeters in normal years. Some areas have a seasonal water table at a depth of 12 to 20 inches (30 to 51 cm.) due to flood irrigation from canals.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly as irrigated pasture. Vegetation in uncultivated areas is annual grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Intermountain valleys in the southern Sierra Nevada. The series is not extensive in MLRA 29 or 18.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Northeastern Kern Soil Survey, Kern County, California, 2005.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 27 inches (69 cm.) (Ap, Bg).
Redoximorphic depletions of iron - the zone from about 27 inches (69 cm.) to a depth of 30 inches (76 cm.) (Cg1).
See Drainage and Permeability section for further discussion of aquic conditions.