LOCATION KOSSE TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Fluventic Hapludolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Kosse sandy clay loam--pastureland. (colors are for moist soil conditions)
A--0 to 15 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; many fine and medium roots; many fine pores; common brown (10YR 5/3) worm casts; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bw1--15 to 23 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; many fine and medium roots; many fine pores; few patchy faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic films on the surface of prisms; common pale brown (10YR 6/3) worm casts; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
Bw2--23 to 32 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; many fine and medium roots; many fine pores; few patchy faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic films on surface of prisms; common light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) worm casts; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Bw3--32 to 44 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) sandy clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine and medium roots; many fine pores; few patchy distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) organic films on surface of prisms; few fine calcium carbonate concretions; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bk1--44 to 62 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) loam; weak fine prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; many fine pores; common medium distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions and common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redox concentrations; few patchy distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) organic films on surface of peds; about 20 percent calcium carbonate concretions and masses; calcium carbonate equivalent is 22 percent; common iron-manganese masses in clusters; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bk2--62 to 80 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) loam; weak fine prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common medium distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; few patchy distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) organic films on surface of peds; about 30 percent calcium carbonate concretions and masses; calcium carbonate equivalent is 28 percent; common iron-manganese masses in clusters; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Houston County, Texas; From Crockett, at Loop 304 west; 19.7 miles west on Texas 21 to 7-J ranch gate (east of headquarters); 0.76 mile north-west in pasture. Longitude--95 degrees, 41 minutes, 41 seconds; Latitude--31 degrees, 06 minutes, 42 seconds.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is more than 80 inches. Weighted average clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 20 to 35 percent. The organic carbon content ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 percent at a depth of 50 inches below the mineral soil surface and/or there is an irregular decrease in organic carbon content within a depth of 10 to 50 inches. The mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 20 inches thick. Some pedons have buried A horizons. They are within a depth of 30 to 60 inches of the soil surface.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. Redox concentrations in shades of brown range from none to common. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4, and chroma of 1 or 2 in the upper part. Some pedons have value of 5 with chroma of 2 or 3. Redox concentrations, consisting of masses, in shades of brown or yellow range from none to common. The lower part of the Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 2 to 8. Redox features, consisting of masses, range from none to common in shades of gray, brown, or yellow. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam. Thin discontinuous bedding planes of loamy, clayey, and/or sandy materials range from few to common in some pedons. However, they make up less than 30 percent of any subhorizon. The reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 8, and chroma of 2 to 8. Texture is fine sandy loam, loam or sandy clay loam. Redox features, consisting of masses, range from none to common in shades of brown or gray. The reaction ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are none at this time. Closely similar series include Elbon, Gowker, Gowton, Hopco, Kanebreak, Portersprings, and Wynona. Gowker, Gowton, Hopco, Kanebreak, and Wynona soils have a mollic epipedon more than 24 inches thick. Elbon soils have a fine particle-size control section. Portersprings soils have an argillic horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kosse soils are on nearly level flood plains in east central Texas. The soil formed in loamy alluvial sediments. Slopes range from 0 to 1 percent. The average annual temperature ranges from 66 to 68 degrees F. The average annual rainfall ranges from 40 to 46 inches. The elevation ranges from 145 to 195 feet above sea level. Frost free days range from 230 to 240. The Thornwaite P-E index ranges from 64 to 72.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Gladewater, Kaufman, Portersprings, Texark, and Trinity soils. Gladewater, Kaufman, Texark, and Trinity soils are on slightly lower positions in the floodplain and they are Vertisols. Portersprings soils have an argillic horizon and are slightly higher in the landscape on low terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: It is moderately well drained, moderately permeable, and low runoff. The soil is subject to flooding for brief periods. In most seasons a fluctuating water table is 3.5 to 6 feet below the surface.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for pastureland and cropland. Bermudagrass are adapted and are grown on this soil. In cultivated areas cotton and grain sorghum are grown. Woodland areas are mainly pecan, elms, oaks, and hackberry trees with an understory of shrubs and grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East Central Texas mainly along streams in the post-oak savannah region. In MLRA 133B. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Montgomery County, Texas, 1967.
REMARKS: The type location is moved from Montgomery County, to Houston County, Texas (12/93).
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon--0 to 15 inches
Cambic horizon--15 to 80 inches.
Fluventic feature--0.3 percent or more organic carbon at a depth of 50 inches.