LOCATION KOUNTZE TX
Established Series
JKW-REL-RM
07/2014
KOUNTZE SERIES
The Kountze series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils. These nearly level soils formed in fluviomarine deposits of the Lissie Formation of early to mid-Pleistocene age. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 19.5 degrees C (67 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1295 mm (51 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Oxyaquic Paleudults
TYPICAL PEDON: Kountze very fine sandy loam--forest.(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 15 cm, (0 to 6 in); brown (10YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable; many very fine, fine and common medium and many coarse roots; many fine and medium interstitial pores; 2 percent fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries along roots; few fine worm casts; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 18 cm [4 to 7 in] thick)
E--15 to 43 cm, (6 to 17 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; many very fine, fine, and common medium and coarse roots; common fine tubular pores; 1 percent fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; 2 percent fine ironstone nodules; 3 percent fine and medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron concentrations with clear boundaries on surfaces of peds; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (25 to 56 cm [10 to 22 in] thick)
EB--43 to 64 cm, (17 to 25 in); 70 percent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very fine sandy loam; 30 percent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) (B); weak medium and coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; many very fine, fine, and common medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries on surfaces of peds and in pores; 2 percent fine irregular black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; 2 percent fine rounded ironstone nodules; 2 percent fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries along roots and in pores; 3 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; 2 percent fine and medium distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in the E part; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (21 to 56 cm [8to 22 in] thick)
Bt/E--64 to 109 cm, (25 to 43 in); 70 percent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) loam; 30 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) (E); moderate medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; common very fine and fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) clay films on surfaces of peds and in pores; 1 percent fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; 3 percent fine ironstone nodules; 7 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries; 2 percent fine and medium distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in the E part; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (28 to 91 [11 to 36 in] thick)
Btv/Eg1--109 to 137 cm, (43 to 54 in); 75 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) loam; 25 percent gray (10YR 6/1) (Eg); weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few very fine and fine roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay films on surfaces of peds and in pores; 3 percent by volume red (2.5YR 5/8) plinthite; 1 percent fine rounded black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; 3 percent fine rounded ironstone nodules; 6 percent fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries; 3 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; 10 percent fine prominent light gray (10YR 7/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the Eg part; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Btv/Eg horizons is 35 to 73 cm [14 to 29 in])
Btv/Eg2--137 to 185 cm, (54 to 73 in); 70 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) loam; 30 percent light gray (10YR 7/1) (Eg); weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; few very fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay films on surfaces of peds and in pores; 8 percent red (2.5YR 5/8) plinthite; 4 percent fine ironstone nodules; 15 percent fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron concentrations with clear boundaries; 8 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Btv/Eg3--185 to 203 cm, (73 to 80 in); 60 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) silt loam; 40 percent light gray (10YR 7/1) (Eg); weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse subangular blocky; hard, firm; few very fine roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) clay films on surfaces of peds and in pores; 8 percent red (2.5YR 4/8) plinthite; 2 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 5/8) iron concentrations with sharp boundaries; 12 percent fine prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) iron concentrations with clear boundaries; 10 percent brittle material; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Hardin County, Texas; from the intersection of Farm Road 1003 and Farm Road 943 in Honey Island; 10 miles west on Farm Road 943; 200 ft north in forest. Latitude: 30 degrees, 30 minutes, 47 seconds N; Longitude: 94 degrees, 31 minutes, 53 seconds W; Jacks Creek South topographic quad; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: An udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) below the soil surface and remains dry less than 90 cumulative days in most years.
Mean annual soil temperature: 20.6 to 21.7 degrees C (69 to 71 degrees F)
Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout.
Depth to argillic horizon: 51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 in)
Depth to redox depletions: 30 to 5o cm (12 to 20 in)
Depth to episaturation: 46 to 102 (8 to 40 in) during late winter to early spring for 30 days or more
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 10 to 16 percent
Base saturation: 25 to 35
CEC to clay: 0.40 to 0.55
A Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: very fine sandy loam
E Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam or fine sandy loam
Ironstone nodules: 1 to 3 percent
Iron concentrations: amount-1 to 4 percent; color-shades of brown
EB Horizon (some pedons have an E/Bt)
Part: E
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 3 or 4
Part: Bt
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 4 to 8
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam
Ironstone nodules: 2 to 5 percent
Iron concentrations: amount-1 to 4 percent; color-shades of yellow, brown, or red;
Iron depletions: amount-1 to 3 percent; color-shades of gray;
Bt/E Horizon
Part: Bt
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 4 or 8
Part: E
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam
Ironstone nodules: 1 to 5 percent
Iron concentrations: amount-3 to 10 percent; color-shades of yellow, brown, or red; mostly in the Bt part.
Iron depletions: amount-1 to 5 percent; color-shades of gray
Btv/Eg Horizon
Part: Btv
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 6 or 7
Chroma: 4 or 8
Part: E
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: fine sandy loam, silt loam, loam
Ironstone nodules: 1 to 5 percent
Iron concentrations: color-yellow, brown, or red; amount-15 to 25 percent; boundary-sharp or clear and mostly in the Bt part.
Iron depletions: color-gray; amount-0 to 5 percent; boundary-sharp and mostly in E part.
Plinthite: 5 to 10 percent
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils are the
Belrose (TX),
Dallardsville (TX), and
Kirbyville (TX) series.
Belrose soils: are in a superactive CEC to clay class; have loamy very fine sand surface
Dallardsville soils: are in a semiactive CEC to clay class; have fragic properties in the lower part of the argillic horizon
Kirbyville soils: are in a semiactive CEC to clay class; have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: loamy fluviomarine deposits of the Lissie Formation of Pleistocene age.
Landscape: coastal plains
Landform: interfluves
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Mean annual air temperature range: 19.5 to 20.6 degrees C (67 to 69 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation range: 1219 to 1473 mm (48 to 58 in)
Precipitation Pattern: Rainfall is generally uniform throughout the year with slight peaks in the spring and fall.
Frost-free period: 240 to 300 days
Elevation: 22.9 to 46 m (75 to 150 ft)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 68 to 80
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Dallardsville (TX),
Kirbyville (TX),
Plank (TX),
Sorter (TX), and
Waller (TX) soils.
Dallardsville soils; have fragic properties; on mounds in complex with other soils.
Kirbyville soils: have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; on a similar landform.
Plank soils: are poorly drained; on relict meander belt channels.
Sorter soils: are poorly drained; on relict meander belt channels.
Waller soils are poorly drained; on relict meander belt channels.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Kountze soils are moderately well drained. Runoff is high. Permeability is moderate. A perched water table exists from about 43 to 64 cm (18 to 24 in) below the soil surface during the late winter and spring months in normal years. An apparent water table exists from 137 to 203 cm (54 to 80 in) below the surface during the late winter and spring months in normal years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for woodland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of loblolly and longleaf pines, sassafras, yaupon, sweetgum, wax myrtle, blackgum, dewberry, bluestems and panicums.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Western Gulf Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 152B) LRR T of southeast Texas and possibly Louisiana. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Hardin County, Texas; 1998.
REMARKS: The Kountze soils were formerly included with the Dallardsville series.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon-0 to 64 cm (0 to 25 in (A, E and EB horizon).
Glossic horizon-43 to 203 cm (17 to 80 in) (E/Bt, Bt/E, Btv/Eg horizons The glossic horizon is series criteria but not diagnostic for classification.).
Argillic horizon--64 to 203 cm (25 to 80 in)(Bt/E, Bt/Eg and Btv/Eg horizons).
Plinthite-137 to 203 cm (54 to 80 in) (Btv/Eg horizons)
These soils remain saturated from 43 to 64 cm (18 to 24 in) below the soil surface for 30 cumulative days in most years.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Data available from Texas A&M University Soil Characterization Lab on sample (S96TX-199-002) from type location in Hardin County, TX.
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.