LOCATION LAMESA                  TX

Established Series
Rev. TCB-RM
08/2013

LAMESA SERIES

The Lamesa series consists of very deep, poorly drained, slowly permeable soils that formed in recent sandy eolian deposits over loamy lacustrine deposits of Holocene and Pleistocene age. These nearly level soils are on the floor of playa basins that are 1.5 to 9 meters (5 to 30 feet) below the surrounding plain and range in size from 5 acres to more than 25 acres. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 483 millimeters (19 inches, and mean annual air temperature is about 16 degrees C (61 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aeric Endoaqualfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Lamesa sandy clay, on concave 0.2 percent slope in playa basin at an elevation of about 975 meters (3,200 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A1--0 to 10 cm (0 to 4 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/2) sandy clay, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak fine and medium granular structure; the surface has a layer about 5 cm (2 inches) thick of partially decomposed fibric organic matter; slightly hard, very friable; many very fine to coarse roots; many very fine and fine pores; few fine and medium black (10YR 2/1) weakly cemented iron-manganese concretions and common distinct very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) iron-manganese accumulations on faces of peds; common distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in pore linings; common fine distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; very slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.

A2--10 to 28 cm (4 to 11 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; many fine and medium roots; many fine and medium pores; few distinct very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) iron-manganese accumulations on faces of peds; few distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in pore linings; common fine and medium dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; very slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (combined A horizons are 25 to 51 cm [10 to 20 inches] thick)

Bw1--28 to 51 cm (11 to 20 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine pores; few distinct very dark gray (7.5YR 3/1) iron-manganese accumulations on faces of peds; common distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) iron accumulation lining pores; common fine and medium dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; very slightly effervescent on faces of peds; slightly saline; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.

Bw2--51 to 79 cm (20 to 31 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common very fine and fine roots; many fine and medium pores; common fine and medium strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation lining pores; few medium grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; moderately saline; slightly effervescent; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (combined Bwz horizons are 51 to 114 cm [20 to 45 inches] thick)

Ab--79 to 122 cm (31 to 48 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/2) very fine sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine pores; few distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sand lenses on vertical ped surfaces; few distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation lining pores; common fine and medium dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; slightly saline; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.

Bwb--122 to 147 cm (48 to 58 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; few fine dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (13 to 38 cm [5 to 15 inches] thick)

Btgb1--147 to 173 cm (58 to 68 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) sandy clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; strong coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; common faint clay films and few faint sand lenses on vertical faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (13 to 38 cm [5 to 15 inches]thick)

Btgb2--173 to 203 cm (68 to 80 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; common distinct clay films and common distinct sand lenses on vertical faces of peds; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Lynn County, Texas; from the intersection of U.S. Highway 380 and
Farm Road 179 approximately 14.5 miles west of Tahoka; 1 mile west on U.S. Highway 380 to county road; 0.5 mile south on county road; 0.25 mile west down turn row into playa basin; Latitude: 33 degrees, 09 minutes, 35.7 seconds N; Longitude: 102 degrees, 04 minutes, 12.9 seconds W; Mound Lake, Texas USGS quad; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: An aquic moisture regime. These soils receive runoff from
surrounding uplands and are moist for longer periods than normal for the
climate. July through August and November through March are the driest months.
Mean annual soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C (59 to 64 degrees F).
Depth to redox concentrations: 0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches).
Depth to redox depletions: 0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches).
Depth to endosaturation: 30 to 76 cm (12 to 30 inches) but ranges to more than 76 cm (30 inches) in some years.
Depth to argillic horizon: 100 to 150 cm (40 to 60 inches).
Particle-size control section: 18 to 35 percent silicate clay.
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 inches).

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 4
Texture: sandy clay, fine sandy loam, and sandy clay loam
Redox accumulations: common or many masses of iron-manganese and oxidized
rhizospheres
Redox depletions: few or common iron depletions on faces of peds and in root
pores
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline
Note: Some pedons have a surface layer of partially decomposed organic material
that ranges from 2.5 to 8 cm (1 to 3 inches) thick.

Bw horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 5
Texture: fine sandy loam and sandy clay loam
Redox accumulations: common or many masses of iron-manganese and oxidized rhizospheres
Redox depletions: few or common iron depletions on faces of peds and in root pores
EC (dS/m): 4 to 16
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Ab horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 5 dry, 3 to 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam and very fine sandy loam
Redox accumulations: few or common masses of iron-manganese and oxidized rhizospheres
Redox depletions: few or common iron depletions on faces of peds and in root pores
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Bwb horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam and sandy clay loam
Redox depletions: few or common iron depletions on ped surfaces and in root pores
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Btgb horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or less
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, and clay
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Btkb horizons: (where present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or less
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, and clay
Calcium carbonate equivalent: less than 15 percent
Visible calcium carbonate: 3 to 10 percent in the form of films, threads, and nodules
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils include the
Cedarlake, Hindman, Lenorah, Ranco, and Seagraves series.
Cedarlake and Lenorah soils: have a calcic horizon.
Hindman soils: have less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section and a water table below 150 cm (60 inches).
Ranco soils: have 40 to 50 percent silicate clay in the particle-size control section.
Seagraves soils: have an ustic moisture regime bordering on udic and a water table below 203 cm (80 inches).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: recent sandy eolian deposits over loamy lacustrine deposits of Holocene and Pleistocene age.
Landform: nearly level floor of playa basins
Slopes: range from 0 to 1 percent.
Mean annual air temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C (57 to 63 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 432 to 533 millimeters (17 to 21 inches).
Frost-free period: 185 to 220 days.
Elevation: 823 to 1,250 meters (2,700 to 4,100 feet).
Thornthwaite annual P-E Index Values: 25 to 36.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the similar Hindman, Lenorah, and Seagraves series and the Amarillo, Brownfield, Drake, Gomez, Midessa, Patricia, Posey, and Tokio series.
Amarillo, Brownfield, Drake, Gomez, Midessa, Patricia, and Posey soils are on higher landscape positions and do not have endosaturation or a water table.
Hindman soils are on higher landscape positions and Lenorah soils are on slightly higher landscape positions.
Seagraves soils are on similar landscape positions.
Tokio soils are on slightly higher landscape positions and do not have endosaturation or a water table.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained and slow permeability. Surface runoff is negligible on less than 1 percent slopes. Internal drainage is slow. Apparent
water table at depths of 30 to 76 cm (12 to 30 inches) in the spring and fall months in normal years but ranges to more than 152 cm (60 inches) during some years. These soils are frequently ponded for long periods.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for wildlife habitat. Vegetation varies according to the amount of water available and includes smartweed, sedges, spike rush, bur ragweed, and saltmarsh aster. In areas of standing water, southern cattail, soft-stem bulrush, and longbarb arrowhead may be present. Around the margins, where ponding occurs for shorter periods, the woody vegetation includes saltcedar, Tamarix and Baccharis being the two most prevalent species, and western willow. This soil has been correlated to the Playa (R077CY027TX) ecological site in MLRA-77C.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains of western Texas and eastern New Mexico (sub-MLRA-77C). The series is of minor extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: MLRA-77 Soil Survey; Lynn County, Texas; 1995.

REMARKS: These soils were formerly included in the Randall series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon: 0 to 28 cm (0 to 11 inches). (A1, A2 horizons)
Aeric features: chroma of 3 or more, 10 to 79 cm (4 to 31 inches). (A2, Bw1, Bw2 horizons)
Cambic horizon: 28 to 79 cm (11 to 31 inches) and 122 to 147 cm (48 to 58 inches). (Bw1, Bw2, Bwb horizons).
Argillic horizon: 147 to 203 cm (58 to 80 inches). (Btgb1 and Btgb2).
Aquic conditions: periodic saturation, reduction, and redoximorphic features within 50 cm (20 inches) of the soil surface during most years.

ADDITIONAL DATA: 95TX-305-001, Lynn County, Texas. Soil Characterization Laboratory, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, Texas.

Soil interpretations record: TX1326

Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.