LOCATION LAVAL CA

Tentative Series
Rev. IRD/CLZ/KJO/MRS/KDA/KP
12/2022

LAVAL SERIES

The Laval series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from granitic and/or sedimentary rock. The Laval soils are on alluvial fans and/or flood plains. Slope is 1 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 178 to 254 mm (7 to 10 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C (64 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, thermic Xeric Torrifluvents

TYPICAL PEDON: Laval sandy loam, in a grazed field with a northeast aspect and 5 percent slope, at an elevation of 457 meters (1,150 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on September 24, 1991, the soil was dry throughout.)

A--0 to 10 cm (0 to 4 in); brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; 12 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 5 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 15 cm [2 to 6 in] thick)

C1--10 to 33 cm (4 to 13 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; 12 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 70 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 30 cm [5 to 12 in] thick)

C2--33 to 51 cm (13 to 20 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/4) very gravelly sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; 5 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 50 percent gravel; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 23 cm [5 to 9 in] thick)

C3--51 to 58 cm (20 to 23 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; 5 percent clay; weak thick platy structure resulting from geologic stratification; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and few fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 10 percent gravel; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 15 cm [2 to 6 in] thick)

C4--58 to 81 cm (23 to 32 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) extremely gravelly sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; 5 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 70 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (15 to 30 cm [6 to 12 in] thick)

C5--81 to 122 cm (32 to 48 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; 5 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; no roots; many very fine, common fine and few medium interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 70 percent gravel; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary. (25 to 51 cm [10 to 20 in] thick)

C6--122 to 152 cm (48 to 60 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 5 percent clay; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; no roots; many very fine, common fine and few medium interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 60 percent gravel; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California, Southwest Part; in map unit 561, Laval-Pleitito complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes; about 47 kilometers (29 miles) southwest of downtown Bakersfield; about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) west of the intersection of Interstate Highway 5 and Laval Road; 317 meters (1,040 feet) north and 753 meters (2,470 feet)east of the southeast corner of section 36, T. 11 N., R. 20 W.; San Bernardino Base and Meridian; latitude 34 degrees, 59 minutes, 13 seconds north and longitude 118 degrees, 57 minutes, 44 seconds west; USGS Grapevine, California, Quadrangle, NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: Average annual is 17 to 19 degrees C (62 to 67 degrees F) and the soil temperature is never below 8 degrees C (47 degrees F). The soils have a thermic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have an aridic soil moisture regime that borders on xeric. The soil moisture control section is dry throughout from mid April to mid December and is never moist more than 90 consecutive days.

Diagnostic feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 5 to 18 cm

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent, with 35 to 80 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles.
Clay content: 4 to 10 percent

Surface fragments: 5 to 20 percent granitoid and/or sedimentary gravel.

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam
Content of clay: 10 to 18 percent
Content of organic matter: 1.5 to 2.5 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel

C horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: coarse sand, sand, loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, coarse sandy loam, or sandy loam
Content of clay: 4 to 10 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.05 to 2.0 percent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
Content of rock fragments: 10 to 80 percent
10 to 80 percent gravel
0 to 10 percent cobbles and/or stones in some pedons

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series at this time.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Laval soils are on stream terraces. Slope is 1 to 15 percent. Laval soils formed in alluvium derived from granitoid and/or sedimentary rock. Elevations are 142 to 887 meters (465 to 2,910 feet). The climate is arid with hot dry summers and cool, somewhat moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 178 to 254 mm (7 to 10 inches). The mean annual temperature is 16 to 18 degrees C (61 to 65 degrees F). Mean July temperature is about 29.4 degrees C (85 degrees F), and mean January temperature is about 8 degrees C (47 degrees F) The frost-free season is 250 to 300 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cerini, Excelsior, Guijarral, Pleitito, and Tupman soils. Cerini soils on alluvial fans have a fine-loamy particle-size class. Excelsior soils on alluvial fans and bars and channels on flood plains have a coarse-loamy particle-size class and a calcareous mineralogy class. Guijarral soils on fan remnants have a coarse-loamy particle-size class. Pleitito soils on alluvial fans and flood plains have a coarse-loamy particle-size class and a calcareous mineralogy class. Tupman soils on fan remnants and stream terraces have a coarse-loamy particle-size class.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; slow runoff; high saturated hydraulic conductivity. These soils are subject to frequent flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: Laval soils are used for livestock grazing and for irrigated field and row crops, orchards, and vineyards. Native vegetation is red brome, redstem filaree, locoweed, mustard, and coyote bush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Along the rim of the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California, MLRA 17. The series is not extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Kern County, California, 1991. Laval is the name of a local road.

REMARKS:
Particle size control section for this pedon: 25 to 100 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:
Ochric epipedon 0 to 10 cm

Fluvent Suborder - Determined to have an irregular decrease in organic carbon based on modified Walkley-Black method.

Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.