LOCATION LEBEC CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Calcic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Lebec loam - native range. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A11--0 to 12 inches; Brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; strong medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine interstitial, few very fine tubular pores; violently effervescent, disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
A12--12 to 21 inches; Dark brown (10YR 4/3) heavy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial, few very fine tubular pores; many fine irregularly shaped segregated lime areas that occur in filaments and threads; violently effervescent, disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
C1--21 to 39 inches; Dark brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly heavy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial, few very fine tubular pores; about 15 to 35 percent by volume soft strongly weathered limestone fragments; strongly effervescent, disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)
R--39 to 43 inches; Hard limestone rock.
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; 0.1 mile northwest and 200 yards due north from large cottonwood tree west of Cottonwood Canyon, Tejon Ranch (not sectionized).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to rock is 30 to 40 inches and averages about 36. Small weathered limestone fragments are scattered through the soil but the average volume below a depth of 10 inches does not exceed 35 percent. The soils are calcareous and moderately alkaline throughout. The mean soil temperature is about 57 degrees F. and the soil temperature does not go below 41 degrees F. in winter. The soils are continuously dry above a depth of 20 inches in most years for about 6 1/2 months each year. The A horizon is brown, dark brown or grayish brown in hue of 10YR or 7.5YR with dry value of 4 or 5, moist value of 3 and chroma of 3 or 2. It is loam or heavy loam and the control section has about 18 to 25 percent clay. This horizon has granular or subangular blocky of moderate or strong grade. It contains 2 to 3 percent organic matter in the upper 10 inches which decreases to less than 1 percent by a depth of 20 inches. The lower A or C horizons or both have lime segregations as filaments, masses, and threads on many surfaces. The C horizon is similar in color to the A horizon or is one value lighter and includes areas of strong brown (7.5YR 5/6, 5/8).
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Anaverde, Calera, Linne, Nacimiento, Permanente, San Benito, and Tiger Creek series. Anaverde soils are slightly acid. Calera soils are very dark grayish brown and the summer and winter soil temperatures differ by less than 9 degrees F. Linne, Nacimiento, and San Benito soils have a mean soil temperature above 59 degrees F. Permanente soils are less than 20 inches deep and have more than 35 percent coarse fragments. Tiger Creek soils have hue of 5YR or 2.5YR.
SETTING: Lebec soils are on moderately steep to steep mountainous at elevations of 3,700 to 5,500 feet. The underlying rock is hard limestone and marble. The climate is one of hot dry summers. Winters are moderately cold and moist with frequent snow storms of short duration. Average annual precipitation is 16 inches. The mean annual temperature is 55 degrees F., the average January temperature is 40 degrees F., the average July temperature is 74 degrees F.; the frost-free season is about 210 days.
PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATED SOIL: These are the competing Anaverde soils and the Daulton, Gorman, Oak Glen, and Sheridan soils. Daulton soils are less than 20 inches deep to rock. Gorman soils have Bt horizons. Oak Glen soils are very deep alluvial soils on gentle slopes. Sheridan soils have less than 18 percent clay.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; medium to rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION; They are used mainly for range. Limestone quarries are present. Principal native plants are annual weeds and grasses with some perennial grasses and scattered California Juniper.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern California, Kern County, Tehachapi Mountains. They are of minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kern County California, 1971.
REMARKS: The Lebec soils would have been classified as Brunizems.
OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 6/72.