LOCATION LEVAC                   TX

Established Series
GWC-CLN-RM
07/2014

LEVAC SERIES

The Levac series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils. These nearly level soils formed in loamy fluviomarine deposits of the Beaumont Formation. These soils have been leveled for rice irrigation. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 20.6 degrees C (69 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1397 mm (55 in).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Oxyaquic Vertic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Levac sandy clay loam in an area of Labelle-Levac complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap1--0 to 17 cm, (0 to 7 in); 50 percent dark gray (10YR 4/1) and 45 percent very dark gray(10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam; massive; friable; many very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; common cracks 2.5 cm to 5 cm in width; 1 percent fine distinct dark yellowish brown(10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; 1 percent fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; few masses 5 to 20 mm in size of argillic horizon mixed in throughout; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Ap horizons is 10 to 32 cm [4 to 13 in])

Ap2--17 to 30 cm, (7 to 12 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parts to moderate medium subangular blocky; friable; many very fine roots; common fine interstitial and tubular and many very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common cracks 2.5 cm to 5 cm in width; 15 percent distinct black (10YR 2/1) organic films on all faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 1 percent fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

A--30 to 48 cm, (12 to 19 in); gray (10YR 5/1) sandy clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parts to moderate medium angular blocky; firm; common very fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; common cracks 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm in width; 10 percent distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic stains on all faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions with sharp boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 1 percent fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix; 1 percent fine prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; 2 percent fine distinct light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; slightly alkaline ; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 40 cm [4 to 16 in] thick)

Bt--48 to 72 cm, (19 to 28 in); gray (2.5Y 6/1) clay loam; moderate medium and coarse prismatic structure parts to moderate medium angular blocky; very firm; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common cracks 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm in width; 8 percent faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent distinct pressure faces; 1 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; 2 percent fine faint light gray (2.5Y 7/1) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 5 percent medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 1 percent fine spherical carbonate nodules; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 65 cm [3 to 26 in] thick)

Btkss1--72 to 112 cm, (28 to 44 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/2) clay; moderate coarse wedge structure parts to moderate coarse angular blocky; very firm; common very fine roots; few cracks 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm in width common very fine tubular pores; 2 percent faint light gray (2.5Y 7/2) clay films on all faces of peds; 25 percent distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/1) slickensides (pedogenic); 1 percent fine faint light greenish gray (5G 7/1) iron depletions with clear boundaries lining pores; 5 percent medium and coarse distinct olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 20 percent medium and coarse distinct yellow (2.5Y 7/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 1 percent fine spherical white (2.5Y 8/1) carbonate nodules; 2 percent medium and coarse spherical white (2.5Y 8/1) carbonate nodules; carbonate nodules are coated with iron concentrations and are pitted; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Btkss horizons is 88 to 134 cm [35 to 53 in])

Btkss2--112 to 154 cm, (44 to 61 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/2) clay; moderate coarse wedge structure parts to moderate coarse angular blocky; very firm; common very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 20 percent distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/1) slickensides (pedogenic); 1 percent fine faint light greenish gray (5G 8/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries lining pores; 1 percent fine faint greenish gray (5G 6/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries lining pores; 10 percent medium prominent yellow (10YR 7/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 15 percent medium and coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 3 percent coarse spherical weakly cemented very pale brown (10YR 8/2) carbonate nodules in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 5 percent coarse spherical very weakly cemented white (10YR 8/1) carbonate masses in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; carbonate nodules are hard pitted and partially disintegrated on the outer edge; 5 percent by volume crawfish krotovinas that are filled with dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.

Btkss3--154 to 177 cm, (61 to 70 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/1) clay; moderate coarse wedge structure parts to moderate very coarse angular blocky; very firm; common very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 15 percent prominent light gray (2.5Y 7/1) slickensides (pedogenic); 1 percent fine faint greenish gray (5G 6/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries lining pores; 10 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 30 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 8 percent coarse spherical very pale brown (10YR 8/2) carbonate nodules and 3 percent coarse spherical pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) carbonate masses; carbonate nodules are hard-pitted with redox concentrations coating the outside edge; 5 percent by volume crawfish krotovinas filled with dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam ; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Btkssg--177 to 203 cm, (70 to 80 in); light gray (5Y 7/1) clay loam; weak very coarse wedge structure parts to moderate very coarse angular blocky; firm; common very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 5 percent distinct light gray (5Y 7/1) slickensides (pedogenic); 1 percent fine faint light greenish gray (5GY 7/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries lining pores; 2 percent medium prominent black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese masses with sharp boundaries in matrix; 5 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 25 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 2 percent medium and coarse spherical white (10YR 8/1) carbonate nodules; 3 percent by volume crawfish krotovinas filled with dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam; carbonate nodules are hard-pitted with redox concentrations coating the outside edge; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (15 to 79 cm [6 to 31 in] thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Chambers County, TX; from the intersection of Farm to Market Road 562 and 1985; 2.0 miles east on Farm to Market Road 1985 to ranch road; 0.4 mile northeast, then 2.2 miles northwest on ranch road; 300 feet east in abandoned crop land. (Oyster Bayou Northwest USGS topographic quadrangle; Latitude: 29 degrees, 41 minutes, 58.6 seconds N; Longitude: 94 degrees, 35 minutes, 31.3 seconds W. WGS84)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: A udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is moist in some or all parts for more than 275 days in normal years. The summer months are the driest, while fall through spring months are the wettest months.
Mean annual soil temperature: 21.7 to 22.2 degrees C (71 to 72 degrees F)
Depth to argillic horizon: 20 to 72 cm (8 to 28 in)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 20 to 72 cm (8 to 28 in)

Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 38 to 43 percent

Ap Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 or 4
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 9 to 26 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-1 to 5 percent, location-lining pores, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-gray
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 4 (values more than 2 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 12 (values more than 8 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

A and Ap Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 or 4
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Clay content: 8 to 30 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-2 to 8 percent, location-lining pores, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 4 percent, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-gray
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 4 (values more than 2 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 25 (values more than 8 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

Bt ( Btk where present) Horizon
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay loam, silty clay or clay
Clay content: 33 to 45 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 15 percent, location-in matrix and lining pores, shades-brown, red, or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 8 percent, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-gray
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, kind-nodules
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-0 to 5 percent, kind-nodules
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 4 (values more than 2 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 25 (values more than 8 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Effervescence: none to slight
Reaction: moderately acid to moderately alkaline

Btkss Horizon
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: clay loam, silty clay or clay
Clay content: 35 to 56 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 40 percent, location-lining pores, in matrix and on faces of slickensides, shades-brown, red, or yellow (red redox concentrations are less than 20 percent)
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 8 percent, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-gray, green or blue
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, kind-nodules
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-2 to 55 percent, kind-nodules or masses
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 6 (values more than 2 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 25 (values more than 8 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Effervescence: none to slight
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

Btkssg (Btkg where present) Horizon
Hue: 2.5Y to N
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay or clay
Clay content: 30 to 52 percent
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 40 percent, location-lining pores, in matrix and on faces of slickensides, shades-brown, red, or yellow (red redox concentrations are less than 20 percent)
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 8 percent, location-adjacent to redox concentrations, shades-gray, green or blue
Iron-manganese concentrations: amount-0 to 2 percent, kind-nodules
Identifiable secondary carbonate: amount-2 to 55 percent, kind-nodules or masses
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 to 8 (values more than 2 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio: 0 to 25 (values more than 8 are associated with areas affected by storm surge)
Effervescence: none to slight
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: This includes the Yeaton and Telferner series. Similar soils include Algoa), Bernard, Labelle, Mocarey, Morey, Viterbo and soils.
Telferner soils: have thicker A and E horizons; occur in areas of less rainfall
Yeaton soils: are moderately well drained
Algoa and Mocarey soils: have a fine-loamy particle-size control section.
Bernard, Morey, and Labelle soils: have a mollic epipedon.
Viterbo soils: are acid throughout; have aquic condtions.
Yeaton soils: are moderately well drained; do not have vertic properties

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: loamy fluviomarine sediments derived from the Beaumont Formation of Pleistocene age
Landscape: flat coastal plains
Landform: flats
Anthropogenic feature: leveled pimple mound
Slope: 0 to 1 percent
Mean annual air temperature range: 20.0 to 22.2 degrees C (68 to 72 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation range: 1219 to 1575 mm (48 to 62 in)
Precipitation Pattern: Rainfall is fairly uniform throughout the year with slight peaks in the fall and spring months.
Frost-free period: 270 to 300 days
Elevation: 3 to 30.5 m (10 to 100 ft)

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Aris, Anahuac, Labelle, Orcadia, Meaton, Morey, and the Spindletop series.
Aris soils: are gray throughout due to wetness; on flats
Anahuac and Orcadia soils: are on a broader landform
Labelle, Meaton and Morey soils: somewhat poorly drained; on flats
Spindletop soils: moderately well drained; pimple mounds

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: somewhat poorly drained. The runoff is high unless the argillic horizon starts below a depth of 50 cm; in which case, the runoff is medium. Rarey flooded for very brief to brief periods. Flooding occurs as a result of storm surge during tropical storms which occurs in areas less than 4.6 m (15 ft) elevation. These soils have episaturation from 20 to 75 cm (8 to 30 in) below the soil surface from January to March and endosaturation from 150 to 203 cm (60 to 80 in) below the surface during the same period. Episaturation is less than 2 weeks in continuous duration.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for rice production or pasture. Pasture is mainly bahiagrass. Native grasses include species of sedges, andropogon, paspalum and panicum.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The gulf coast of southeastern Texas east of the Trinity River and possibly southwestern Louisiana; Land Resource Region T; MLRA 150A; the series is of moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Texas; 1996

REMARKS: Levac soils are developing in areas that were originally Spindletop soils. The Spindletop soils are on pimple mounds. These mounds were leveled and an Ap horizon formed during leveling operations. The type location was moved during the update of MLRA 150A to a location with laboratory data.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle size control section: 48 to 98 cm (19 to 39 in. (Btk and Btkss1 horizons)

Ochric epipedon: 0 to 48 cm (0 to 19in). (Ap1, Ap2, and A horizons)
Argillic horizon: 48 to 203 cm (19 to 80in). (Bt, Btkss1, Btkss2, Btkss3, Btkssg horizons)
Vertic features: The presence of cracks from 0 to 72 cm (0 to 28 in) and slickensides from 72 to 203 cm (28 to 80 in). (Btkss1, Btkss2, Btkss3, Btkssg horizons)

Additional Comments: The type location was described when soil conditions were slightly moist and dry consistence could not be observed. When dry, the consistence for these soils are very hard in the surface layer.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Data exists from pedon S10TX0714802 at the type location

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

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.