LOCATION LIVEOAK CA

Established Series
Rev. DJL/WBS/TDC/SBS/DWB
01/2023

LIVEOAK SERIES

The Liveoak series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in loamy alluvium from mixed sources. These soils are on low alluvial terraces and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual precipitation is l8 inches, (432 mm) and the mean annual temperature is 62 degrees F, 17 degrees C).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Liveoak sandy clay loam - on a nearly level slope of less than 1 percent in an irrigated peach orchard at 76 feet, (23 m) elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on April 17, l981, the soil was dry to 5 inches, (13 cm) and moist below.)

Ap1--0 to 5 inches, (0 to 13 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 12 inches, (10 to 30 cm) thick)

Ap2--5 to 13 inches, (13 to 33 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches, (15 to 30 cm) thick)

Bt1--13 to 27 inches, (33 to 69 cm); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; many thin clay films on peds and in pores; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches, (25 to 51 cm) thick)

Bt2--27 to 43 inches, (69 to 109 cm); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; common thin clay films in pores; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches, (25 to 51 cm) thick)

BC--43 to 53 inches, (109 to 135 cm); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 15 inches, (13 to 38 cm) thick)

C--53 to 62 inches, (135 to 157 cm); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5).

TYPE LOCATION: Sutter County, California, approximately 0.5 mile east of Liveoak on Archer Avenue, then 0.25 mile south on Sheldon Avenue, then 500 feet southwesterly along Sunset Lateral Canal and 300 feet into Peach Orchard; 1,500 feet south and 500 feet west of the intersection of Sheldon and Archer Avenue, Boga Land Grant unsectionalized, T.16 N., R.3 E. 39 degrees 16 minutes, 3 seconds north latitude and 121 degrees , 38 minutes, 47 seconds west longitude, NAD27. U.S.G.S. quad: Gridley, California.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 60 degrees to 65 degrees F, (16 to 18 degrees C). The soil temperature is above 47 degrees F, (8 degrees C) the entire year. The soil between depths of 7 and 20 inches, (18 to 51 cm) is dry in all parts from June through October unless irrigated and is moist in some or all parts from November through May. The difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature ranges from 30 to 33 degrees F, (-1 to 0.6 degrees C).

The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 5/4, 5/3, or 5/2, 4/4, 4/3, 4/2, 3/4 and moist colors of 10YR 3/3, 3/2 or 7.5YR 3/2. Texture is sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from 14 to 25 percent. Rock fragments mostly gravel range from 0 to 5 percent. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.

The Bt, Bw, or BC horizon has dry color of 10YR 6/3, 6/4, 5/4, 5/3, 4/4, 4/3, 3/4; 7.5YR 5/4, 6/4 or 5/3 and moist colors of 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 4/3, 3/4, 4/4; 7.5YR 3/4 or 4/4. Texture is sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Clay content ranges from l8 to 25 percent with a l to 3 percent (absolute) increase over the A horizon. Rock fragments mostly gravel, range from 0 to 10 percent. Reaction ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.

The C horizon has dry color of 10YR 5/4, 6/4, 7/4 or 7.5YR 6/4, 5/4 and moist color of 10YR 4/4, 3/4, 4/3, 3/3, 4/2; 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4. Texture is loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, sand, coarse sandy loam, or sandy loam and may be stratified. Clay content ranges from 5 to 19 percent. Rock fragments mostly fine gravel ranges from 0 to 35 percent. Reaction ranges from slightly alkaline to neutral.

Some pedons have silt loam overwash.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Saurin and Tisdale series. The Saurin and Tisdale soils have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Liveoak soils are on low alluvial terraces and in old distributary channels on low terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in loamy alluvium from mixed sources. Elevations are 15 to 110 feet, (6 to 29 m). The climate is subhumid with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 17 to 22 inches, (432 to 533 mm). Mean January temperature is 45 degrees F, (7 degrees C); mean July temperature is 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), and mean annual temperature varies from 60 degrees to 64 degrees F, (16 to 18 degrees C). Frost-free season is 240 to 280 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the competing Tisdale soil and the Loemstone and Gridley soils. Loemstone soils are on low terraces and have a densic contact at 40 to 60 inches, (102 to 152 cm). Gridley soils are on low terraces and have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; negligible to low runoff; moderate permeability. A fluctuating apparent water table occurs as high as 11 inches, (28 cm) for brief periods during intense storms and ranges from 11 to 65 inches, (28 to 165 cm) from December through April. Depth to water table fluctuates in response to rainfall intensity and duration. Hazard of flooding is none to occasional for very brief periods from December through April.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated orchards to grow fruit and nut crops, and row crops.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern and Southeastern part of the Sacramento Valley. Soils are not extensive. MLRA 17

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sutter County, California 1983.

REMARKS: Last revised by the state on 6/86.
3/2/2004 Concept revised to moderately well drained and has a fluctuating water table. Ranges expanded for use in Butte County. Added metric equivalents. Competing section checked. 10/2006 changed runoff terminology.

ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL pedon S81CA-101-016 (type location)

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.