LOCATION LOVELADY TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Arenic Glossudalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Lovelady loamy fine sand--pastureland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated)
A1--0 to 4 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; many very fine and fine roots; few round smooth quartzite pebbles; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
A2--4 to 11 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loamy sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; few round smooth quartzite pebbles; moderately acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined A horizons are 3 to 14 inches thick.)
E--11 to 26 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loamy fine sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; about 3 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) coatings along some root channels; few round smooth quartzite pebbles; about 3 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron stains along some root channels; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick.)
Bt/E1--26 to 42 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; faint clay films on surface of peds; about 7 percent very pale brown (10YR 7/3) albic material (E) on surfaces of prisms and in streaks and spots of matrix; few round smooth quartzite pebbles; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; moderately acid; clear irregular boundary.
Bt/E2--42 to 50 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) fine sandy loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; few very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; faint clay films on surfaces of peds; about 18 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) albic material (E) on surfaces of prisms and in streaks and spots of matrix; few round smooth quartzite pebbles and few smooth petrified wood fragments mainly less than 3 inches across that are concentrated at the contact of the 2Bt horizon; few brittle masses mainly less than 3 inches in diameter; common medium faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined Bt/E horizons are 10 to 35 inches thick.)
2Bt/E--50 to 62 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm; few very fine and fine roots; few fine pores; faint clay films on surfaces of peds; about 5 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) albic material (E) mainly on surfaces of prisms; many medium prominent dark red (2.5YR 3/6) and common medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of iron accumulation; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick.)
2Bt1--62 to 70 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy clay loam; weak medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few very fine roots; few very fine pores; few faint clay films on surfaces of some peds; few mica flakes; common fine and medium prominent dark red (10R 3/6) and common medium distinct light brown (7.5YR 6/4) masses of iron accumulation; extremely acid; clear smooth boundary.
2Bt2--70 to 76 inches; light gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few very fine roots; few very fine pores; few faint clay films on surfaces of some peds; few mica flakes; common medium and coarse prominent red (2.5YR 4/8 and 2.5YR 5/6) and common medium prominent dark red (10R 3/6) masses of iron accumulation; common medium distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; extremely acid; gradual smooth boundary. (2Bt horizons are 10 to 30 inches thick.)
2CB--76 to 80 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sandy clay loam; angular rock-like structure; very hard, firm; few very fine roots; common medium faint pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3), and few medium prominent dark red (10R 3/6) masses of iron accumulation; extremely acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Houston County, Texas; on the east side of Crockett, from the intersection of Loop 304 and Texas Highway 7; 7.5 miles east on Texas Highway 7 to Berea Community; 1.4 miles north on county road; 1/1 miles east on county road; 1400 feet south in pasture. (Latitude: 31N, 21, 05; Longitude: 95W, 17, 50)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 60 to 80 inches. The weighted average clay content of the control section ranges from 20 to 35 percent. The combined thickenss of the A and E horizons ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Rounded quartzite pebbles and smooth fragments of petrified wood, typically less than 3 inches across the long axis, range from few to about 5 percent in the A, E, and Bt/E horizons of most pedons. These fragments also form a discontinuous stone line at the contact of the 2Bt horizon. Depth to the lithologic discontinuity ranges from about 40 to 60 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is loamy sand or loamy fine sand. Clay content ranges from 2 to 8 percent and silt content ranges from 7 to 21 percent. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid unless limed.
The E horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 or 4. Iron accumulations in shades of brown, red or yellow range from none to common. Texture is loamy sand or loamy fine sand. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The Bt/E horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4 to 8. Iron accumulations in shades of red, brown, or yellow range from few to many. Some pedons have iron depletions with chroma of 2 or less in the lower part. Texture is fine sandy loam or sandy clay loam. The E part consists of a albic materials and makes up 5 to 30 percent of the horizon, however some subhorizon 4 inches or more thick is presentg that contains 15 or more percent albic material. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The 2Bt or 2Bt/E horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. Iron accumulations in shades of red, brown, or yellow range from few to many. Some pedons have a variegated matrix of these colors. The upper part of this horizon typically has about 2 to 10 percent albic materials. Texture is fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or sandy clay. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid.
The 2CB or 2C horizon, where present has matrix colors in shades of gray or brown. Iron accumulations or strata in shades of brown, yellow or red range from few to many. It is mainly sandstone may also be stratified layers of mudstone and shale. Texture is fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy clay. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family. The Kurth, Larton, Larue, Penning, and Wolfpen series are in closely related families. Kurth and Penning soils do not have a sandy epipedon more than 20 inches thick. Larton, Larue and Wolfpen soils do not have a glossic horizon, and have siliceous mineralogy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Lovelady soils are on very gently sloping to moderately sloping uplands. They formed in sandy and loamy sediments of early Pleistocene age mainly over the Yegua Formation of Tertiary Age, but also over the Whitsett Formation in some areas. Slopes range from 1 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 40 to 46 inches. Mean annual temperature is 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The frost free days range from 230 to 240. Elevation ranges from 300 to 420 feet above sea level. The Thornthwaite P-E index ranges from 70 to 76.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the closely related Kurth and Penning soils, and Fuller and Keltys soils. Fuller and Pennings soils are on lower and wetter positions on the landscape. They have aquic conditions and matrix chroma of 2 or less in the upper part of the argillic horizon. Keltys and Kurth soils are on similar positions as Lovelady soils. Keltys soils have a coarse-loamy control section. Kurth soils do not have a sandy epipedon more than 20 inches thick.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Lovelady soils are well drained. Permeability is moderate. Runoff is very low on slopes of 1 to 5 percent; and low on slopes of 5 to 8 percent. The soil has a saturated layer that is present for very brief to brief periods below a depth of 2 to about 4 feet and above the discontinuity in the winter and springs seasons for a cumulative duration of two to four weeks during normal years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are used for woodland or pasture. Native vegetation is mainly loblolly and short leaf pine with hardwood species that include red oak, sweetgum, elm, hickory, and blackjack oak. Understory vegetation consists mainly of American beautyberry, hawthorn, yaupon, persimmon, greenbriar, and sassafras, with lesser amounts of bluestems, yellow Indiangrass, purpletop triden, longleaf uniola, purple lovegrass, and tick clover. Indicator plants or plants that are adapted to sandy soils include yucca and bullnettle. Well managed pastures are commonly producing improved bermudagrass, pensacola bahiagrass, or weeping lovegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern Coastal Plain (MLRA 133B) in East Texas. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Houston County, Texas; 1992
REMARKS: Lovelady soils were formerly included with the Kurth series as a loamy fine sand phase. The name Lovelady is from a nearby community in Houston County. The surface texture of this soil according to laboratory data is borderline between loamy fine sand and fine sandy loam. However, the field texture method and some native indicator plants indicate a sandy texture.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the type location pedon include:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 26 inches (A and E horizons).
Albic horizon - 11 to 26 inches (E horizon).
Glossic horizon - 42 to 50 inches (Bt/E2).
Argillic horizon - 26 to 76 inches (Bt/E, 2Bt/E, and 2Bt).
ADDITIONAL DATA: TAMU Laboratory Sample No. S84TX-225-01. Minerology data were run by TAMU on two pedons from Trinity County on the Whitsett Formation (S97TX-455-001 and S97TX-455-002).