LOCATION MATANZAS PREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Lithic Eutrustox
TYPICAL PEDON: Matanzas clay--native pasture. (Colors are for moist soil.)
Ap--0 to 14 inches; dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4) clay; moderate coarse granular structure; firm; slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine roots; few sand-size black (10YR 2/1) aggregates; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
Bo1--14 to 27 inches; dusky red (10R 3/4) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; friable; slightly sticky, plastic; many medium pores; common fine roots; very fine granules in micro channels; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
Bo2--27 to 44 inches; dark red (2.5YR 3/6) clay; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; friable; slightly sticky, plastic; many medium pores; common fine roots; very fine granules in micro channels; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 16 inches thick)
R--44 to 46 inches; white (10YR 8/1) hard limestone with fractures having dark red (2.5YR 3/6) coatings.
TYPE LOCATION: Noroeste SCD, Puerto Rico; about 125 feet east of kilometer marker 125 of P.R. Highway 2 and on the south side of the highway.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness and depth to limestone bedrock ranges from 40 to 60 inches. The base saturation of the Kandic horizon ranges from 65 to 100 percent and the cation exchange capacity ranges from 7.5 to 10 meg/100 g of clay. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral throughout.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 2.5YR or 5YR, value of 3, and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is clay.
The Bo horizon has hue of 10R or 2.5YR, value of 3 and 4, and chroma of 4 to 8. Texture is clay.
COMPETING SERIES: The Cotito series is the only known series in the same family. Cotito series are on similar positions, have yellower Bo Horizons, have a lower content of iron oxides, and are moderately deep to limestone bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Matanzas soils are on foot slopes and small valleys between the limestone hills. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. They formed in fine-textured sediments derived from limestone. The climate is humid tropical. The average annual precipitation ranges from 60 to 68 inches and the average annual temperature ranges from 76 to 80 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the competing Cotito series and the Aceitunas, Bayamon, Coto, and Tanama series. Aceitunas and Bayamon soils are on similar positions and are very deep. In addition, Aceitunas soils are more acid. Coto series are on similar to higher positions, and are very deep and have a base saturation of less than 35 percent. Tanama soils are on similar to higher positions, have argillic horizons, and are shallow to limestone bedrock.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Matanzas soils are used for food crops. A few small areas are in tame grasses and native pasture. The vegetation consists of native and introduced grasses and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern coastal plains of Puerto Rico. The series is of minor extent, about 3,200 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Raleigh, North Carolina.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Soil Survey of Puerto Rico; 1942.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 14 inches (Ap horizon).
Kandic horizon - the zone from 14 to 44 inches (Bo1 and Bo2 horizons).
Lithic contact - the zone at 44 inches (R layer).
The classification was updated with the 4/91 draft from Clayey, oxidic, isohyperthermic Tropeptic Eutrorthox to Very-fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Lithic Eustrustox. The previous OSED date was 5/75. The classification was updated with this draft from Clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Lithic Kandiustox to: Clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Lithic Eutrustox.
ADDITIONAL DATA: The characterization data, published in SSIR No. 12, are for soils no longer considered to be part of the Matanzas Series.