LOCATION MEROS PREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, isohyperthermic Typic Ustipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Meros sand - pasture
(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A11--0 to 8 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine roots; common fine black minerals; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
A12--8 to 14 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) fine sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; few fine roots; many fine black minerals; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
C1--14 to 22 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; few fine roots; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
C2--22 to 40 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) and black (10YR 2/1) sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (16 to 24 inches thick)
C3--40 to 50 inches; olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; mildly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 16 inches thick)
C4--50 to 60 inches; very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) sand; single grained; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Sudeste Soil and Water Conservation District, Puerto Rico; 150 feet north of kilometer marker 93.8 of Highway 1 and 20 feet east of Tamarindo tree.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil texture in all horizons is sand or fine sand. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 78 to 80 degrees F.
Color of the A horizon is black (N 2/ ), very dark brown (10YR 2/2), very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2; 2.5Y 3/2), or dark brown (10YR 3/3). It is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The C horizon is very dark grayish brown, through dark olive hues of 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 3 or 4, and chromas of 2 through 4. It is neutral through moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES AND THEIR DIFFERENCES: These are the Aguadilla and Arenales series in the same family and Catano, Espinal, Falfurrias, and Jaucas series. The Aguadilla, Catano, and Espinal soils have udic moisture regimes. The Arenales soils have well graded soil materials in the control section consisting of silts, coarse sand, and gravel. The Falfurrias soils have more than 9 degrees F., difference between mean summer and mean winter temperatures. The Jaucas soils have carbonatic mineralogy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Meros soils occur on nearly level benches along the coast at elevations slightly above sea level. Slope gradients are 0 to 2 percent. The soil formed in sandy sediments derived from sand sized volcanic fragments, sea shells, and corals. The climate is semiarid tropical. The average yearly precipitation is 35 to 40 inches. The mean annual temperature is about 79degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hydraquents and Coastal beach land types. Coastal beach is a land type that consists of miscellaneous sandy materials reworked by wave action. Hydraquents are the clayey soils of the tidal marches that are permanently saturated with water.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; slow runoff; very rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mostly for pasture and coconuts.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Semiarid coastal areas of Puerto Rico. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Raleigh, North Carolina
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Soil Survey of Puerto Rico; l936.
REMARKS: The Meros series was classified in the Regosol great soil group.