LOCATION MESSER LA+AR TX
Established Series
Rev. JLD-JJD
08/2018
MESSER SERIES
The Messer series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils. These nearly level to very gently sloping soils formed in fluviomarine deposits derived from the Intermediate Terraces Formation of Pleistocene age. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 19.5 degrees C (67 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1549 mm (61 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, siliceous, superactive, thermic Oxyaquic Glossudalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Messer silt loam in an area of Caddo-Messer complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, in forest (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 12 cm (0.0 to 4.7 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2), dry; weak fine granular and weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine to coarse roots; common fine interstitial pores; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 20 cm [3 to 8 in] thick)
E1--12 to 21 cm, (4.7 to 8.3 in); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), silt loam; weak fine granular and weak medium subangular blocky structure; , friable; many fine and medium roots; few fine tubular pores; 1 percent fine iron-manganese nodules and 2 percent fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels and 5 percent fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels and 11 percent fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
E2--21 to 44 cm ,( 8.3 to 17.3 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), silt loam; weak fine granular and weak coarse subangular blocky structure; , friable; common fine and medium roots; many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; 2 percent fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels and 5 percent fine iron-manganese nodules and 11 percent fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the E horizon is 30 to 69 cm [12 to 27 in])
E/Bt--44 to 55 cm, (17.3 to 21.7 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), silt loam (E), 30 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) (Bt); weak fine granular and weak coarse prismatic structure; friable; few fine roots; few fine and medium vesicular and fine tubular pores; 5 percent fine iron-manganese nodules and 8 percent fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels and 22 percent fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (10 to 38 cm [4 to 15 in] thick)
Bt/E--55 to 70 cm, (21.7 to 27.6 in); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6), silt loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; few fine roots; few medium vesicular and many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; 15 percent faint clay films on vertical faces of peds; 1 percent medium faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores and 5 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 5 percent medium weakly cemented iron-manganese nodules; very strongly acid; gradual irregular boundary.
Bt1--70 to 94 cm, (27.6 to 37.0 in); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6), silt loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak coarse subangular blocky; firm; few very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; 15 percent discontinuous faint , moist, clay films on vertical faces of peds; 1 percent medium faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores and 5 percent medium prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 5 percent medium weakly cemented iron-manganese nodules; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--94 to 117 cm, (37.0 to 46.1 in); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6), silt loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; continuous distinct , moist, clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries lining pores and 1 percent medium prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 1 percent medium weakly cemented iron-manganese nodules; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--117 to 157 cm, (46.1 to 61.8 in); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), silt loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, firm; brittle; many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; 37 percent distinct , moist, clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations and 10 percent medium prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 30 percent coarse distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix; strongly acid gradual smooth boundary.
Bt4--157 to 197 cm, (61.8 to 77.6 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), silt loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak very coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; brittle; many very fine and fine vesicular and fine tubular pores; continuous distinct , moist, clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent medium iron-manganese nodules and 10 percent fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations and 10 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 10 percent medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix; strongly acid, gradual wavy boundary.
Bt5--197 to 242, (cm 77.6 to 95.3 in); brownish yellow (10YR 6/8), clay loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak very coarse subangular blocky; firm; few fine and medium vesicular and fine tubular pores; discontinuous distinct , moist, clay films on vertical faces of peds; 1 percent medium iron-manganese nodules and 10 percent fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations and 10 percent fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix and 10 percent medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in matrix; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons to 203 cm is 106 to 133 cm [42 to 52 in])
BCg--242 to 287 cm s, (95.3 to 113.0 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine tubular pores; strongly acid
TYPE LOCATION: Beauregard Parish, LA; from the intersection of US Highway 190 and U.S Highway 171 in Ragley, about 1.2 miles north on US 171; 0.6 mile northeast on road; about 100 feet north on mound (Longville USGS quad; Latitude: 30 degrees 31 minutes 48.00 seconds north; Longitude: 93 degrees 13 minutes 24.00 seconds west; NAD 83)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 10 to 16 percent
A Horizon (Ap where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam or silt loam
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid
E Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam or silt loam
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 20 percent, shades-brown or yellow
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid
E/Bt and Bt/E Horizon
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loam, silt loam or very fine sandy loam
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 35, shades-brown or yellow
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, shades-gray
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid
Bt Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 8
Texture: loam, silt loam, clay loam or silty clay loam
Redox concentrations: amount-2 to 40 percent, shades-brown, yellow, or red
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 15 percent, shades-gray
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Gist series in the same family. Similar soils are
Aldine(TX),
Bowie(TX),
Dallardsville(TX),
Duralde(LA),
Elysian(OK),
Evangeline(LA),
Frizzell(LA),,
Glenmora(LA),
Muskogee(AR), and
Vidrine (LA) series.
Aldine soils: are in a fine-silty over clayey family
Bowie and
Dallardsville soils: have less than 35 percent base saturation in the lower part of the argillic horizon
Frizzell soils: active CEC/clay class; do not have a glossic horizon
Gist soils: have clayey texture in the lower argillic horizon;
Duralde,
Evangeline, Glenmorea, and
Muskogee soils: have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section
Elysian soils: are in a coarse-loamy family; have redox depletions in the upper part of the argillic horizon
Vidrine soils: have more than 35 percent clay in the argillic horizo
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: loamy fluviomarine deposits of Pleistocene age
Landscape: coastal plains
Landform: flats
Microfeature: pimple mounds
Slope: 0 to 1 percent for landscape (the top of the mound to the base ranges up to 5 percent slope but the distance from the top to base is less than 50 feet)
Soil Moisture: A udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry less than 90 days in normal years. The summer months are the driest
Mean annual soil temperature: 19.9 to 21.7 degrees C (67 to 71 degrees F)
Mean annual air temperature range: 19.3 to 20.1 degrees C (67 to 69 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation range: 1499 to 1651 mm (59 to 65 in)
Precipitation Pattern: Rainfall is fairly uniform throughout the year.
Frost-free period: 240 to 300 days
Elevation: 22.9 to 46 m (75 to 150 ft)
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Beauregard (LA),
Caddo (LA);
Glenmora (LA), and
Guyton (LA) series.
Beauregard soils: have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; on a lower landform
Caddo and
Guyton soils: are poorly drained; on a lower landform
Glenmora soils: have a thinner glossic horizon; on broad stream divides
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: moderately well drained. Runoff is high. Permeability is slow. A perched water table exists in the lower part of the E and Bt/E horizons in normal years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for wooland. Native vegetation consists of longleaf pine and bluestem grasses. Some areas have been cleared and smoothed and planted to cotton, rice, or soybeans.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Flatwoods of Louisiana; Land Resource Region T; MLRA 152B; the series is of large extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Evangeline Parish, Louisiana; 1970
REMARKS: The type location and classification were changed during the Soil Data Join and Recorrelation initiative. This location has lab data to document the series. The classification was changed due to changes in taxonomy. This soil was described and sample to 242 cm (87 in) the ranges in thickness range to 203 cm (80 in)
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 44 cm (0 to 17.3in). (A and E horizons)
Argillic horizon: 44 to 203 cm (17.3 to 80in). (Bt horizons)
Glossic horizon: 44 to 55 cm (17.3 to 21.7in). (E/Bt and Bt/E horizons)
Additional Comments: The perched water table lasts long enough to meet the oxyaquic subgroup criteria. This is based on soil moisture studies conducted on similar soils in the region.
ADDITIONAL DATA: KSSL Data from type location 90LA011020.
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.