LOCATION METZ CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, thermic Typic Xerofluvents
TYPICAL PEDON: Metz fine sandy loam, cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 12 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots in upper 2 inches, few very fine roots in rest of horizon; many very fine interstitial and few fine tubular pores; compacted due to tillage; noncalcareous; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
C1--12 to 29 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sand, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; near top of horizon, a discontinuous streak of sand lenses 1 to 2 inches thick; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
C2--29 to 38 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; single grain; loose; few very fine roots; horizon has 1 percent gravel and 1 to 2 percent mud balls 2 to 5 inches in diameter of very dark gray (N 3/) mottled silty clay; many very fine and few fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (Variable thickness)
C3--38 to 52 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) very fine sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6 dry and moist) mottles; weak coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; indistinct strata of silt loam in middle of horizon; strongly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (Variable thickness)
C4--52 to 118 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sand, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; single grain; loose;many very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Monterey County, California; 8 miles southeast of Salinas; from Highway 101 on Samovia Road, 1.15 miles to end of pavement, 0.65 mile on dirt road continuation, 0.2 mile northeast and 30 feet west and 100 feet north in corner of field.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 64 degrees F. The soil between the depths of 10 and 30 inches is usually dry all of the time from late April or May until November or early December and is usually moist in some or all parts the rest of the year. The textural control section (10 to 40 inches) averages loamy sand. Individual strata are sand, coarse sand, loamy sand, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam and loam plus minor thin silty lenses. Organic matter decreases irregularly with depth and on the average is less than 1 percent. The soil is neutral, slightly or moderately alkaline, although most pedons are moderately alkaline in most parts. Individual strata are noncalcareous or weakly to strongly calcareous. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 15 percent, although individual strata may reach 35 percent. A few mottles are present in some pedons but they seem to be relic from initial deposition and are associated with the finer textures.
The A and C horizons are 10YR 7/3, 6/1, 6/4, 5/2, 5/3; 2.5Y 6/2, 6/4, 5/2, 5/4.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Holillipah series. Holillipath soils are neutral to slightly acid, are not calcareous bellow the A horizon and the difference between summer and winter soil temperature is 30 to 33 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Metz soils are on floodplains and alluvial fans at elevations of 25 to 2,500 feet. Gradient is 0 to 15 percent. The alluvium is derived from mixed but mostly sedimentary sources. The climate is dry mesothermal with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 12 to 20 inches. The average January temperature is 47 to 50 degrees F; the average July temperature is 62 to 75 degrees F and the mean annual temperature is 57 to 60 degrees F. The average frost-free season is 175 to 340 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Tujunga, Hanford, Mocho, Pacheco, Pico, Salinas and Sorrento soils. Hanford and Pico soils have 18 to 35 percent clay in the textural control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; negligible to low runoff; moderately rapid permeability. Some areas subject to flooding are protected by dikes and dams.
USE AND VEGETATION: Much of the soil is irrigated and used for growing pasture, hay, truck crops, field crops and fruit. Some areas are grazed and in willows, annual grasses and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coastal valleys of the central and south Coast Range of California, MLRA 14. The soils are of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Monterey County (King City Area), California, 1924
REMARKS: The reaction range is extended to include neutral soils in future mapping.