LOCATION MOCKLEY TX
Established Series
JDW-KBH-AKS
07/2019
MOCKLEY SERIES
The Mockley series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils that formed in loamy fluviomarine deposits of the Willis Formation. These very gently sloping soils occur on low hills on coastal plains. Slope ranges from 1 to 3 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 20.6 degrees C (69 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1092 mm (43 in).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, kaolinitic, hyperthermic Plinthic Paleudults
TYPICAL PEDON: Mockley fine sandy loam, on a 220-degree, 1.5 percent slope, 82 m (270ft), in rangeland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 in); dark brown (10YR 3/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) dry; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; common worm casts; 3 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (3 to 28 cm [1 to 11 in] thick)
A2--20 to 38 cm (8 to 15 in); dark brown (10YR 3/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) dry; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; few medium pores; 4 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 28 cm [0 to 11 in] thick)
Bt--38 to 51 cm (15 to 20 in); 65 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and 35 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellow (10YR 7/6) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common faint clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent plinthite; many fine to coarse prominent dark red (10R 3/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear and sharp boundaries; many medium and coarse prominent red (2.5YR 4/6), common fine distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) and common fine and medium distinct brown (10YR 5/3) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries; 4 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 76 cm [4 to 30 in] thick).
Btv1--51 to 71 cm (20 to 28 in); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy clay, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few fine and medium roots; common faint clay films on faces of peds; common very fine pockets of light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay masses; about 7 percent plinthite; many fine to coarse prominent dark red (10R 3/6), many medium prominent red (2.5YR 4/8) and few medium prominent light reddish brown (2.5YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron with clear and sharp boundaries, common fine and medium distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries; 2 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (13 to 38 cm [5 to 15 in] thick)
Btv2--71 to 97 cm (28 to 38 in); 40 percent light gray (10YR 7/1) and 30 percent red (2.5YR 4/8) and 30 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) clay, red (2.5YR 5/8), white (10YR 8/1) and yellow (10YR 7/6) and 7/8) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; about 5 percent plinthite; many fine to coarse prominent dark red (10R 3/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries, few fine and medium prominent light reddish brown (2.5YR 6/4) and common fine and medium distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear and sharp boundaries, common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries; about 3 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; 1 percent fine and medium rounded siliceous pebbles; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (20 to 41 cm [8 to 16 in] thick)
B't1--97 to 137 cm (38 to 54 in); 45 percent red (2.5YR 4/8), 40 percent light gray (10YR 7/1), 10 percent yellow (10YR 7/8) and 5 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) clay, yellow (10YR 7/8) and 5 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) clay, red (2.5YR 5/8), white (10YR 8/1), yellow (10YR 8/6) dry; moderate medium and coarse angular blocky structure; hard, very firm, sticky and very plastic; few very fine roots; few pressure faces; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; about 2 percent plinthite; common fine prominent light reddish brown (2.5YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries, common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear and sharp boundaries; 2 percent rounded ironstone pebbles; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 41 cm [4 to 16 in] thick)
B't2--137 to 203 cm (54 to 80 in); 70 percent white (10YR 8/1) and 30 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) clay, white (10YR 8/1) and yellow (10YR 7/8) dry; strong coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common pressure faces; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few very fine masses of barite; many fine prominent dark red (2.5YR 3/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries, few coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear and sharp boundaries, many fine to coarse distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Colorado County, Texas; east of Columbus, from the intersection of U.S. Interstate Highway 10 and Farm Road 949, 5.25 miles east on Interstate Highway 10 to Farm Road 2761 (Bernardo Road), 1.1 miles northwest on Bernardo Road, 200 feet southwest in rangeland near fence line.
USGS topographic quadrangle: Cat Spring
Latitude 29 degrees, 45 minutes, 4 seconds North
Longitude 96 degrees, 20 minutes, 42 seconds West
Datum: WGS84
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is more than 80 inches. Base saturation in the epipedon and subsoil are less than 50 percent throughout. Base saturation at 125 cm (50 in) below the top of the argillic (Bt) horizon ranges from 15 to 35 percent. Redoximorphic features in shades of red, yellow, brown or grays are considered relict from a past climate or due to abnormally wet periods.
Soil Moisture: An udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section, 10 to 31 cm (4 to 12 in), is typically moist from September to July in most years. The cumulative total number of days the soil moisture control section is dry is less than 90 days.
Mean annual soil temperature: 21.7 to 22.2 degrees C (71 to 72 degrees F.
Depth to argillic horizon: 20 to 48 cm (8 to 19 in)
Depth to plinthite: 20 to 127 cm (8 to 50 in).
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content ranges from 30 to 55 percent, but averages more than 35 percent.
A Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 or 4
Chroma: 2 to 4; pedons with value of 3 and chroma of 2 or 3 have base saturation less than 50 percent and, therefore, qualify as an umbric epipedon
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam or the gravelly to very gravelly counterparts
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 3 percent, location-lining roots and pores, shades-brown
Ironstone and siliceous pebbles: 0 to 50 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to strongly acid
Bt Horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR (some pedons have a variegated matrix)
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 3 to 8
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, clay
Redox concentrations: amount-1 to 35 percent, shades-brown, red, or yellow
Iron depletions: amount-0 to 3 percent, shades-gray
Ironstone and siliceous pebbles: 0 to 15 percent
Plinthite nodules: 0 to 4 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
Btv Horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR (some pedons have a variegated matrix)
Value: 3 to 8
Chroma: 1 to 8
Texture: clay loam, sandy clay, clay
Redox concentrations: amount-1 to 35 percent, shades-brown, red, or yellow
Iron depletions: amount-1 to 8 percent, shades-gray
Ironstone and siliceous pebbles: 0 to 15 percent
Plinthite nodules: 5 to 20 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
B't Horizon
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR (some pedons have a variegated matrix)
Value: 3 to 8
Chroma: 1 to 8
Texture: clay loam, sandy clay, clay
Redox concentrations: amount-1 to 35 percent, shades-brown, red, or yellow
Iron depletions: amount-1 to 10 percent, shades-gray
Ironstone and siliceous pebbles: 0 to 5 percent
Plinthite nodules: 0 to 4 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
COMPETING SERIES:
There are no series in the same family. Similar soils are the
Bowie,
Hockley,
Otanya,
Pinetucky,
Rogan,
Segno,
Sunsweet and
Varina series.
Bowie,
Hockley,
Otanya,
Pinetucky,
Rogan,
Segno series: fine-loamy particle-size control section; siliceous mineralogy; thermic temperature regime
Sunsweet and
Varina series: thermic temperature regime
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: loamy fluviomarine deposits of the Willis Formation.
Landscape: inland dissected coastal plain
Landform: low hills
Slope: 1 to 3 percent
Mean annual temperature: 19.5 to 20.6 degrees C (67 to 69 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 1092 to 1245 mm (43 to 49 in)
Precipitation Pattern: Precipitation is fairly uniform throughout the year with slight peaks in the spring and fall. Summertime rainfall is controlled by the influx of tropical moisture.
Frost-free period: 271 to 300 days
Elevation: 53 to 102 m (160 to 310 ft)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 52 to 72
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Cheetham,
Hockley,
Kuy,
Mentz,
Monaville,
Tomball, and
Wockley series.
Cheetham,
Kuy, and
Monaville series: sandy surface layer more than 50 cm (20 in) thick; lower landscape position
Hockley series: loamy subsoil; similar landscape position
Mentz series: smectitic mineralogy; lower landscape position
Wockley series: loamy throughout; lower landscape position
Tomball series: loamy subsoil in depressions
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY:
Drainage class: well
Permeability class: Moderately slow permeability
Runoff: low
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major uses: Many areas of this series have been cultivated in the past. Current usage of this soil is native pasture or rangeland. Native grasses are mainly species of andropogon, paspalums, and panicums
Ecological sites assigned to phases and components of this series are listed below. Current ecological site assignments are in Web Soil Survey. Components of this series include the following ecological sites: Loamy Prairie
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
General area: Southeastern Texas from eastern Colorado County to Harris County, Texas
Land Resource Region: Atlantic and Gulf Coast Lowland Forest and Crop (T)
Major Land Resource Aarea: 150A (Gulf Coast Prairies)
Extent: medium
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Colorado County, Texas, 1997.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle size control section: 38 to 89 cm (15 to 35 in). (Bt, Btv1, and Btv2 horizon)
Umbric epipedon: 0 to 38 cm (0 to 15 in). (A1 and A2 horizons)
Argillic horizon: 38 to 203 cm (15 to 80 in) (Bt, Btv1, Btv2, B't1, and B't2 horizons)
Other features:
Pale feature: Does not have a clay decrease with increasing depth of 20 percent or more (relative) from the maximum clay content
Plinthite comprises 5 to 20 percent by volume of the Btv horizons
Additional Comments: The series was updated in January 2001 as a part of the MLRA 150A update. Classification was changed from thermic to hyperthermic during update of January 2001 due to results of a soil temperature study. Classification change, dated September 1997, from Clayey, mixed, thermic Plinthic Paleudults to Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Paledults based on advances in soil taxonomy (Clayey no longer used in Ultisols), and results from reference sampling of three pedons from Austin County, Texas. This soil was formerly included in the Hockley series.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Mineralogy data available from Texas A & M University Soil Characterization Lab on sample S96TX-089-002.
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.