LOCATION NARBAITZ CA

Established Series
IRD. BRY/KDA/CAF
02/2023

NARBAITZ SERIES

The Narbaitz series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils on high terraces. These soils formed in alluvium from sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks. Slope ranges from 5 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 10 inches, the mean annual temperature is 61 to 63 degrees F, and the frost-free period is 230 to 270 days.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Vertic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Narbaitz loam, in an area of Narbaitz-Pleito association, 5 to 30 percent slopes, at an elevation of 970 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. When described on December 4, 1996, the soil was moist throughout.)

A1--0 to 3 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 14 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)

A2--3 to 9 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam; dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 14 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.9); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)

2Btss1--9 to 15 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic and strong fine and medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; intersecting slickensides; many moderately thick clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 8 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)

2Btss2--15 to 22 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic and strong medium and coarse angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; intersecting slickensides; many moderately thick clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 8 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)

3Btk--22 to 38 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) extremely gravelly clay; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few moderately thick clay films in pores; 70 percent gravel; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and segregated as common medium soft masses and few thin soft filaments and threads; 70 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)

3Bk--38 to 60 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) very gravelly sandy clay loam; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, carbonates disseminated and segregated as few thin filaments and threads; 55 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Fresno County, California; approximately 13 miles southwest of Dos Palos and 3.5 miles west of Little Panoche Retention Dam; approximately 500 feet east and 1,000 feet north of the southwest corner of section 27, T. 13 S., R. 10 E., MDB&M; Latitude 36 degrees, 45 minutes, 59 seconds north and Longitude 120 degrees, 52 minutes, 24 seconds west; USGS Laguna Seca Ranch Topographic Quadrangle.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 62 to 64 degrees F. The soil between the depths of 4 to 12 inches is moist throughout from about January 1 to April 30 and is dry from July 1 to October 31.

The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 3/2, 4/3 or 5/4; and 7.5YR 5/4. Moist colors are 10YR 3/2, 3/3 or 4/3; and 7.5YR 3/3 or 4/4. It is loam with 15 to 27 percent clay. Gravel content is 3 to 14 percent. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.

The 2Btss horizon has dry color of 5YR 4/4 or 5/4. Moist colors are 5YR 4/4 or 7.5YR 4/4. It is clay with 60 to 70 percent clay. Gravel content is 0 to 8 percent. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

The 3Btk horizon has dry color of 5YR 5/4 or 7.5 YR 5/4. Moist colors are 5YR 4/4 or 4/6 and 7.5YR 4/4 or 4/6. It is extremely gravelly sandy clay with 37 to 45 percent clay. Gravel content is 70 to 90 percent.

The 3Bk horizon has dry color of 5YR 5/4 or 7.5 YR 5/4. Moist colors are 5YR 4/4 or 4/6 and 7.5YR 4/4 or 4/6. It is very gravelly sandy clay loam with 25 to 35 percent clay. Gravel content is 50 to 59 percent. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Narbaitz soils are on high terraces. Slopes range from 5 to 15 percent. These soils formed in alluvium derived dominantly from sedimentary and metasedimentary rock. Elevation is 920 to 1370 feet. The climate is arid with hot, dry summers and cool, somewhat moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 9 to 10 inches. The mean annual temperature is 61 to 63 degrees F. The frost-free period is 230 to 270 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Vernalis and Los Banos soils. Vernalis soils have a fine-loamy particle size class and do not have an argillic horizon. Los Banos soils have mixed mineralogy and have a calcic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained, very high runoff, extremely slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used as rangeland for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The vegetation is mainly annual grasses and forbs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: San Joaquin Valley, California, U.S.A.; MLRA 17. The series is not extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Fresno County, Western Part, California, 2000. The name Narbaitz comes from the family name of the ranch where much of this series occurs.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
1. Ochric epipedon--The zone from the soil surface to a depth of 9 inches (Al and A2 horizons).
2. Argillic horizon--The zone from 9 inches to a depth of 38 inches.
3. Particle size control section--Is the top 20 inches of the argillic horizon (9 inches to 21 inches). Particle size family is "fine".

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.