LOCATION NEURALIA CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Neuralia sandy loam--rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated).
A1--0 to 3 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium platy structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; few very fine tubular and interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary (2 to 10 inches thick).
A2--3 to 7 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam; brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few fine tubular and common very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary (1 to 9 inches thick).
ABt--7 to 11 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few fine tubular and common very fine interstitial pores; common thin clay films bridging mineral grains and in pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary (1 to 6 inches thick).
Bt--11 to 18 inches; variegated brown (10YR 5/3), and (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, variegated dark brown (7.5YR 4/4), and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few fine tubular and common very fine interstitial pores; common moderately thick clay films on peds and in pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt wavy boundary (5 to 10 inches thick).
Btk--18 to 22 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few fine tubular and very fine interstitial pores; common moderately thick clay films on peds and in pores; very slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary (3 to 10 inches thick).
BCtk--22 to 31 inches; variegated brown (10YR 5/3), and (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, variegated brown (7.5YR 4/4), and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine tubular and very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates and segregated in seams and filaments; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary (0 to 20 inches thick).
2Ck1--31 to 37 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) gravelly sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates and segregated in seams and filaments; 25 percent fine pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary (5 to 20 inches thick).
2Ck2--37 to 55 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) gravelly sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates and segregated in soft masses and filaments; 25 percent fine pebbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary (5 to 30 inches thick).
3Ck3--55 to 60 inches; consolidated mixed alluvium.
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; 100 yards south of Borax Bill Park in the California City area; about 2,000 feet east and 1,000 feet south of the NW corner of section 7, T.32 S., R.39 E., MDB&M.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum is 21 to 50 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 65 degrees F. and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is 35 to 45 degrees F. The soil temperature is below 47 degrees F. from about December 1 to March 1 and is below 41 degrees F. from about January 1 to February 1 in most years. The soil between the depths of 10 and 18 inches is dry throughout for 230 to 260 days from about April 1 to December 15. It is moist throughout for 30 to 50 days from about January 15 to March 1 and is moist in some or all parts for 25 to 35 consecutive days from about March 1 to April 1, when the soil temperature exceeds 47 degrees F. The surface is covered with about 30 to 60 percent fine (2 to 25 mm) gravel. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline to a depth of 10 inches and slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline below.
The A horizon color is 10YR 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 6/3, 6/4, 6/6; or 7.5YR 5/4. Moist color is 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 4/3, 4/4; or 7.5YR 4/4. It is sandy loam, loamy sand, sand or gravelly sand. It has 0 to 30 percent coarse fragments with 0 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles. In most pedons, there is a transitional AB horizon or BA horizon that has colors of 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/4; 7.5YR 5/4, or 5/6. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 4/4; 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4, or 4/6. It is sandy clay loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand. It has 0 to 15 percent coarse fragments with 0 to 15 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles.
The Bt horizon color is 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/4, 6/6; 7.5YR 5/4, or 5/6. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 4/4, 4/6, 5/4, 5/6; 7.5YR 4/4, 4/6, 5/4 or 5/6. It is sandy loam, sandy clay loam or gravelly sandy clay loam. It has 0 to 35 percent coarse fragments with 0 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles. In the lower part of the Bt horizon carbonates are disseminated or segregated with many pedons having common, small or medium, irregular soft masses. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 1 to 10 percent.
The BC horizon color is 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/4, 6/6, 7/2; or 7.5YR 5/4. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 4/4, 5/2; 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4 or 5/6. It is sandy clay loam, clay loam, or their gravelly equivalents. It has 0 to 35 percent coarse fragments with 0 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles. Carbonates are disseminated or segregated in soft masses. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 1 to 10 percent. Some pedons do not have a BC horizon.
The C horizon color is 10YR 5/4, 5/6, 6/4, 6/6; 7.5YR 5/4, 6/4, 7/2, or 7/6. Moist color is 10YR 3/4, 4/3, 4/4, 4/6, 4/6; 7.5YR 4/4, 5/2, or 5/6. It is loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, loamy coarse sand, sand or their gravelly, cobbly or very gravelly and very cobbly equivalents. It has 0 to 60 percent rock fragments with 0 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 40 percent cobbles and 0 to 10 percent stones. Some pedons have strata that are very stony or that are saline-sodic in the substratum. Calcium carbonate equivalent is 1 to 10 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Anway (AZ), Avenal (CA), Berino (NM), Bryman (CA), Bucklebar (NM), Cornville (AZ), Dutchflat (AZ), Garlock (CA), Hap (NM), Hi Vista (CA), Lanip (T NV), Madurez (NM), Milham (CA), Palomas (NM), Poachie (AZ) and Tres Hermanos (NM). Anway soils have a solum less than 20 inches thick. Avenal soils have a difference of 35 degrees F. or less between mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures. Berino, Cornville, Hap, Madurez, Mohave and Tres Hermanos soils have a calcic horizon. Bucklebar, Bryman, and Mirage soils have hues of 5YR or 2.5YR in the Bt horizon. Dutchflat and Lanip soils are moist within the soil moisture control section for up to 20 days between July and September. Milham soils are calcareous throughout. Also, they have less than 35 degrees F. difference between the mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures and the number of days the soil temperature is above 47 degrees F. is 300 to 325 days. Garlock and Palomas soils are noncalcareous in the Bt or BCt horizons. Hi Vista soils are underlain by a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Neuralia soils are on alluvial fans, fan terraces and plains. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. The soils formed in alluvium from mixed, but dominantly granitic sources. Elevations are 2,300 to 4,200 feet. The climate is arid with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 4 to 6 inches, some as snow. The mean January temperature is about 45 degrees F. and the mean July temperature is about 88 degrees F., and the mean annual temperature is 57 to 62 degrees F. Frost-free season is 200 to 250 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Garlock soils and the Alko, Cajon and Timosea (T) soils. Alko soils have a lime-silica cemented duripan at depths of less than 20 inches. Timosea soils are skeletal. Cajon soils are sandy throughout.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow and medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Neuralia soils are used for rangeland, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is bursage, creosotebush, and scattered annual grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mohave Desert of California at higher elevations. The series is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kern County, California, 1976.
REMARKS: Major diagnostic horizons and other soil characteristics recognized in the profile are:
1. OCHRIC EPIPEDON--0 to 11 inches (A1, A2, ABt)
2. ARGILLIC HORIZON--9 to 22 inches (Bt, Btk)