LOCATION NICKERSON KSEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Udic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Nickerson loamy fine sand in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 14 centimeters (0 to 6 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) loamy fine sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to single grain; soft, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; 3.5 percent clay; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--14 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to single grain; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; 5.8 percent clay; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness ranges from 13 to 36 centimeters (5 to 14 inches) thick)
BA--30 to 46 centimeters (12 to 18 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout and common fine and medium throughout; 12.7 percent clay; common faint continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist, organic coats on faces of peds and in pores; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches) thick)
Bt--46 to 74 centimeters (18 to 29 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; common medium faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist irregular mottles throughout; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; many medium moderate continuity vesicular pores; 21.4 percent clay; few distinct continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist, clay films on faces of peds and in pores; slightly alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
Btk1--74 to 86 centimeters (29 to 34 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; many medium vesicular pores; 16.0 percent clay; very few distinct discontinuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist, clay films on faces of peds and in pores; common medium irregular masses of carbonate throughout and few medium rounded carbonate concretions throughout; strongly effervescent throughout; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Btk2--86 to 97 centimeters (34 to 38 inches) ; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; 11.2 percent clay; very few distinct continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), moist, clay films in root channels and/or pores; common medium irregular masses of carbonate and common medium rounded carbonate concretions; violently effervescent throughout; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined Bt thickness 28 to 76 centimeters (11 to 30 inches) thick)
BC--97 to 114 centimeters (38 to 45 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; soft, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; common fine low continuity vesicular pores; 6.4 percent clay; strongly effervescent throughout; 2 percent rounded mixed gravel; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 28 centimeters (0 to 11 inches) thick)
C1--114 to 135 centimeters (45 to 53 inches); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) fine sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; common fine low continuity vesicular pores; 0.0 percent clay; very few distinct continuous brown (10YR 5/3), moist, manganese or iron-manganese stains in root channels and/or pores; slightly effervescent throughout; 2 percent rounded mixed gravel; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
C2--135 to 145 centimeters (53 to 57 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; many coarse distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; 0.0 percent clay; very slightly effervescent throughout; 5 percent rounded mixed gravel; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
C3--145 to 203 centimeters (57 to 80 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic depletions throughout and common coarse faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist irregular mottles throughout; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 0.0 percent clay; noneffervescent throughout; 5 percent rounded mixed gravel; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Reno County, Kansas; about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) east and 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) north of Nickerson; 762 meters (2,500 feet) north and 245 meters (803 feet) east of the southwest corner of sec. 1, T. 22 S., R. 7 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: ustic moisture regime bordering on udic
Particle-size control section clay content: 15 to 26 percent clay (weighted average)
Depth to bedrock: greater than 203 centimeters (80 inches)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 50 to 91 centimeters (20 to 36 inches)
Thickness of the ochric epipedon: 13 to 36 centimeters (5 to 14 inches)
A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 2 to 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sand or loamy fine sand
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
BA horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam or sandy clay loam
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline
Btk horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or loamy fine sand
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline
BC and C horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: fine sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand in the upper part, fine sand or sand commonly below a depth of 102 centimeters (40 inches)
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 5 percent
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Spelvin and Zellmont in the same family. Spelvin soils are well drained and do not have a seasonal high water table. Zellmont soils are moderately deep to shale.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: old alluvium
Landform: nearly level to very gently sloping terraces
Slopes: 0 to 2 percent
Elevation: 480 to 680 meters (1600 to 2200 feet)
Mean annual air temperature: 13 to 14 degrees C. (55 to 57 degrees F.)
Mean annual precipitation: 64 to 84 centimeters (25 to 33 inches)
Wettest months: Mar. - Oct.
Driest months: Nov. - Feb.
Frost-free period: 187 to 225 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Carbika and
Naron soils.
The somewhat poorly drained Carbika soils have a fine textured argillic horizon and are in slightly lower positions on the landscape. Naron soils are well drained, have a mollic epipedon, are deeper to free carbonates and are in slightly higher positions on the landscape.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage: moderately well drained
Runoff: low
Saturated hydraulic conductivity: moderately high
Seasonal high water table: 0.6 to 1.2 meters (2 to 4 feet)
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Principal crops are wheat, grain sorghum, and alfalfa. Native vegetation was tall and mid grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South Central Kansas, LRR H Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range, MLRA 79 Great Bend Sand Plains. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Reno County, Kansas, 1990. The name is from a community in Reno County.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 46 centimeters (0 to 18 inches) (Ap, A, BA)
Argillic horizon: 46 to 86 centimeters (18 to 34 inches) (Bt, Btk)
Water table: 0.6 to 1.2 meters (2 to 4 feet) during the months of Dec. - Apr.
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Eighth edition, 1998
ADDITIONAL DATA: These soils were formerly mapped as Dale or Farnum soils in Reno County and as Kaski soils in Rice County. They differ from Dale and Kaski soils in that they have an argillic horizon and a seasonal water table within a depth of 1.5 meters (5 feet). They differ from Farnum soils in that they are less than 91 centimeters (36 inches) deep to free carbonates and have a seasonal water table within a depth of 1.5 meters (5 feet). Clay values were determined by laboratory methods.
Additional Laboratory Analysis: S90KS155010
Modified format by LRM in 2/2006 to include metric conversion and change permeability to saturated hydraulic conductivity. Updated competing series