LOCATION NINNESCAH KSEstablished Series
The Ninnescah series consists of very deep, poorly drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils that formed in loamy alluvium. These soils are on flood plains in river valleys of the Great Bend Sand Plains (MLRA 79). Mean annual precipitation is 29 inches (74 centimeters), and mean annual temperature is 56 degrees F (13 degrees C).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ninnescah fine sandy loam in native grass. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ak1--0 to 6 inches (0 to 15 centimeters); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) fine sandy loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots throughout; 17 percent clay; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Ak2--6 to 14 inches (15 to 36 centimeters); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; 16 percent clay; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Ak3--14 to 19 inches (36 to 48 centimeters); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; few fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist dendritic redoximorphic concentrations in root channels; moderate medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; 12 percent clay; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness ranges from 15 to 19 inches; 38 to 48 centimeters)
Bgk1--19 to 30 inches (48 to 76 centimeters); dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots throughout; 10 percent clay; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bgk2--30 to 37 inches (76 to 94 centimeters); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 10 percent clay; common fine and medium irregular black (N 2/0) soft masses of iron-manganese pedogenic throughout; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness ranges from 13 to 30 inches; 33 to 76 centimeters thick)
Cg1--37 to 52 inches (94 to 132 centimeters); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 10 percent clay; common fine and medium irregular black (N 2/0) soft masses of iron-manganese pedogenic throughout; slightly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary; irregular decrease in OC in this layer.
Cg2--52 to 80 inches (132 to 203 centimeters); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; massive; soft, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 7 percent clay; common fine and medium irregular black (N 2/0) soft masses of iron-manganese pedogenic throughout; very slightly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); slightly alkaline. (combined thickness ranges from 26 to 43 inches; 66 to 109 centimeters thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Reno County, Kansas, 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Arlington, 205 feet (62 meters) north and 100 feet (30 meters) east of the southwest corner of sec. 34 T. 24 S. R. 8 W. (USGS Arlington topographic quadrangle; lat. 37 degrees 54 minutes 45.5 seconds N. and long. 98 degrees 11 minutes 47.1 seconds W.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: aquic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 56 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C)
Particle-size control section: 10 to 17 percent clay
Depth to bedrock: greater than 80 inches (203 centimeters)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 0 to 10 inches (0 to 25 centimeters).
Some pedons have Akb, ABk, BCgk, or C horizons.
A saline phase is recognized in this soil.
Depth to loamy sand or coarser textures is greater than 40 inches.
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimeters)
Water table: depth is 0 to 2.0 feet (0 to 0.6 meters), kind is apparent, months are Feb. - Jun.
Ak horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5 (dry) 2 or 3 (moist)
Chroma: 1
Texture: fine sandy loam, but the range includes sandy loam or loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 14 percent
SAR: 0 to 1
Redoximorphic features: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline
Bgk horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 2.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 (dry) 4 or 5 (moist)
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 14 percent
SAR: 0 to 1
Reaction: slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline
Cg horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 2.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 (dry) 4 or 5 (moist)
Chroma: 2, but 3 chromas occur below a depth of 40 inches in some pedons.
Texture: loamy sand, sandy loam, sand, or fine sandy loam
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent
SAR: 0 to 1
Redoximorphic features: 2 to 25 percent
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: Rose Creek is the only competing series in this family. Rose Creek soils have a lower mean annual temperature and less mean annual rainfall.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ninnescah soils
Parent material: loamy alluvium
Landform: flood plains
Slopes: 0 to 1 percent
Elevation: 1480 to 1880 feet (451.1 to 573.0 meters)
Mean annual air temperature: 55 to 57 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C)
Mean annual precipitation: 24 to 35 inches (61 to 89 centimeters)
Wettest months: Mar. - Oct.
Driest months: Nov. - Feb.
Frost-free period: 187 to 225 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kanza and Waldeck soils. The sandy Kanza soils do not have a mollic epipedon and are similar in position, but are located closer to stream channels. The drier Waldeck soils are located higher on the flood plain.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Runoff is low or very low. Permeability is moderately rapid. An apparent water table is present with an upper limit of 0 to 19 inches (0 to 48 centimeters) from the months of February to June. The soil is occasionally flooded.
USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas are in native meadow and range. Vegetation is tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South Central Kansas. LRR H Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range, MLRA 79 Great Bend Sand Plains. The Ninnescah series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Reno County, Kansas, 1995.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 19 inches (0 to 48 centimeters) (Ak1, Ak2, Ak3)
cambic horizon: The zone from 19 to 37 inches (48 to 94 centimeters) (Bgk1, Bgk2)
These soils have an irregular decrease in organic carbon between 10 and 50 inches (25 to 127 centimeters), or they have at least 0.3 percent organic carbon in all horizons to 50 inches (127 centimeters).
Water table: The presence of an apparent water table from 0 to 2.0 feet (0 to 0.6 meters) during the months of Feb. - Jun.
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Eighth edition, 1998
ADDITIONAL DATA: These soils were formerly mapped Plevna. They differ by being calcareous in all parts between 10 and 20 inches (25 to 50 centimeters). Characterization data is available on a pedon very close to this pedon. (85KS155003, NSSL lab pedon number 85P0791)
NINNESCAH SERIES
LRR=H
DATE: 06/05/95 New series proposed using pedon id #88KS155015. RMM JCW.
12/23/99 PRF: series established by Reno County final correlation