LOCATION OAKDALE            CA
Established Series
Rev. RJA/JEM/WBS/CEJ
01/2003

OAKDALE SERIES


The Oakdale series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from granitic rock sources. They are on nearly level to gently sloping alluvial fans and terraces and in slightly depressed stream channels traversing alluvial fans with slopes of 0 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 13 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 61 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, thermic Mollic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Oakdale sandy loam--on a south facing slope of less than 1 percent on edge of orchard at an elevation of 150 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When redescribed on March 29, 1984, the soil was slightly moist throughout).

Ap--0 to 6 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak thin platy structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; many fine and medium pores; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

A1--6 to 13 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; many fine and medium pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 9 inches thick)

A2--13 to 25 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; common fine pores; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)

Bt--25 to 38 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/3) coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common fine pores; many thin clay films line pores and bridge mineral grains; neutral (pH 6.9); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)

BCt--38 to 45 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common fine pores; few thin clay films line pores and bridge mineral grains; neutral (pH 6.8); diffuse smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick).

C--45 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy sand, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist with few distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; massive, soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; no roots; many very fine and fine pores; 3 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.9).

TYPE LOCATION: Stanislaus County, California; about 2 miles East of Riverbank on the South side of the Oakdale Highway (HWY 108), 50 feet East of Langworth Road. Unsectionized.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 60 to 66 degrees F and the soil temperature is not below 47 degrees F at any time. The soil between the depth of 10 and 29 inches is dry in all parts from June 15 to October 15 and is moist in all parts from November 15 to May 15. Very coarse plus coarse sand is greater than 15 percent. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 5 percent.

The Ap or A horizon has dry colors of 7.5YR 5/4; 10YR 5/4, 5/3, or 5/2 dry and 10YR 3/1, 3/2, 3/3 3/4 or 7.5YR 3/4 moist. It is coarse sandy loam, sandy loam and fine sandy loam with 5 to 15 percent clay. Reaction is slightly acid to neutral. Organic matter content is 1.2 to 2 percent above 4 inches and is less than 1 percent below that depth.

The Bt horizon has colors of 10YR or 7.5YR 6/4, 5/4, 5/2, 5/3, 4/2, 4/3 dry and 10YR or 7.5YR 3/2, 4/2, 3/3, 3/4, 4/4 or 4/3 moist. Texture ranges from coarse sandy loam to light sandy clay loam with 15 to 25 percent clay and a average in the upper 20 inches of the argillic horizon of less than 18 percent clay. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.

The C horizon is 10YR 5/4, 4/4, or 7.5YR 6/4, 5/4 or 4/3 dry and 10YR or 7.5YR 5/4, 4/4, 4/3 or 3/3 moist. Texture is sandy loam or loamy sandy with 5 to 15 percent clay. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ahwahnee, Pachappa, and Palls series. Ahwahnee soils are 24 to 40 inches to a paralithic contact. Pachappa soils have lime in the lower part of the profile. Palls soils have a lithic contact between the 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Oakdale soils occur on smooth nearly level to gently sloping alluvial fans and terraces and in slightly depressed stream channels. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. They formed from coarse textured granitic alluvium. They occur at elevations of 50 to 150 feet in a climate with hot dry summers and cool moist foggy winters. Mean annual rainfall is 18 to 22 inches. Mean annual temperature is 61 to 63 degrees with average January temperature of 45 degrees F and average July temperature of 76 degrees F. Frost-free season is 250 to 300 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hanford and Tujunga series both of which lack argillic horizons.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; very slow to slow runoff; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas are cultivated and irrigated. Common crops are grapes, almonds, peaches, alfalfa, barley, beans, corn and walnuts.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Along alluvial fans and terraces of the Stanislaus River. The soils are not extensive.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Modesto-Turlock Area 1908.

REMARKS: The soil has an ochric epipedon and an argillic horizon. This relocation of the modal site is due to past type location being mapped another soil. The Oakdale soil as mapped in the 1970 Antelope Valley Area are excluded from this concept.

The activity class was added to the classification in January of 2003. Competing series were not checked at that time. - ET


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.