LOCATION PLEITITO CA

Tentative Series
Rev. IRD/SG/KJO/MRS/KDA/KP
12/2022

PLEITITO SERIES

The Pleitito series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from sedimentary and/or granitoid rock. Pleitito soils are on alluvial fans and flood plains. Slope is 1 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 229 mm (9 in) and the mean annual temperature is about 18 degrees C (64 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, thermic Typic Xerofluvents

TYPICAL PEDON: Pleitito sandy loam, on a stream terrace with a northeast aspect, at an elevation of 457 meters (1,150 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on September 24, 1991, the soil was dry throughout.)

A1--0 to 8 cm (0 to 3 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 5 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary.

A2--8 to 20 cm (3 to 8 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 5 percent clay; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 5 percent 2 to 75 millimeter gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 5 to 20 centimeters [2 to 8 inches] thick)

C1--20 to 28 cm (8 to 11 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) stratified sand to fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; 5 percent clay; strong thick platy structure parting to weak thick platy; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

C2--28 to 46 cm (11 to 18 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 3 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many fine and very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 35 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

C3--46 to 53 cm (18 to 21 in); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) stratified very gravely sand to fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; 3 percent clay; moderate thin and very thin platy structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 5 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); abrupt smooth boundary.

C4--53 to 74 cm (21 to 29 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 9 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular and common fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 45 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (No combined thickness is given for the C horizons because of variability of vertical and horizontal extent)

Ab--74 to 122 cm (29 to 48 in); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; 9 percent clay; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular and few very fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; carbonates disseminated; 10 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 23 centimeters [0 to 9 inches] thick)

Bkb--122 to 165 cm (48 to 65 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; 9 percent clay; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular and few very fine interstitial pores; strongly effervescent; carbonates segregated as few fine threads and coatings on the underside of pebbles; 10 percent gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California, Southwest Part; in map unit 561, Laval-Pleitito complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes; about 42 kilometers (26 miles) southwest of downtown Bakersfield; 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) west of Interstate 5; 259 meters (850 feet) north and 826 meters (2,710 feet) west of the southeast corner of section 36, T. 11 N., R. 20 W.; San Bernardino Base and Meridian; latitude 34 degrees, 59 minutes, 12 seconds north and longitude 118 degrees, 57 minutes, 46 seconds west; USGS Grapevine, California, Quadrangle, NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature: Average annual is 16 to 18 degrees C (61 to 65 degrees F) and the soil temperature is never below 8 degrees C (47 degrees F). The soils have a thermic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have an aridic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry throughout from about mid April to mid December and is never moist more than 90 consecutive days.

Diagnostic feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 5 to 18 cm

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent gravel
Clay content: 2 to 10 percent
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline

A horizons:
Hue: 10YR dry and moist
Value: 6 dry and 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry and moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam
Content of clay: 3 to 10 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.2 to 1.5
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel

C horizons:
Hue: 10YR dry and moist
Value: 6 or 7 dry and 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry and moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sand, sandy loam, or stratified sand to fine sandy loam
Content of clay: 2 to 10 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.01 to 0.6 percent
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 50 percent gravel

Ab horizon:
Hue: 10YR dry and moist
Value: 5 dry and 3 moist
Chroma: 3 dry and moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam
Content of clay: 5 to 10 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.2 to 1.2 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 3 percent
Content of rock fragments: 5 to 20 percent gravel

Bkb horizon:
Hue: 10YR dry and moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry and 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 dry and moist
Texture of the fine earth fraction: sandy loam
Content of clay: 5 to 10 percent
Content of organic matter: 0.01 to 0.1 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 3 percent
Content of rock fragments: 5 to 20 percent gravel

COMPETING SERIES: This is the San Emigdio series. San Emigdio (MLRA 14, 17, and 19) soils do not have Ab or Bkb horizons.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pleitito soils are on alluvial fans and flood plains. Slope is 1 to 15 percent. These soils formed in alluvium derived dominantly from sedimentary and/or granitoid rock. Elevations are 142 to 887 meters (465 to 2,910 feet). The climate is arid with hot dry summers and cool, somewhat moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 178 to 254 mm (7 to 10 in). The mean annual temperature is 16 to 18 degrees C. (61 to 65 degrees F). Mean July temperature is about 29 degrees C (85 degrees F.), and mean January temperature is about 8 degrees C (47 degrees F). The frost-free season is 250 to 300 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cerini, Excelsior, Guijarral, Laval, and Tupman soils. Cerini soils, on alluvial fans, have a fine-loamy particle-size class. Excelsior soils, on alluvial fans and bars and channels on flood plains, have an aridic soil moisture regime. Guijarral soils, on fan remnants, have a cambic horizon and an aridic soil moisture regime. Laval soils, on alluvial fans and/or flood plains, have a sandy-skeletal particle-size class. Tupman soils, on fan remnants and stream terraces, have a cambic horizon and an aridic soil moisture regime.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; high saturated hydraulic conductivity. These soils are subject to brief, frequent flooding from January to April.

USE AND VEGETATION: Pleitito soils are used for livestock grazing. Native vegetation is allscale saltbush, rabbitbush, red brome and redstem filaree.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California, MLRA 17. The series is not extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Kern County, California, 1992. Pleitito is the name of a local stream.

REMARKS:
Particle size control section for this pedon: 25 to 100 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:
Ochric epipedon 0 to 20 cm
Fluvent Lab data supports irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth

Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.