LOCATION POND CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Natric Haploxeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Pond clay loam - annual grass pasture. (Colors for dry conditions unless otherwise noted)
A11--0 to 0.5 inch; light gray (10YR 7/2) clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) when moist; moderate thin platy structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky; abundant very fine roots; very few very fine vesicular pores; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5) slightly effervescent; abrupt smooth lower boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick )
A12--0.5 to 11 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) when moist; strong coarse angular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonplastic and slightly sticky; abundant very fine roots; very few very fine interstitial pores; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5), strongly effervescent; abrupt wavy lower boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick.)
A3--11 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) when moist; moderate very fine platy structure; slightly hard, friable, plastic and slightly sticky; some organic stains; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5), strongly effervescent; abrupt smooth lower boundary. (4 to 11 inches thick.)
B2t--15 to 44 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) when moist; massive; extremely hard, extremely firm, plastic and slightly sticky; very few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; few moderately thick clay films in pores and bridging sand grains; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5), strongly effervescent; abrupt wavy lower boundary. (8 to 30 inches thick.)
C--44 to 58 inches +; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) when moist; massive; weakly cemented noncontinuous plates, common fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0) slightly effervescent.
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; 400 feet west and 300 feet south of the east quarter corner of sec. 8, T. 26 S., R 24 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soils have ochric epipedons with values of 4 or less, moist; an argillic horizon which has >15 percent ESP. The solum ranges from 16 to 56 inches inches in thickness. The soils are usually dry and the mean annual soil temperature is 59 to 72 degrees F. Soil mineralogy is mixed.
The A horizons range in texture from fine sandy loam to loam and clay loam; in color from light gray and light brownish gray in hues of 10YR and 2.5Y with values of 5 to 7, chromas of 1 to 3; reaction from moderately to strongly alkaline and calcareous. There are areas in which the upper A, for a thickness up to 4 inches, may be light gray, massive, and noncalcareous.
The B2t horizon ranges in color from light gray, light brownish gray, very pale brown, grayish brown, in 10YR and 2.5Y hues with values of 4 to 7, chromas of 2 to 4; in texture from clay loam, sandy clay loam, to silty clay loam; in reaction from strongly to very strongly alkaline and moderately to strongly calcareous; in structure from massive to angular blocky.
The C horizons range in texture from sandy loam to loam and they may have thin weakly lime or silica cemented pans or plates which are not continuous. They are moderately to strongly alkaline and calcareous to noncalcareous.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no soils in the same family. Similar soils in other groups or orders are Hacienda and Waukena soils which have columnar Bt horizons and Traver soils which have sandy loam Bt horizons.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Pond soils occur on nearly level to undulating alluvial fans formed from alluvium from granitic rock. They occur at elevations of 40 to 2,600 feet, in an arid and semiarid mesothermal climate with mean annual rainfall of 1 to 8 inches, with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual temperature is about 58 to 63 degrees F., average January temperature about 45 degrees F., and average July temperature about 80 degrees F. Frost-free season averages about 230 - 260 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include Chino, Fresno, Lewis, Traver, Waukena and Hacienda. The Lewis and Fresno soils have duripans and the Chino soils lack argillic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly to moderately well drained. Runoff is slow to very slow. Permeability is slow to moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Atriplex polycarpa, pickle brush, vinegar weed, patches of annual grasses and tar weed. Many spots are bare of vegetation. Soils are used for range, cotton, alfalfa, barley and milo.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and southern San Joaquin Valley, Antelope Valley, California. The soils are extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the Upper San Joaquin Valley, California, 1917.
REMARKS: These soils were formerly classified in the Solonchak group. The present classification places this soil in a family with well drained soils. The criteria for the Aquic intergrade excludes this soil which is a Haplargid.
The activity class was added to the classification in February of 2003. Competing series were not checked at that time. - ET
OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 6/67.