LOCATION PORTERSPRINGS TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Typic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Portersprings fine sandy loam--pasture. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 9 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sandy loam; dark brown (10YR 3/3) dry; weak medium granular structure; hard, friable; many fine roots; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
A2--9 to 16 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sandy loam; dark brown (10YR 3/3 dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine and medium roots; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redox concentrations; common medium dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) worm casts; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
(combined a subhorizons are 10 to 20 inches thick)
Bt1--16 to 22 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam; brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) redox concentrations; common very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on surfaces of prisms; few fine iron-manganese concretions; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--22 to 29 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) and few fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) redox concentrations; many dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on surface of prisms; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on surface of some peds; few iron-manganese concretions; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--29 to 42 inches; yellow brown (10YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) redox concentrations; common thin patchy dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on surfaces of peds; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on surface of some peds; few iron-manganese concretions; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (combined Bt subhorizons are 20 to 48 inches thick)
BCt1--42 to 51 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) redox concentrations; patchy clay films on surface of peds; few iron-manganese concretions; few fine masses of barite; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
BCt2--51 to 58 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) redox concentrations; patchy clay films on surfaces of peds; few iron-manganese concretions; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary.
BCt3--58 to 72 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots; common fine pores; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) redox concentrations; few thin patchy clay films on surface of peds; about 3 percent very pale brown (10YR 7/3) streaks and spots of albic materials; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (combined BCt subhorizons are 0 to 36 inches thick)
2C--72 to 87 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fine sand; single grained; loose, very friable; common fine roots; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) redox concentrations; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Houston County, Texas; Southwest of Mapleton on Texas Highway 21, 1.4 miles to Farm Road 2498; west on Farm Road 2498 3.8 miles to the entrance of Rattlesnake Ranch; south-southwest on ranch road for 1.3 miles; 300 feet north of road.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 60 to 80 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. The weighted average clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 20 to 30 percent. Some pedons have a few calcium carbonate concretions, films, or threads below a depth of 40 inches. Redoximorphic features are considered both contemporary and relic. This soil does not have aquic soil conditions in most years.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 2 or 3. Some pedons have a few redox concentrations in shades of brown or yellow in the lower part. The reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 through 6. Redox concentrations in shades of brown or red range from few to common. Some pedons have a few redox depletions. Texture is mainly sandy clay loam but the range includes fine sandy loam in some subhorizons. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid.
The BCt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 4 to 8. Redoximorphic features in shades of red, brown or gray range from few to many. Some pedons have a mixed matrix with these colors. Texture is loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam. The reaction ranges from very strongly acid to slightly alkaline.
The 2C horizon has colors in shades of brown or yellow. The texture is fine sand or loamy sand. The reaction ranges from moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other competing series, similar series are the Benchley, Bernaldo, Bonham, and Waskom soils. Benchley and Bonham soils are members of a fine family. Bernaldo soils do not have a mollic epipedon. Waskom soils have a mollic epipedon 20 to 40 inches thick and mixed mineralogy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Portersprings soils are on nearly level stream terraces. They are rarely flooded. Slopes are 0 to 1 percent. These soils formed in alluvial sediments. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 40 to 44 inches. Frost free days range from 235 to 245. The elevation ranges from 145 to 220 feet above sea level. The mean annual temperature ranges from 65 to 67 degrees F., and the Thornthwaite annual P-E index ranges 64 to 72.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Hainesville, Gowker, Kaufman and Kosse series. Hainesville soils have sandy control sections and are on slightly higher positions. Kaufman soils have very-fine control sections and are on associated flood plains. Gowker and Kosse soils are in slightly lower flood plain positions and they do not have an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained and moderate permeability. Runoff is negligible.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for cropland or improved pastureland. Corn, small grain, and grain sorghum are the principal crops. Pastures consist mainly of improved bermudagrass. However, bahiagrass, fescue and legumes such as white clover, arrowleaf clover and lespedeza are well adapted. Present tree vegetation is mainly water oak, pecan, ash and elm.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East Central Texas, MLRA 133B. This soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Madison County, Texas; 1989.
REMARKS: This soil was previously included within the Bernaldo series.
Horizons and features considered diagnostic for this pedon are: Mollic epipedon - 0 to 16 inches, the A horizon.
Argillic horizon - 16 to 72 inches, the Bt and BCt horizons.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Data by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Laboratory from the type location pedon in Houston County, S89TX-225-002.
SOIL INTERPRETATION RECORD NUMBER: TX1120.