LOCATION POTTER TX+NM OK
Established Series
Rev. RM-TCB
09/2022
POTTER SERIES
The Potter series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately slowly permeable soils that formed in calcareous, loamy alluvium from the Ogallala Formation of Miocene-Pliocene age. Potter soils are on very gently sloping to steep draws, escarpments, or valley sides. Slopes range from 1 to 40 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 483 mm (19 in), and the mean annual temperature is 16 degrees C (61 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, carbonatic, thermic Petronodic Ustic Haplocalcids
TYPICAL PEDON: Potter gravelly loam--on a northeast facing, convex, 3 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of about 940 m (3,073 ft). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 5 cm (0 to 2 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure and moderate fine granular; slightly hard, friable; many very fine and fine roots; 16 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments; 30 percent of the soil surface is covered with strongly cemented to indurated calcrete fragments 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) across the long axis; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
A2--5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in); brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; many very fine and fine roots; few fine pores; 48 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 5 to 25 cm).
Bkk--15 to 38 cm (6 to 15 in); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; common very fine and fine roots; few fine pores; 38 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments; many medium and coarse masses of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. (0 to 25 cm thick).
BCkk1--38 to 74 cm (15 to 29 in); white (10YR 8/1) very gravelly sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; 53 percent by volume of very strongly cemented, thin platy calcrete fragments and nodules, 2.5 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) on the long axis, plates are fractured and undersides have about 2.5 to 6 mm long pendants of calcium carbonate; 32 percent of the volume is carbonate masses and loamy soil material; few fine and medium roots mainly of woody plants between plates; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. (25 to 76 cm thick).
BCkk2--74 to 140 cm (29 to 55 in); white (10YR 8/1) extremely gravelly fine sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; 61 percent by volume of very strongly cemented, thick platy calcrete fragments and nodules, 2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) on the long axis, plates are fractured and common oxide stains on undersides of pendants and plates; 26 percent of the volume is carbonate masses and loamy soil material; few fine and medium roots mainly of woody plants between fractured plates; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. (51 to 76 cm thick).
BCkk3--140 203 cm (55 to 80 in); white (10YR 8/1) extremely gravelly fine sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; 63 percent by volume of very strongly cemented, thick platy calcrete fragments and nodules, 2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) on the long axis, plates are fractured and common oxide stains on undersides of pendants and plates; 23 percent of the volume is carbonate masses and loamy soil material; few fine and medium roots mainly of woody plants between fractured plates; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Lubbock County, Texas; from the intersection of Loop 289 and State Highway 331 in southeast Lubbock; 322 m (0.2 mile) east on paved road; 800 m (0.5 mile) southeast on private road; 46 m (150 ft) north into rangeland along the edge of Yellowhouse Canyon; Latitude: 33 degrees, 32 minutes, 1.4 seconds N; Longitude: 101 degrees, 46 minutes, 50.2 seconds W; Lubbock East, Texas USGS quad; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: An aridic moisture regime bordering on ustic. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts for 150 to 225 days, cumulative, in normal years. The soil is intermittently moist April through September. October through March are the driest months. As a result of very high runoff the soil moisture control section is dry for longer periods than normal for the climate zone.
Mean annual soil temperature: 16 to 18 degrees C (59 to 64 degrees F).
Depth to calcic horizon: 5 to 25 cm (2 to 10 in).
Solum thickness: greater than 203 cm (80 in).
Particle-size control section: 15 to 26 percent silicate clay, and averages more than 35 percent coarse fragments.
A horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sandy loam or loam and their gravelly to very gravelly counterparts.
Coarse fragments: 5 to 70 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments.
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: slight or moderately alkaline
Bkk horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam and their very gravelly or extremely gravelly counterparts.
Coarse fragments: 35 to 70 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments.
Secondary calcium carbonate: 30 to 60 percent by volume carbonate masses or weakly to moderately cemented carbonate nodules.
Secondary calcium carbonate: 30 to 50 percent by volume as carbonate masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates.
Calcium carbonate by weight: 20 to 40 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
BCkk horizons:
Hue: 7.5 YR or 10YR
Value: 7 or 8, 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam and their very gravelly or extremely gravelly counterparts.
Coarse fragments: 35 to 85 percent by volume of strongly cemented calcium carbonate nodules and indurated calcrete fragments. BCkk horizons are weakly to strongly cemented in some parts but are not laterally continuous. Pendants of calcium carbonate are on the lower surface of calcrete plates in the BCkk horizon in some pedons.
Secondary calcium carbonate: 50 to 70 percent by volume as carbonate masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates.
Calcium carbonate by weight: 50 to 80 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family. Similar soils include the
Friona,
Kimberson,
Kimbrough,
Laverne,
Sharvana,
Slaughter,
Tascosa, and
Yellowhouse series.
Friona,
Kimberson,
Kimbrough,
Laverne,
Sharvana, and
Slaughter series: have a petrocalcic horizon.
Tascosa series: contains more than 35 percent by volume quartzite gravel in the control section.
Yellowhouse series: solum is 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 in) thick.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: calcareous, loamy alluvium from the Ogallala Formation of Miocene-Pliocene age.
Landform: very gently sloping to steep draws, escarpments, or valley sides.
Slopes: 1 to 40 percent.
Mean annual air temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C (57 to 63 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 406 to 559 mm (16 to 22 in).
Precipitation pattern: Precipitation is mostly even throughout the year with the exception of November through March being the driest months and April through October being the wettest months
Frost-free period: 185 to 220 days.
Elevation: 701 to 1,615 m (2,300 to 5,300 ft).
Thornthwaite annual P-E Index Values: 25 to 36.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the similar
Kimberson,
Kimbrough,
Tascosa, and
Yellowhouse series and the
Berda,
Mansker,
Mobeetie,
Tulia, and
Veal series.
Berda and
Mobeetie soils: are on slightly lower landscape positions and do not have over 35 percent coarse fragments in the particle-size control section.
Kimberson and
Kimbrough soils: are on nearly level to very gently sloping plains.
Mansker and
Tulia: soils are on higher landscape positions and have an argillic horizon.
Tascosa soils: are on similar landscape positions.
Veal soils: are on similar landscape positions and does not have over 35 percent coarse fragments in the particle-size control section.
Yellowhouse soils: are on similar landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained and moderately slow permeability. Runoff is moderate on 1 to 5 percent slopes and high on 5 to 20 percent slopes, and very high on slopes of more than 20 percent.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used entirely for livestock grazing. Vegetation is dominantly sideoats grama, little bluestem, hairy grama, blue grama, slim tridens, sand dropseed, and perennial threeawn. A few woody species such as catclaw, yucca, feather dalea, skunkbush, juniper, hackberry, and mesquite occur. This soil has been correlated to the Very Shallow (R-077EY068TX) range site in MLRA-77E.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains, Breaks (MLRA 77E of LRR H) of western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and northwestern Oklahoma. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Potter County, Texas; 1929.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 15 cm. (A horizons)
Calcic horizon: 15 to 203 cm (6 to 80 in). (Bk, BCkk horizons).
Plugged (kk) horizon: 38 to 203 cm (15 to 80 in). (BCkk horizons)
Note: the kk feature is defined as pedogenic carbonate accumulation that is characterized by laterally continuous carbonates that have engulfed rock, sand, silt, and clay particles; plugged the macroporosity of the soil horizon with 50 percent or more calcium carbonate; and obliterated the original soil structure.
ADDITIONAL DATA: DATA: KSSL data available; S98TX-303-002 (Lubbock County, Texas); S06NM-041-001 (Roosevelt County, New Mexico).
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Twelfth Edition, 2014.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.