LOCATION PREMIER CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, thermic Xeric Torriorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Premier coarse sandy loam, on a 16 percent slope under grasses at 615 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on 3/14/78 the soil was moist throughout the profile.)
A11--0 to 1 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many fine and very fine interstitial, many very fine tubular pores; about 5 percent fine pebbles (2-5mm); neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (1/2 to 2 inches thick)
A12--1 to 12 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; about 5 percent fine pebbles (2-5mm); strongly effervescent, disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
C1--12 to 33 inches; variegated light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) and brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; about 5 percent pebbles (5mm to 40mm); strongly or violently effervescent; disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); diffuse smooth boundary. (21 to 25 inches thick)
C2--33 to 61 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) coarse sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; 5 percent pebbles (5mm to 40mm); violently effervescent; disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; a roadcut just southwest of an oil well pad and 75 feet southwest of a drainageway in the NW1/4, NW1/4 NW1/4 sec. 21, T. 28 S., R. 27 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil between the depths of 10 to 27 inches is dry in all parts from April 1 to about December 1. The moisture control section is moist in some part, less than 90 consecutive days. The soil moisture regime is aridic bordering on xeric. The mean annual soil temperature varies from 64 degrees to 67 degrees F. and is never less than 47 degrees F. Rock fragments range from 0 to 5 percent and size ranges from 2 to 40mm in diameter with most of the 6 to 40mm in the C horizon. The soil is coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam with 5 to 18 percent clay content.
The A horizon has dry color of 10YR 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 6/3 or 6/4 and moist color of 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 4/3 or 4/4. Only the upper 2 inches of the A horizon has moist colors of 10YR 3/2 or 3/3. It has weak or moderate subangular blocky structure or is massive. The upper part of the A horizon is neutral and the lower part is mildly to moderately alkaline. Typically, the A horizon in noncalcareous from 0 to 2 inches and it is strongly or violently effervescent with disseminated lime below a depth of 2 inches.
The C horizon has dry color of 10YR 5/3, 6/3, 6/4, 7/3 or 7/4 and moist color of 10YR 3/3, 4/3, 4/4, 5/3, 5/4 or 6/4. The C horizon is strongly or violently effervescent with disseminated lime. Calcium carbonate ranges from 10 to 12 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bitterwater, Hesperia, and Kimberlina series in other families. Bitterwater and Kimberlina soils are dry for more than 275 days. Hesperia soils are nonacid in the reaction control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Premier soils are on dissected stream terraces. Slopes are 2 to 30 percent. The soils formed in predominantly granitic alluvium. Elevations are 500 to 1,000 feet. The climate is arid with hot, dry summers and cool, somewhat moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 7 to 9 inches. Mean January temperature is 46 degrees F.; mean July temperature is 82 degrees F.; mean annual temperature varies from 61 degrees to 63 degrees F. Frost-free season is 250 to 300 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Delano, Chanac, and Exeter soils. Delano soils have argillic horizons and are fine-loamy. Chanac soils are fine-loamy and have B2ca horizons. Exeter soils have an argillic horizon and a duripan.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow or medium runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly as rangeland. Oil wells are a common feature on this soil. Some irrigated cropland such as almonds, cotton and citrus orchards are grown. Natural vegetation is wild oats, red brome, filaree and a few Atriplex shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Stream terraces on the east side of the southern San Joaquin Valley, north of Bakersfield. The soils are of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kern County, Northwestern Part, California, 1982.