LOCATION RAMOTH CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Mollic Haploxeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Ramoth sandy loam-on a south facing slope of 5 percent at an elevation of 180 feet in fallowed grain field. When described on June 29, 1987 the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap1--0 to 4 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; single grained; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine and common fine interstitial pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt irregular boundary. (4 to 5 inches thick)
Ap2--4 to 8 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and few very fine tubular pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 5 inches thick)
A--8 to 14 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial and common very fine tubular pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--14 to 22 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial, common very fine and fine, few medium tubular pores; common thin clay films bridging mineral grains and few thin clay films lining pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Bt2--22 to 32 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam with pink (7.5YR 7/4) coatings on ped faces, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium prismatic structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and medium roots; many very fine interstitial and tubular, and common fine tubular pores; common thin clay films bridging mineral grains and few thin clay films on ped faces and lining pores; slightly acid (pH 6.3); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Bt3--32 to 40 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) sandy clay loam with pink (7.5YR 7/4) coatings on ped faces, brown (7.5YR 5/4) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine interstitial and common very fine and fine tubular pores; many thin clay films bridging mineral grains, common thin clay films lining pores and few moderately thick clay films on ped faces; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bt4--40 to 54 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy clay loam with pink (7.5YR 7/4) coatings on ped faces, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6, 4/6) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and medium roots; few very fine interstitial, many very fine and few medium tubular pores; many thin clay films bridging mineral grains and lining pores, common moderately thick clay films on ped faces and few thick reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay films on ped faces; slightly acid (pH 6.3); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 14 inches thick)
Bt5--54 to 60 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) coarse sandy loam with pink (7.5YR 7/4) coatings on ped faces, yellowish red (5YR 5/6) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common thin clay films bridging mineral grains and lining pores, and few moderately thick clay films bridging mineral grains; slightly acid (pH 6.5).
TYPE LOCATION: San Joaquin County, California; about 3 miles northeast of Clements; 2,200 feet north and 575 feet east of the southwest corner of section 7, T.4N., R.9E., MDBM, Clements Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 60 to 65 degrees F. The soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is above 47 degrees F. the entire year. The soil moisture control section, 8 to 24 inches, is dry in all parts from early June to late September and is moist in some or all parts from early November to late May. Base saturation ranges from 75 to 100 percent in some part of the upper 30 inches of the Bt horizon. The percent of coarse and very coarse sand ranges from 15 to 30 percent throughout the pedon.
The A horizon has color of 10YR 6/3, 5/4, 5/3, 5/2; 7.5YR 6/4, 6/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/4, 3/3, 3/2; 7.5YR 4/4. Clay content is 9 to 15 percent. Organic matter content is 1 to 2 percent in the upper 4 inches and less than 1 percent below 9 inches. It is moderately acid or slightly acid.
The Bt horizon has color of 7.5YR 6/6, 6/4, 5/6, 5/4; 5YR 5/6. Moist color is 7.5YR 5/6, 5/4, 4/6, 4/4; 5YR, 5/6 or 4/6. It is sandy loam, coarse sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Clay content is 12 to 20 percent in the upper part, 20 to 27 percent in the middle part, and 5 to 15 percent in the lower part. It is moderately acid or slightly acid in the upper part and slightly acid or neutral in the lower part.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ahwahnee, Oakdale, Pachappa and Palls series. Ahwahnee soils have a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Oakdale soils have solum thickness of less than 60 inches, and have moderately rapid permeability. Pachappa soils have solum thickness of less than 60 inches and have lime in the lower B horizon. Palls soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ramoth soils are on dissected terraces and have slopes of 5 to 30 percent. They are on erosional (degradational) surfaces. They formed in alluvium from granitic sources. Elevation is 100 to 190 feet. Climate is subhumid with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 16 to 18 inches. Mean annual temperature is about 60 degrees F., average January temperature is 45 degrees F., and average July temperature is 77 degrees F. The frost-free period is 250 to 275 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bruella, Cometa, Montpellier and Rocklin soils. Bruella has a fine-loamy textured control section and is on terraces. The Cometa soils have a fine textured control section. Montpellier soils have a fine-loamy control section and Rocklin soils have a duripan at 20 to 40 inches. The Cometa, Montpellier and Rocklin soils are on higher dissected terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soil is used for livestock grazing, dryland grain and irrigated vineyards. Vegetation in uncultivated areas consists of blue oak, soft chess, wild oats and filaree. Most areas have been cleared of oaks.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Ramoth soils occur in northeastern San Joaquin Valley. The series is not extensive, MLRA is 17.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: San Joaquin County, California, 1990.
REMARKS: The activity class was added to the classification in January of 2003. Competing series were not checked at that time. - ET
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to about 14 inches (Ap1, Ap2, A horizons)
Argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 14 to 54 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4)