LOCATION RONSON SD+NEEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Entic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ronson fine sandy loam - on a northeast-facing slope of 1 to 2 percent in cropland. When described the soil was dry to 4 inches and moist below. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 4 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) fine sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--4 to 12 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizons is 7 to 20 inches.)
AC--12 to 15 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
C--15 to 35 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, violent effervescence; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
Cr--35 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) weakly cemented sandstone, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Todd County, South Dakota; about 21 miles south and 7 miles east of Mission; 900 feet south and 100 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 21, T. 35 N., R. 27 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to sandstone bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The mollic epipedon is 7 to 20 inches thick. In some areas of native grass the upper few inches do not have free carbonate.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy fine sand. It is slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
The AC horizon has 10YR or 2.5Y hue, value of 4 to 7 and 3 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is typically fine sandy loam or sandy loam but the range includes loam with less than 18 percent clay. It is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has 2.5Y or 10YR hue, value of 5 to 8 and 4 to 7 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. It typically is sandy loam or fine sandy loam.
The Cr horizon is weakly to strongly cemented sandstone. When soft and moist, it is difficult to identify the bedding planes.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other soils in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nearly level to steep dissected tablelands. Slopes are convex and range from 0 to 30 percent, but most are less than 9 percent. The soils formed in residuum weathered from moderately soft calcareous sandstone. The mean annual temperature is 46 to 50 degrees F, and the annual precipitation is 18 to 22 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: There are the Anselmo, Doger, Elsmere, Holt, Manter, Rosebud, Tassel, and Vetal soils. The Anselmo, Doger, Holt, Manter, and Rosebud soils are on similar landscapes. The Anselmo, Doger, and Manter soils do not have sandstone bedrock within depths of 40 inches. In addition, Doger soils contain more sand and Manter soils have an argillic horizon. Holt soils have an argillic horizon. Rosebud soils have a lower mean annual precipitation. Elsmere soils have a seasonal high water table at depths of 1.5 to 3.0 feet and are on flood plains. Tassel soils are on steep nearby landscapes and have calcareous sandstone bedrock at depths of 10 to 20 inches. Vetal soils are in swales and have a mollic epipedon more than 20 inches thick.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is low to high. Permeability is moderately rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly in native range. Blue grama, little bluestem, sand bluestem, needleandthread, prairie sandreed and sedges are the main grasses. Alfalfa is the main crop.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central South Dakota and north-central Nebraska. The Ronson series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Tripp County, South Dakota, 1975.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of about 12 inches (Ap and A horizons).