LOCATION SPARENBERG TX+NM
Established Series
Rev. TCB-RM
09/2014
SPARENBERG SERIES
The Sparenberg series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in clayey lacustrine deposits of Quaternary age. These nearly level soils are on the floor of playa basins that are 0.6 to 15 m (2 to 50 ft) below the surrounding plain and range in size from a few acres to more than 50 acres. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 483 mm (19 in), and mean annual air temperature is about 16 degrees C (61 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Udic Haplusterts
TYPICAL PEDON: Sparenberg clay, midway between microhigh and microlow, 0.2 percent slope in playa basin at an elevation of about 922 m (3,025 ft). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 cm (0 to 4 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure and moderate medium angular blocky; hard, firm; very sticky and plastic; common very fine and fine roots; cracks 2.5 cm (1 in) wide at the surface extend through the horizon; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 38 cm [3 to 15 in] thick)
Bw--10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to strong medium angular blocky; extremely hard, very firm; very sticky and plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; few faint vertical lenses of dark brown (10YR 3/3) crack fill material on faces of peds; cracks 2.5 cm (1 in) wide extend through the horizon; few strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron stains in pores; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 25 cm [0 to 10 in] thick)
Bss1--25 to 43 cm (10 to 17 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate coarse wedge-shaped aggregates parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; very sticky and plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; few faint vertical lenses of dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) crack fill material on faces of peds; common distinct slickensides on horizontal faces of peds; cracks 2.5 cm (1 in) wide extend through the horizon; few faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; few fine distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron stains on faces of peds; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bss2--43 to 71 cm (17 to 28 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate coarse wedge-shaped aggregates parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; very sticky and plastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; few faint vertical lenses of dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) crack fill material on faces of peds; common distinct slickensides on horizontal faces of peds; cracks 2.5 cm (1 in) wide extend through the horizon; few faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bss3--71 to 119 cm (28 to 47 in); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate coarse wedge-shaped aggregates parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; very sticky and plastic; few fine roots; common fine and medium tubular pores; few faint vertical lenses of pale brown (10YR 6/3) crack fill material on faces of peds; common distinct slickensides on horizontal faces of peds; cracks 2.5 cm (0.5 in) wide extend through the horizon; few fine calcium carbonate nodules; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
Bss4--119 to 155 cm (47 to 61 in); gray (10YR 5/1) and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate coarse wedge-shaped aggregates parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm; few fine and common medium roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; few faint vertical lenses of pale brown (10YR 6/3) crack fill material on faces of peds; common distinct slickensides on horizontal faces of peds; cracks 2.5 cm (0.5 in) wide extend through the horizon; few fine calcium carbonate nodules; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Bss horizons is 102 to 152 cm [40 to 60 in])
Bkss--155 to 203 cm (61 to 80 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; common fine distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) mottles; moderate coarse wedge-shaped aggregates parting to strong medium angular blocky structure; hard, firm; very sticky and plastic; few fine and medium roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; few distinct slickensides on horizontal faces of peds; common fine masses and concretions of calcium carbonate, about 5 percent; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Lynn County, Texas; from the intersection of Farm Road 211 and Farm Road 1054 2.7 miles southeast of Wilson; 3 miles east on Farm Road 211; 1.3 miles south on county road; 400 ft west in playa basin; Latitude: 33 degrees, 16 minutes, 56 seconds N; Longitude: 101 degrees, 38 minutes, 15 seconds W; Wilson, Texas USGS quad; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: An ustic moisture regime bordering on udic. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts more than 180 but less than 205 cumulative days in normal years. July through August and November through March are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in September through October and April through June. These soils receive runoff and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods of time than the soils of surrounding uplands.
Mean annual soil temperature: 16 to 18 degrees C (60 to 65 degrees F).
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 25 to more than 152 cm (10 to more than 60 in).
Depth to slickensides: 13 to 51 cm (5 to 20 in).
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 in).
Particle-size control section: 40 to 50 percent silicate clay.
This is a cyclic soil and undisturbed areas have gilgai microrelief with microhighs 10 to 46 cm (4 to 18 in) higher than microlows. Distance between the center of the microhigh and the center of the microlow is about 1.5 to 4.6 m (5 to 15 ft). The microhigh makes up about 25 percent, the intermediate, or area between the high and low, about 50 percent, and the microlow about 25 percent. Cracks open and close each year except during higher than normal rainfall years, and remain open for less than 150 cumulative days during most years. When dry, 1 to 7.6 cm (0.4 to 3 in) wide cracks extend from the surface to a depth of 102 cm (40 in) or more. Cracks are more prominent in the microlows. COLE is more than 0.07. Where redox features exceed 3 percent, they occur in less than 25 percent of each pedon. The range in characteristics represents 50 percent or more of each pedon unless otherwise stated.
Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 or 4, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3
Redoximorphic features: none or few
Texture: clay
Effervescence: none to strong
Reaction: moderately acid to moderately alkaline
Bw horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5, 2 to 4 moist (where moist color values are 4 they comprise less than 50 percent of the matrix)
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: none or few
Texture: clay
Effervescence: none to strong
Reaction: slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline
Bss horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 5, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: none or few
Texture: clay
Visible calcium carbonate: ranges from 0 to 2 percent in the form of films, threads, and concretions
Effervescence: none to strong
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline
Bkss horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 8, 3 to 7 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Redoximorphic features: none or few
Texture: clay
Calcium carbonate equivalent: less than 15 percent
Visible calcium carbonate: ranges from 3 to 40 percent in the form of threads, masses, and concretions
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Bleiblerville,
Branyon,
Burleson,
Clarita,
Deport,
Dimebox,
Ellis,
Fairlie,
Heiden,
Houston Black,
Lazare,
Leson,
Luling, McLean,
Ovan,
Sanger,
Slidell, and the
Watonga series. Similar soils are the
Chapel,
Lazbuddie,
Lockney,
Ranco, and
Randall series.
Bleiblerville,
Branyon,
Burleson,
Clarita,
Deport,
Dimebox,
Ellis,
Fairlie,
Heiden, HoustonBlack,
Lazare,
Leson,
Luling,
Ovan,
Sanger,
Slidell, and
Watonga soils: occur in a zone of greater annual precipitation.).
Chapel soils: have a calcic horizon.
Lazbuddie and
Lockney soils: have a calcic horizon and cracks that remain open
for 210 cumulative days during most years.
McLean soils: have 50 to 60 percent silicate clay in the particle-size control
section.
Ranco and
Randall soils: have aquic moisture conditions during most years.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: clayey lacustrine deposits of Quaternary age.
Landform: on the floor of playa basins that are 0.6 to 15 m (2 to 50 ft) below the surrounding plain and range in size from a few acres to more than 50 acres.
Slopes: range from 0 to 1 percent.
Mean annual air temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C (57 to 63 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 432 to 533 mm (17 to 21 in).
Frost-free period: 185 to 220 days.
Elevation: 792 meters to 1,463 m (2,600 to 4,800 ft).
Thornthwaite annual P-E Index Values: 25 to 36.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the similar
Chapel and
Ranco series and also the
Acuff,
Amarillo,
Drake,
Lofton,
Midessa,
Olton,
Pep,
Portales, and
Posey series.
Chapel soils: on similar landscape positions and have a calcic horizon.
Ranco soils: on similar landscape position and have aquic conditions in most years.
Acuff,
Amarillo,
Midessa,
Pep,
Posey, and
Portales soils: on slightly higher landscape positions, have less than 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section and have calcic horizons. In addition, Acuff, Amarillo, and Posey soils have an argillic horizon.
Lofton and
Olton soils: on slightly higher landscape positions and have an argillic horizon.
Drake soils: on calcareous eolian dunes and have 35 percent or less silicate clay in the particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Very slow permeability. Surface runoff is negligible. These soils occasionally pond for brief to long periods.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for livestock grazing and some crop production.
Many areas are planted to wheat in the fall and utilized for livestock pasture
during the winter months. During dry years, some areas are cultivated to cotton
or grain sorghum. Native vegetation varies according to amount of water
available. It includes western wheatgrass, buffalograss, blue grama, vine
mesquite, Texas blueweed, kochia, western ragweed, cocklebur, sunflower, and
mares-tail. Bur ragweed, sedges, spike rush, bushy knotweed, frog-fruit, and
saltmarsh aster may occur in wetter areas. This soil has been correlated to the Playa (R077CY027TX) ecological site in MLRA-77C.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains, Southern Part (MLRA 77C in LRR H) of western Texas and eastern New Mexico. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: MLRA-77 Soil Survey; Lynn County, Texas; 1995.
REMARKS: The Sparenberg series was formerly included in the Randall series.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 in). (Ap and Bw horizons)
Vertic features - 25 to 203 cm (10 to 80 in) (Bss & Bkss horizons) wedge-shaped aggregates and slickensides. Cracks open and close each year except during higher than normal rainfall years, and remain open for less than 150 cumulative days during most years. When dry, 1 to 7.6 cm (0.4 to 3 in) wide cracks extend from the surface to a depth of 102 cm (40 in) or more.
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL - S94TX-305-001 (Lynn County, Texas); S00TX-445-001 (Terry County, Texas).
Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.