LOCATION SPLENDORA TX

Established Series
CLN:JKW:RM
07/2014

SPLENDORA SERIES

The Splendora series consists of very deep, moderately well to somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in loamy fluviomarine deposits of Pleistocene age. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 19.5 degrees C (67 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 1350 mm (53 in).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Oxyaquic Paleudalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Splendora fine sandy loam in forest. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

A--0 to 15 cm, (0 to 6 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2), dry; weak medium granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine interstitial pores; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 26 cm [3 to 10 in] thick)

E--15 to 38 cm, (6 to 15 in); brown (10YR 5/3), fine sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3), dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine roots throughout; common fine tubular pores; 1 percent fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 2 percent fine distinct yellowish red (5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels; 1 percent fine worm casts; 2 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 30 mm (10 to 12 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 59 cm [4 to 23 in] thick)

Bt/E--38 to 71 cm, (15 to 28 in); 75 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and 15 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3), loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots throughout; common fine tubular pores; 15 percent distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) clay films on all faces of peds; 2 percent fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 5 percent fine distinct red (7.5R 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels; 1 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 35 mm (10 to 12 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 66 cm [6 to 26 in] thick)

Bt1--71 to 109 cm, (28 to 43 in); 80 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and 20 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3), loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots throughout; 15 percent distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) clay films on all faces of peds; 3 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 5 percent fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 10 percent fine distinct red (7.5R 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels; 5 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 45 mm (10 to 18 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; diffuse wavy boundary.

Bt2--109 to 142 cm, (43 to 56 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parts to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few fine roots throughout; 10 percent distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries in matrix surrounding redox concentrations; 10 percent fine distinct red (7.5R 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries on surfaces along root channels; 15 percent fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 10 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 45 mm (10 to 18 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; diffuse wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 22 to 107 cm [9 to 42 in] thick)

Btg--142 to 178 cm, (56 to 70 in); sandy clay loam, light gray (10YR 7/1); moderate medium prismatic structure parts to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few very fine roots throughout; 10 percent prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay films on all faces of peds; 20 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron with diffuse boundaries in matrix; 5 percent coarse prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 25 percent coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 5 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 45 mm (10 to 18 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; diffuse wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Btg horizons is 25 to 112 cm [10 to 44 in] thick)

Btgx--178 to 203 cm, (70 to 80 in); light gray (10YR 7/1), sandy clay loam; moderate coarse prismatic structure parts to moderate coarse subangular blocky; very hard, firm, weakly cemented, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; very fine roots throughout; 5 percent distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay films on vertical faces of peds; 15 percent distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay films on all faces of peds; 20 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron with diffuse boundaries in matrix; 30 percent coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with sharp boundaries in matrix; 1 percent nonflat subrounded moderately cemented 25 to 45 mm (10 to 18 in) ironstone nodules; very strongly acid; diffuse wavy boundary.

TYPE LOCATION: Montgomery County, Texas; from the intersection of US Interstate 45 and Texas Highway 105 in Conroe; 6.1 miles south on US Interstate 45 to Farm Road 1488; 2.5 miles west on Farm Road 1488; 1 mile south and 0.3 mile east on forest road; 100 feet south; Latitude: 30 degrees 12 minutes 25.00 seconds N; Longitude: 95 degrees 25 minutes 10.00 seconds west W. Tamina topographic quadrangle; WGS 84.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: A udic soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) below the soil surface and remains dry less than 90 cumulative days in most years. Soil moisture conditions are fairly constant throughout the year, while July through September is the driest period; the fall and spring months are the wettest.
Mean annual soil temperature: 20.6 to 21.7 degrees C (69 to 71 degrees F)
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent

A Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Ironstone nodules: amount-0 to 1 percent
Reaction: extremely acid to moderately acid

E Horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Redox concentrations: amount-0 to 5 percent, shades-brown
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 2 percent, shades-gray
Ironstone nodules: amount-0 to 2 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid

Bt/E Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 35 percent, shades-yellow, brown, or red
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 20 percent shades-gray
Ironstone nodules: amount-0 to 10 percent
Reaction: extremely acid to moderately acid

Bt Horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or clay
Redox concentrations: amount-5 to 35 percent, shades-yellow, brown, or red
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 20 percent shades-gray
Ironstone nodules: amount-0 to 15 percent
Reaction: extremely acid to slightly acid

Btg and Btxg Horizons
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, clay
Redox concentrations: amount-15 to 50 percent, shades-yellow, brown, or red
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 20 percent shades-gray, green or blue
Ironstone nodules: amount-0 to 8 percent
Reaction: extremely acid to slightly acid

COMPETING SERIES: There are no series in the same family. Similar soils include the Dallardsville (TX), Katy (TX), Kirbyville (TX), Kountze (TX), Westcott(T) (TX)series
Dallardsville soils: have less than 35 percent base saturation in the lower part of the argillic horizon
Katy soils: are in a hyperthermic soil temperature regime
Kirbyville soils: have less than 35 percent base saturation in the lower part of the argillic horizon.
Kountze soils: have less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section; have less than 35 percent base saturation in the lower part of the argillic horizon
Westcott soils: have less than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: Loamy sediments derived from the Lissie Formation of early to mid-Pleistocene age.
Landscape: inland dissected coastal plains
Landform: interfluves
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Mean annual air temperature: 19.5 to 20.6 degrees C (67 to 69 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 1219 to 1473 mm (48 to 58 in)
Precipitation pattern: uniform throughout the year with slight peaks in the spring and summer
Frost-free period: 240 to 300 days
Elevation: 22.9 to 46 m (75 to 150 ft)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 68 to 80

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Segno (TX), Sorter (TX), Tarkington (T) (TX), Westcott (T) (TX), and Waller (TX) series.
Segno soils: are well drained and on a higher landform
Sorter soils: are poorly drained and on flats
Tarkingon soils: are on pimple mounds
Westcott soils: are in a coarse-loamy family and on a similar landform
Waller soils: are poorly drained and on flats

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well to somewhat poorly drained. Runoff is medium to high. A perched water table is at a depth of 38 to 71 cm (15 to 28 in) and lasts from December to April in normal years. An apparent water table starts at a depth of 178 cm (70 in) and lasts from December to April in normal years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for timber production and wildlife habitat. The main trees are loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, longleaf pine, water oak, willow oak, southern red oak, and sweetgum. Understory includes yaupon, southern bayberry, pinehill bluestem, longleaf uniola, and sedges.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Gulf Coast Flatwoods (MLRA 152B) of southeast Texas. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Montgomery County, Texas, 1965.

REMARKS: During the update of MLRA 152B observations of these soils indicate saturation occurs but not aquic conditions. In some survey areas, these soils were previously correlated as the Kirbyville series. During the update of MLRA 152B, soil survey office lab data indicate these areas are alfisols.

Diagnostic horizons and features for this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon--0 to 38 cm (0 to 15 in) (A and E horizons)

Argillic horizon--38 to 203 cm (15 to 80 in) (Bt/E, Bt1, Bt2, Btg, and Btgx horizons)

Glossic horizon-38 to 71 cm (15 to 28 in) (Bt/E horizon)

ADDITIONAL DATA: Kellogg Soil Survey Lab data pending on pedon S12TX2911034 from Liberty Count. Data from 2 pedons in Montgomery County, Texas is published in SSIR-30;--S64TX-170-1 and S64TX-170-2. Additional data available in PhD thesis by Michael J. Vepraskas, Soil Morphology and Moisture Regimes along a Hillslope in the Texas Coastal Plain, 1980, Texas A&M University.

Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.