LOCATION STROMAL NMEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, thermic Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Stromal fine sand--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A1--0 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weakfine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; common very fine pores; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 11 inches thick)
A2--8 to 17 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; common very fine pores; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (8 to 10 inches thick)
Bt--17 to 24 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; common very fine pores; common thin clay bridges between sand grains; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Btk--24 to 28 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine pores; few thin clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; many medium calcium carbonate concretions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bk--28 to 50 inches; white (10YR 8/1) fine sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine pores; calcium carbonate engulfed; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 25 inches thick)
C--50 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy fine sand, light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Chaves County, New Mexico, 80 feet east and 0.4 of a mile south of windmill in Sec. 34, T. 9 S., R. 31 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: Intermittently moist in some part of the soil moisture control section December through March and May through September.
Soil Temperature: 59 to 64 degrees F.
Depth to the calcic horizon: 20 to 40 inches
Depth to textures finer than loamy fine sand: 20 to 30 inches
A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: fine sand or loamy fine sand
Reaction: Neutral or slightly alkaline
Bt horizon:
Hue:7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Clay content: 8 to 18 percent on a weighted average
Bk horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 7 or 8 dry, 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam, or loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family. Similar soils are the Jalmar and Pyote series. Jalmar soils have more than 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section, and do not have a calcic horizon. Pyote soils do not have a calcic horizon within 40 inches. In addition, Pyote soils have siliceous mineralogy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Stromal soils are on high terraces and formed in calcareous alluvium and eolian materials. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 14 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 58 to 62 degrees F. The frost-free period is 195 to 205 days. Elevation ranges from 3,900 to 4,100 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Faskin, Malstrom, Roswell, and the competing Jalmar and Pyote soils. Faskin soils have a sandy surface less than 20 inches thick and have a control section with more than 18 percent clay. Malstrom soils do not have a Bt horizon. Roswell soils are sandy throughout.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Permeability is moderately rapid. Runoff is negligible to very slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for rangeland. The present vegetation is sand bluestem, little bluestem, sand dropseed, shinnery oak, small soapweed, and sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern New Mexico. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chaves County (North Part), New Mexico, 1981.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 17 inches. (A horizon)
Argillic horizon: 17 to 28 inches. (Bt and Btk horizons)
Calcic horizon: 28 to 50 inches. (Bk horizon)