LOCATION TOPO TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, calcareous, hyperthermic Typic Halaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Topo fine sandy loam--on a slightly concave 0 to 1 percent slope in a complex of Arenisco-Topo, 0 to 5 percent slopes in rangeland at an elevation of 6 meters (19 ft). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Anz1--0 to 13 cm (0 to 5 in); dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; 5 percent fine and medium and 1 percent coarse roots; 2 percent fine and medium pores; slightly saline; SAR is about 39; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Anz2--13 to 25 cm (5 to 10 in); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; 3 percent fine and 5 percent medium roots; 2 percent fine and medium pores; very slightly saline; SAR is about 22; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Anz horizon is 15 to 43 cm [6 to 17 in].)
Bknz1--25 to 74 cm (10 to 29 in); light gray (2.5Y 7/2) fine sandy loam, pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; 3 percent fine and medium roots; 3 percent fine and medium pores; 2 percent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) and 2 percent medium faint dark gray (5Y 4/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 10 percent dark gray (5Y 4/1) land crab krotovinas; 2 percent calcium carbonate masses; slightly saline; SAR is about 41; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bknz2--74 to 99 cm (29 to 39 in); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loamy fine sand, light gray (2.5Y 7/2) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; 3 percent fine and medium roots; 3 percent fine and few medium pores; 2 percent fine faint light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 15 percent dark gray (5Y 4/1) land crab krotovinas; 2 percent calcium carbonate masses; slightly saline; SAR is about 52; violently effervescent; very strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bknz3--99 to 127 cm (39 to 50 in); light olive gray (5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam, light gray (5Y 7/2) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; 3 percent fine and 1 percent medium roots; 2 percent fine pores; 5 percent medium faint greenish gray (10Y 6/1) iron depletion with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 15 percent dark gray (5Y 4/1) land crab krotovinas; 2 percent land crab fragments; 2 percent calcium carbonate masses and 2 percent spherical calcium carbonate nodules; slightly saline; SAR is about 35; noneffervescent; strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bknz horizon is 38 to 118 cm [15 to 44 in])
2Bnzg1--127 to 155 cm (50 to 61 in); greenish gray (5GY 5/1) fine sandy loam, greenish gray (5GY 6/1) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; 3 percent fine and 1 percent medium roots; 2 percent fine pores; 5 percent medium prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in the matrix; 5 percent coarse faint dark greenish gray (10GY 4/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 15 percent dark gray (N 4/) land crab krotovinas; slightly saline; SAR is about 32; noneffervescent; strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
2Bnzg2--155 to 173 cm (61 to 68 in); greenish gray (5GY 5/1) loamy fine sand, greenish gray (5GY 6/1) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; 2 percent fine and medium roots; 2 percent fine pores; 5 percent coarse faint dark greenish gray (10GY 4/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 5 percent coarse prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries in the matrix; 15 percent dark gray (N 4/) land crab krotovinas; 10 percent brittle masses of grayish green (5G 5/2) sandy clay loam material; slightly saline; SAR is about 32; noneffervescent; strongly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bnzg horizon is 28 to 74 cm [11 to 29 in])
3Bknzg--173 to 203 cm (68 to 80 in); light olive gray (5Y 6/2) loamy fine sand, light gray (5Y 7/2) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; 2 percent fine pores; 3 percent fine and medium faint greenish gray (10GY 6/1) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; 10 percent krotovinas; slightly saline; SAR is about 32; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Kenedy County, Texas; from the intersection of La Parra Avenue and U.S. Highway 77 in Sarita; 15 miles south on U.S. Highway 77; 7.8 miles southeast on ranch road; 2.1 miles southeast and northeast on ranch road; 2.8 miles generally north on ranch road; 800 feet west in rangeland. San Pedro Ranch, Texas USGS topographic quadrangle; Latitude: 26 degrees 58 minutes 51.50 seconds N.; Longitude: 97 degrees 39 minutes 56.30 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: An aquic soil moisture regime. Although rainfall amounts are that of an ustic moisture regime, the soil is ponded or has a permanent water table at depths of 0 to 61 cm (0 to 24 in) for at least two months in most years.
Mean annual soil temperature: 23 to 24.5 degrees C (74 to 76 degrees F)
Depth to redox concentrations: 0 to 51 cm (0 to 20 in)
Depth to redox depletions or depleted matrix: 0 to 51 cm (0 to 20 in)
Depth to endosaturation: 0 to 61 cm (0 to 24 in) for at least two months in most years
Particle-size control section (weighted average)
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Sand content: 65 to 85 percent
CEC/clay ratio: 0.24 to 0.40 (Semiactive)
Anz horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay Content: 10 to 18 percent
Redox accumulations: amount-0 to 7 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint or distinct, boundaries-clear or sharp
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 10 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint, boundaries-diffuse or clear
EC (dS/m): 0 to 8
SAR: 8 to 40
Reaction: slightly alkaline to very strongly alkaline
Bknz horizons
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y
Value: 6 to 8
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam
Clay Content: 10 to 20 percent
Redox accumulations: amount-1 to 15 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint to prominent, boundaries-clear or sharp
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 5 percent, size-fine, contrast-faint, boundaries-diffuse or clear
EC (dS/m): 0 to 16
SAR: 20 to 60
Reaction: moderately alkaline to very strongly alkaline
2Bnzg horizon
Hue: 5Y to 5GY
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam
Clay Content: 10 to 20 percent
Redox accumulations: amount-0 to 15 percent, size-fine or medium, contrast-faint to prominent, boundaries-diffuse or sharp
Redox depletions: amount-0 to 15 percent, size-fine to coarse, contrast-faint to prominent, boundaries-diffuse or clear
EC (dS/m): 0 to 16
SAR: 10 to 40
Reaction: moderately alkaline to very strongly alkaline
2BC horizon (where present are less than 31 cm [12 in] thick)
Hue: 5Y to 5GY
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy loam or fine sandy loam
Redox accumulations: amout-2 to 5 percent, size-fine to coarse, contrast-distinct or prominent, boundary-sharp to diffuse
Redox depletions: amount-2 to 8 percent, size-fine to coarse, contrast-faint or distinct, boundary-clear or diffuse
EC (dS/m): 4 to 16
SAR: 10 to 40
Effervescence: none
Reaction: moderately alkaline to very strongly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Saucel series in the same family. Similar soils are the
Arrada (TX),
Barrada (TX),
Cedarlake (TX),
Malaquite (TX),
Vanguard (CA), and the
Yarborough (TX) series.
Saucel soils: have EC values more than 16 dS/m in the control section
Arrada soils: have a fine-loamy particle-size control section
Barrada soils: have a fine particle-size control section
Cedarlake and Vanguard soils: have a thermic temperature regime
Malaquite soils: have a sandy particle-size control section
Yarborough soils: have siliceous sand mineralogy
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: Eolian deposits derived from coastal dune sands of Holocene age.
Landform: dune slack
Slope: 0 to 1 percent
Mean annual air temperature: 22 to 23 degrees C (72 to 74 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 635 to 711 mm (25 to 28 in)
Precipitation Pattern: November through April are the driest months, with a second dry period in July. September is the wettest month.
Frost-free period: 310 to 350 days
Elevation: 1.5 to 12.2 meters (5 to 40 ft)
Thornthwaite P-E Index: 31 to 36
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Arenisco,
Cayo,
Estella,
Falfurrias,
Sarita, and the
Saucel series.
Arenisco and Falfurrias soils: have lower EC values and are on higher positions on dunes
Cayo soils: are less saline and are on a slightly higher landforms
Estella soils: have a sandy particle-size control section and are on a slightly higher positions on sand sheet flats
Sarita soils: have an argillic horizon and are on a higher positions
Saucel soils: are poorly drained and are on tidal flats
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Moderately rapid permeability above the water table. Runoff is negligible to ponded. The soil is ponded or has a water table at depths of 0 to 61 cm (0 to 24 in) in most years from September to May. A permanent water table exists below 61 cm (24 in) from the surface.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists dominantly of gulf cordgrass. Other vegetation is bushy bluestem, inland saltgrass and mistflower. The ecological site is Salty Prairie, PE 25-44 (R150BY551TX).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Gulf Coast Saline Prairies (MLRA 150B in LRR T) on the coastal plain in southern Texas. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenedy County, Texas, 2007. The name is from a well in Kenedy County.
REMARKS: The series was formerly included in the Sauz series. The series is separated based on the surface being calcareous and the absence of an argillic horizon. Classification changed from Aeric Halaquepts to Typic Halaquepts 02/1997 based on colors of typifying pedon and series array. Classification change 02/2003 added activity class. Classification change 03/2005 activity class changed from active to semiactive based on lab data from the typifying pedon S88TX-261-005.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle size control section: 25 to 102 cm (10 to 40 in). (Bkng1, Bkng2 and Bkng3 horizons)
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 in). (Anz1 and Anz2 horizons)
Cambic horizon: 25 to 203 cm (10 to 80 in). (Bknz1, Bknz2, Bknz3, 2Bnzg1, 2Bnzg2 and 3Bknzg horizons)
Aquic Conditions: Reducing conditions occur during those periods when these soils are ponded.
Lithologic discontinuity: At the upper boundary of the 2Bknzg1 horizon, at the upper boundary of the 3Bknzg horizon; based on contrasting particle sizes.
ADDITIONAL DATA: TAMU data from type location in Kenedy County, TX (S88TX-261-005).
TAXONOMIC VERSION: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Tenth Edition, 2006