LOCATION TORNERO                 NM+TX

Established Series
Rev. RAH-TAC-TCB-RM
05/2016

TORNERO SERIES

The Tornero series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that develop on linear or curvilinear dunes on the eastern margin of playa basins on the Southern High Plains. These soils formed in calcareous eolian sediments of Late Pleistocene to Holocene age. Mean annual precipitation is 406 m (16 in), and mean annual temperature is 16 degrees C. (61 degrees F). Slope ranges from 1 to 30 percent.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Ustic Haplocalcids

TYPICAL PEDON: Tornero sandy clay loam, on a convex, curvilinear dune on the east side of a playa basin, 1 percent slope in rangeland at an elevation of about 1,370 m (4,495 ft). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 in); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) sandy clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; 16 percent calcium carbonate by volume as finely disseminated carbonates throughout; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Thickness is 10 to 40 cm [4 to 16 in].)

Bk1--20 to 51 cm (8 to 20 in); light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; 28 percent calcium carbonate by volume as finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bk2--51 to 80 (20 to 31 in); light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots throughout; 22 percent calcium carbonate by volume as finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bk horizons is 15 to 102 cm [6 to 40 in].)

2Ab--80 to 98 cm (31 to 39 in); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots throughout; 15 percent calcium carbonate by volume as finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent (12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent); strongly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Thickness is 0 to 30 cm thick [0 to 12 in].)

2Bkb1--98 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots throughout; 24 percent calcium carbonate by volume as fine masses and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

2Bkb2--130 to 145 cm (51 to 57 in); light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine roots throughout; 18 percent calcium carbonate by volume as fine masses and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bkb horizons is 0 to 130 cm [0 to 51 in].)

2Bkb3--145 to 203 cm (57 to 80 in); light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate coarse subangular blocky; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots throughout; 26 percent calcium carbonate by volume as fine masses and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Roosevelt County, New Mexico; from the intersection of U.S. 70 and Highway 330 in Elida; 4.3 miles southwest on U.S. 70; 0.9 mile west on private road; 0.1 mile south in rangeland; NE of the NW of S. 5, T. 5 S, R. 31 E. of Section 5, Township 5 S, Range 31 E; Latitude: 33 degrees, 54 minutes, 22 seconds N; Longitude: 103 degrees, 42 minutes, 46.0 seconds W; Elida, New Mexico USGS quad; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: An aridic moisture regime bordering on ustic. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 205 but less than 270 days, cumulative, in normal years. November through April normally are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in May through October.
Mean annual soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C. (59 to 64 degrees F).
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 8 to 25 cm (3 to 10 in).
Depth to calcic horizon: 15 to 102 cm (6 to 40 in).
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 in).
Particle-size control section: 18 to 35 percent silicate clay.
Note: buried horizons may or may not be present.

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline

Bw horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam
Visible secondary calcium carbonate: less than 2 percent in the form of fine threads and nodules
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: slightly or moderately alkaline

Bk horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 8 dry, 4 to 7 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, clay
Visible secondary calcium carbonate: 5 to 30 percent by volume in the form of masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates
Calcium carbonate by weight: 10 to 35 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline

2Ab horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam
Visible secondary calcium carbonate: 0 to 3 percent by volume in the form of masses and finely disseminated carbonates
Calcium carbonate by weight: 10 to 25 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline

2Bkb horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, clay
Visible secondary calcium carbonate: 5 to 25 percent by volume in the form of masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates
Calcium carbonate by weight: 10 to 30 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately or strongly alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family. Similar soils include the Evanola (NM), Delphos (T-NM), Drake, Lovington (T-NM), Redona and Ratliff series.
Evanola and Redona soils: have higher chroma, formed in sediments weathered primarily from sandstone and shale of Triassic age and are dry in the soil moisture control section for slightly longer periods.
Delphos soils: have less than 18 percent silicate clay in the particle-size control section.
Drake soils: have a superactive cation exchange activity class and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods.
Lovington soils: have lower value and chroma in surface horizon and more calcium carbonate by weight in the control section.
Ratliff soils: have an active cation exchange activity class and higher calcium carbonate content in the control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: calcareous, loamy eolian deposits of late Pleistocene to Holocene age.
Landform: convex, linear and curvilinear dunes on the eastern margin of playa basin or salt lake basins.
Slopes: dominantly 3 to 8 percent, but range from 1 to 30 percent.
Mean annual air temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C. (57 to 63 degrees F).
Mean annual precipitation: 356 to 432 mm (14 to 17 in).
Frost-free period: 180 to 220 days.
Elevation: 762 to 1,402 m (2,500 to 4,600 ft).
Thornthwaite annual P-E Index Values: 22 to 26.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kenhill (T-NM), Potter and Ratliff series.
Kenhill soils: are on lower landscape positions and have petrocalcic horizons.
Potter soils: are on lower landscape positions and have higher calcium carbonate content and have more than 35 percent coarse fragments in the particle-size control section.
Ratliff soils: are on lower landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained and moderately permeable. Surface runoff is medium on 1 to 8 percent slopes and high on 8 to 30 percent slopes.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used primarily for rangeland. Native vegetation includes mid and tall grasses with a lesser short grass component and a few woody plants. Forbs may also occur but are not abundant. Grasses include sideoats, blue grama, black grama, buffalograss, alkali sacaton, vine-mesquite, and small amounts of swithchgrass. Other species include yucca, sensitivebrier, daleas, fourwing saltbrush, and cholla. This soil has been correlated to the High Lime (R077DY040TX) range site in MLRA-77D.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains, Southern Part (MLRA 77D in LRR H); of eastern New Mexico. The soil is minor in extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: MLRA-77 Soil Survey Update; Roosevelt County, New Mexico, 2016

REMARKS: The Tornero series was formerly included in the Drake series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric epipedon: 0 to 20 cm (0 to 5 in) A horizon.
Calcic horizon: 20 to 80 and 98 to 203 cm (8 to 31 and 39 to 80 in) Bk and 2Bk horizons.
Lithologic Discontinuity: 80 to 203 cm (31 to 80 in) 2Ab and 2Bkb horizons.

ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL data available: S10NM041006 (Roosevelt County, New Mexico).

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

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.