LOCATION VERITAS CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Veritas fine sandy loam--on a one percent slope in a cultivated and irrigated field at an elevation of 20 feet. (When described on June 5, 1979, the soil was moist throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated).
Ap--0 to 8 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (ph 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
A--8 to 15 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
Bw--15 to 40 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine angular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common fine continuous tubular pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 25 inches thick)
Bk--40 to 54 inches; variegated light brownish gray (10YR 6/2; 2.5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; few medium distinct dark brown (10YR 3/3) mottles moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure parting to weak fine angular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent with common fine filaments and disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (12 to 16 inches thick)
2Bqm--54 to 70 inches; variegated light gray (10YR 7/2; 2.5Y 7/2) and white (10YR 8/2) strongly cemented duripan, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; many fine prominent dark brown (10YR 3/3) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) mottles moist; massive; brittle; few fine tubular pores; 70 to 85 percent silica cementation within the matrix; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: San Joaquin County, California; 1 1/2 miles west of Manteca; 800 feet west of Airport Way and 150 feet north of Louis Avenue; 150 feet north and 800 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 25, T. 1 S., R. 6 E., MDBM., Lathrop quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mollic epipedon is 10 to 18 inches thick. Depth to duripan is 40 to 60 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 62 to 63 degrees F. The soil between the depths of about 7 and 22 inches is dry in all parts from June to October and moist in all parts from December to April. Distinct to prominent mottles at depths of 30 or more inches. The texture control section from a depth of 10 to 40 inches is 5 to 16 percent clay. The soil is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. In some pedons there is an overwash of silty clay loam 15 to 19 inches thick.
The A horizon has color of 10YR 5/1, 5/2 or 4/2 and moist color of 10YR 3/2 or 3/1. It is neutral to moderately alkaline. Organic matter ranges from 1 to 2 percent.
The Bw and Bk horizon has color of 10YR 5/4, 5/3, 5/1, 6/3, 6/4, 6/2 or 2.5Y 6/2 and moist color of 10YR 4/3, 4/2, 4/1 or 2.5Y 4/2. It is mildly or moderately alkaline.
The 2Bqm horizon is a duripan that is strongly cemented to indurated in the laminar capping. In most pedons the cemented material is less calcareous with depth and is noncalcareous in some pedons. The silica cementation within the layer ranges from 50 to 90 percent. Some pedons have continuous silica cementation at or near the upper boundary in laminar layers.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Acampo, Pfeiffer, San Andreas, Tagus , Tokay and Walong series. Pfeiffer soils have a paralithic contact at 40 to 70 inches. San Andreas and Walong series have a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Tagus soils have an A and Bk thickness of more than 60 inches. Acampo and Tokay soils lack calcium carbonate. In addition, Tokay soils do not have pedogenic silica within 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING; Veritas soils are on low fan terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. Elevations are 20 to 75 feet. The climate is subhumid mesothermal with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 11 to 12 inches. Mean January temperature is 45 degrees F; mean July temperature is 77 degrees F; mean annual temperature is 60 to 61 degrees F. Frost-free period is 260 to 270 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Delhi, Manteca and Tinnin soils, and the competing Honcut soils. Delhi and Tinnin soils have sandy control sections. Manteca soils have duripans at depths of 20 to 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used for irrigated cropland. Alfalfa, barley and corn are the principal crops. Vegetation is annual grasses, forbs and scattered valley oaks.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Veritas soils occur in the northeastern San Joaquin Valley. The soils are not extensive in MLRA-17.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: San Joaquin County, California, 1988.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 15 inches (Ap,A)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 15 to 40 inches (Bw)
Duripan - the zone from 54 to 70 inches (2Bqm)