LOCATION VESTWELLS NM

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

VESTWELLS SERIES

The Vestwells series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils. Vestwells soils that formed in sandy and loamy eolian deposits from the Blackwater Draw Formation of Pleistocene age. They are on nearly level to very gently sloping plains. The mean annual precipitation is 406 mm (16 in) and the mean annual temperature is 16 degrees C (61 degrees F). Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Arenic Ustic Calciargids

TYPICAL PEDON: Vestwells fine sand, on very gently sloping plain, 1 percent slope in native range at an elevation of about 1,290 m (4,232 ft). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 13 cm (0 to 5 in), light brown (7.5YR 6/4) fine sand, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; single grain; loose, loose; common fine and medium roots throughout, few coarse roots throughout; common very fine pores throughout; noneffervescent; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Thickness is 8 to 20 cm [3 to 8 in].)

E1--13 to 43 cm (5 to 17 in), reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fine sand, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to single grain; loose, very friable; common fine and medium roots throughout, few coarse roots throughout; common very fine pores throughout; noneffervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

E2--43 to 57 cm (17 to 22 in), reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fine sand, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to single grain; loose, very friable; common fine and medium roots throughout; many very fine pores throughout; noneffervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of E horizons are 51 to 80 cm [20 to 31 in].)

Bt1--57 to 77 cm (22 to 30 in); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout, few coarse roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; few discontinuous distinct clay films on all faces of peds and lining pores; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bt2--77 to 104 cm (30 to 41 in); strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; common discontinuous distinct clay films on all faces of peds; noneffervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bt3--104 to 121 cm (41 to 48 in); strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sandy clay, strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; many continuous prominent clay films on all faces of peds; about 2 percent fine masses of calcium carbonate throughout; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese masses throughout; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bt horizons are 51 to 102 cm [20 to 40 in].)

Btkk1--121 to 152 cm (48 to 60 in); pink (7.5YR 7/4) sandy clay loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; few discontinuous faint clay films on all faces of peds; about 65 percent calcium carbonate by volume as masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Btkk2--152 to 175 cm (60 to 69 in); pink (7.5YR 7/4) sandy clay loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; few discontinuous faint clay films on all faces of peds; about 70 percent calcium carbonate by volume as masses and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Btk horizons is 51 to 102 cm [20 to 40 in].)

Btkk3--175 to 203 cm (69 to 80 in); pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) fine sandy loam, light brown (7.5YR 6/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly sticky, nonplastic; common medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores throughout; few discontinuous faint clay films on all faces of peds; about 70 percent calcium carbonate by volume as masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates throughout; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Roosevelt County, New Mexico; from the intersection of Highway 458 and Highway 206 near Pep; 6.3 miles south on Highway 206; 4 miles west on Roosevelt County Road 34 S.; 2.5 miles south on private road; 2.2 miles east on private road; 800 ft south on private road; 30 ft west in rangeland; NW of SW of Sec. 9, T. 7 S., R. 35 E. of Sec. 9, Township 7 S, Range 35 E; Latitude: 33 degrees, 43 minutes, 15.1 seconds N; Longitude: 103 degrees, 22 minutes, 27.2 seconds W; Milnesand, 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 is 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 argillic horizon: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 in).
Depth to calcic horizon: 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 in).
Solum thickness: more than 203 cm (80 in).
Particle-size control section: 10 to 35 percent silicate clay.

A horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: fine sand
Effervescence: none
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

E horizons:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 to 8, 5 to 7 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: fine sand
Effervescence: none
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

Bt horizons:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 6 to 8
Texture: sandy clay loam or sandy clay
Visible calcium carbonate: less than 3 percent as masses or nodules
Effervescence: none or very slight
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

Btkk horizons:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 7 or 8, 6 or 7 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: sandy clay loam or fine sandy loam
Visible calcium carbonates: 50 to 75 percent by volume in the form of masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates
Calcium carbonate by weight: 40 to 60 percent
Effervescence: violent
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family. Similar soils include the Amarose (T-NM), Brownfield, Jalmar, Maljamar, Ratliff, and Triomas series.
Amarose, Triomas, and Ratliff soils: have less than 51 cm (20 in) of a sandy particle-size class extending from surface to argillic horizon.
Brownfield soils: do not have a calcic horizon above 152 cm (60 in) from the soil surface and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods.
Jalmar soils: do not have a calcic horizon above 152 cm (60 in) from the soil surface.
Maljamar soils: have a petrocalcic horizon and are dry in the moisture control section for slightly longer periods.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: sandy and loamy eolian deposits from the Blackwater Draw Formation of Pleistocene age.
Landform: nearly level to gently sloping plains.
Slopes: 0 to 3 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 similar Amarose (T-NM) and Jalmar series and the Amarillo, Brownfield, Chavaro (T-NM), Delphos (T-NM), Douro, Elida (T-NM), Kenhill (T-NM), Lovington (T-NM), Nutivoli, Patricia, Penwell, Ratliff, Spantara and Spraberry (T-NM) series.
Amarose, Brownfield and Jalmar soils: are on similar landscape positions.
Amarillo and Patricia soils: are on similar landscape positions, have an argillic horizon less than 50 cm (20 in) deep and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods.
Chavaro, Delphos, Lovington and Ratliff soils: are on similar landscape positions and have a calcic horizon less than 100 cm (40 in) deep.
Douro, Kenhill and Spraberry soils: are on similar landscape positions and have petrocalcic horizons.
Elida soils: are on similar landscape positions and have an argillic horizon less than 50 cm (20 in) deep.
Nutivoli soils: are on higher landscape positions, have a texture class of loamy fine sand or coarser in all layers of the particle-size control section and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods.
Penwell soils: are on higher landscape positions and have a texture class of loamy fine sand or coarser in all layers of the particle-size control section.
Spantara soils: are on similar landscape positions, have an argillic horizon less than 51 cm (20 in) deep and are moist in the soil moisture control section for longer periods.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is negligible on 0 to 3 percent slopes. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used almost entirely for rangeland. Native climax vegetation is tall and mid grasses, with tall grasses tending to dominate. This site is dominated by little bluestem and sand bluestem along with taller dropseed species. The remainder is mid and short grasses such as sideoats grama, sand dropseed, hooded windmillgrass, sand lovegrass, sand paspalum, fall witchgrass, hairy grama, needle and thread, and perennial threeawn. Sand sage, shinoak, and skunkbush are also present. This soil has been correlated to the Sandy (R077DY046TX) range site in MLRA-77D.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern High Plains, Southern Part (MLRA 77D in LRR H); of eastern New Mexico. The series 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 Vestwells series was formerly included in the Brownfield series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Ochric (Arenic) epipedon - 0 to 57 cm (0 to 22 in) (A and E horizons)
Argillic horizon - 57 to 203 cm (22 to 80 in) (Bt horizons)
Calcic horizon - 121 to 203 cm (47 to 80 in) (Btkk horizons)

ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL Laboratory Data available: S10NM041002 (Roosevelt County, New Mexico).

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

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.