LOCATION WAELDER TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, siliceous, superactive, thermic Udifluventic Haplustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Waelder loam,--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A1--0 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; many very fine and fine and common medium roots; many very fine and fine pores; few wormcasts; few dark brown krotovinas; few siliceous pebbles; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
A2--6 to 16 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; many very fine and fine, and common medium roots; many very fine and fine pores; few dark brown krotovinas; few siliceous pebbles; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 6 to 20 inches)
Bw1--16 to 31 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) very fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; common very fine and fine pores; few dark brown krotovinas; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bw2--31 to 37 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) very fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation on surfaces of peds; few dark brown krotovinas; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bw3--37 to 43 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very fine sandy loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; few fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation on surfaces of peds; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bw4--43 to 51 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) very fine sandy loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; few fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation on ped interiors; few thin strata of loamy fine sand; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw subhorizons is 35 to 60 inches)
Ab1--51 to 67 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Ab2--67 to 78 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation inside peds; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Ab subhorizons is 0 to 20 inches)
Bwb--78 to 80 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine angular blocky structure; hard, firm; few fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and common fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation inside peds; slightly acid
TYPE LOCATION: Gonzales County, Texas; from the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Texas Highway 304; about 5.2 miles east of Harwood, 3.5 miles east on US highway 90, 0.2 mile south on county road, 1.9 mile west then south, 500 feet west in rangeland. (Latitude: 29 degrees, 39 minutes, 59 seconds north; Longitude: 97 degrees, 23 minutes, 59 seconds west).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is more than 80 inches. The weighted average clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 8 to 18 percent. Thin strata in the B horizons range from none to few. Siliceous pebbles range from none to few. The soil has an irregular decrease in organic carbon between 10 and 50 inches of the soil surface.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is fine sandy loam or loam. Clay content ranges from 15 to 25 percent. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 to 7 and chroma of 3 to 8. Iron masses in shades of brown, yellow and red range from none to few. Texture is loamy fine sand, very fine sandy loam, or loam. Clay content ranges from 8 to 18 percent. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Ab horizons have hue of 10YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 2 to 4. Iron masses in shades of brown or red range from none to few. Texture is loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam, or loam. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bwb horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 2 to 4. Iron masses in shades of brown, yellow or red and iron depletions in shades of gray range from none to few. Texture is loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Reaction ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils are the Guadalupe, Lincoln, Pulexas, Sandow, Uhland, Yahola, and Zavala series. Guadalupe soils are calcareous throughout. Lincoln soils have a sandy particle sized control section. Pulexas, Yahola, and Zavala soils do not have a cambic horizon. In addition, Zavala soils are in the hyperthermic temperature regime. Sandow soils are in the fine-loamy family. Uhland soils have cambic horizons, and are moderately well drained.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Waelder soils are on nearly level flood plains. Slope gradients are 0 to 2 percent. They formed in loamy alluvium. Mean annual temperature ranges from 68 to 70 degrees F. and mean annual precipitation ranges from 32 to 38 inches. Frost free period ranges from 260 to 280 days and elevation ranges from 200 to 450 feet. Thornthwaite annual P.E. indices ranges from 46 to 50.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chazos, Ganado, Padina, Rosanky, Silstid and Tabor soils. Chazos and Tabor soils have clayey subsoils and are on higher terrace positions. Ganado soils have mollic epipedons thicker than 20 inches and are on similar potions. Padina and Silstid soils have argillic horizons and are on adjacent upland positions. Rosanky soils have red clayey subsoils and are on adjacent upland positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Permeability is moderately rapid. Runoff is negligible. These soils are frequently or occasionally flooded for very brief or brief periods during the fall and spring months.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly used for rangeland and pecan orchards. Native vegetation consists of little bluestem, indiangrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, tall dropseed, and Canada wildrye with an overstory of oak, pecan, and elm.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the Southern Claypan Area of Texas (MLRA 87A). The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES PROPOSED: Gonzales County, Texas, 1994. The name is from a small town in northern Gonzales County. Alternate name is Dreyer.
REMARKS: These soils were formerly included in the Uhland series. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 16 inches. (A horizons)
Cambic horizon - 16 to 51 inches. (Bw horizons)
Buried epipedon - The Ab horizons from 51 to 78 inches.
Buried cambic horizon - The Bwb horizon from 78 to 80 inches.
Udifluventic features - The soil has an irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth. Thin stratification evident below 16 inches.
Redoximorphic features - The zone from 31 to 51 and 67 to 80 inches.
SOIL INTERPRETATION RECORD NO: TX1286