LOCATION WAGONBED           KS
Established Series
JLM,SCH, JCW
02/2006

WAGONBED SERIES


The Wagonbed series consists of very deep well drained soils that formed in calcareous loess on uplands in the Central High Tablelands (MLRA 72). The slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is 13 degrees C. (56 degrees F.) and the mean annual precipitation is 46 centimeters (18 inches).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Calciustepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Wagonbed silty clay loam - in a abandon cropland field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap1--0 to 10 centimeters (0 to 4 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; slightly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

Ap2--10 to 18 centimeters (4 to 7 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) silty clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak fine granular and weak medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

Bk1--18 to 30 centimeters (7 to 12 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate fine and medium granular and weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; common fine continuous tubular pores; common fine and medium irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bk2--30 to 53 centimeters (12 to 21 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4), yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; common fine roots throughout; common fine continuous tubular pores; distinct discontinuous dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), moist, black stains on faces of peds; common fine and medium irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bk3--53 to 71 centimeters (21 to 28 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/4) silty clay loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine continuous tubular pores; few fine irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout and few fine irregular carbonate threads throughout; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bk4--71 to 91 centimeters (28 to 36 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) silt loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium prismatic and weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine and medium roots throughout; common fine tubular pores; few fine irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bk5--91 to 109 centimeters (36 to 43 inches); silt loam, 90 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and 10 percent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) moist; weak medium prismatic and weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; common fine and medium moderate continuity continuous tubular pores; few fine irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

BCk--109 to 123 centimeters (43 to 48 inches); silt loam, 60 percent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and 40 percent brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium prismatic parting to weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; many fine and medium continuous tubular pores; common fine irregular soft masses of carbonate; violently effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

2Bk1--123 to 152 centimeters (48 to 60 inches); light brown (7.5YR 6/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; weak medium prismatic parting to weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; common fine continuous tubular pores; common fine irregular carbonate threads throughout; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.

2Bk2--152 to 163 centimeters (60 to 64 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium prismatic parting to weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; common fine continuous tubular pores; common medium irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout and few fine irregular carbonate threads throughout; strongly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.

2Btk--163 to 203 centimeters (64 to 80 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium prismatic parting to weak fine subangular blocky and weak medium subangular blocky structure; common fine roots throughout; common fine tubular pores; faint patchy brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common medium irregular soft masses of carbonate throughout; slightly effervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); slightly alkaline;.

TYPE LOCATION: Morton County, Kansas; 11 kilometers (7 miles) east and .8 kilometer (1/2 mile) north of Richfield; 731 meters (2400 feet) west and 452 meters (1500 feet) north of the southeast corner of Sec. 15, T32S, R40W; 37 degrees 15 minutes 45.0 seconds N latitude, 101 degrees 39 minutes 17.0 seconds W longitude; (USGS Shore Airport SW topographic quadrangle).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture regime: ustic bordering on aridic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 12 to 14 degrees C. (55 to 57 degrees F.)
Particle-size control section: 20 to 34 percent clay
Depth to calcic horizon: 18 to 49 centimeters (7 to 19 inches)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches)
Thickness of the ochric epipedon: 13 to 30 centimeters (5 to 12 inches)
Thickness of the calcic horizon: 51 to 165 centimeters (20 to 65 inches)

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3
Texture: silty clay loam, silt loam, and sandy loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

Bk and BCk horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 7, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

2Bk and 2Btk horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: loam, or clay loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing soils in the same family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform: nearly level to very gently sloping uplands
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Parent material: calcareous loess
Mean annual temperature: 12 to 14 degrees C. (55 to 57 degrees F.)
Mean annual precipitation: 41 to 53 centimeters (16 to 21 inches)

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colby, Richfield, Satanta, and Ulysses soils.
Colby soils are on steeper side slopes or convex ridges.
Richfield soils are fine family and typically on broad, level landscapes. Satanta soils are fine-loamy and have a mollic epipedon.
Ulysses soils are on similar landscapes, have a mollic epipedon, but do not have a calcareous surface horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage: well drained
Runoff: low
Saturated hydraulic conductivity: moderately high

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated cropland.
Principle crops are winter wheat and grain sorghum.
Native vegetation is short and mid grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwest Kansas. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Morton County, Kansas, 1994.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 18 centimeters (0 to 7 inches) (Ap1 and Ap2 horizons)
When this horizon meets the color requirements of a mollic epipedon, it fails to meet the thickness requirements
Calcic horizon: 18 to 109 centimeters (7 to 43 inches)
Argillic horizon: 163 to 183 centimeters (64 to 72 inches) (2Btk horizon)

classification updated on 10/18/2000 from Haplocalcidic Ustochrepts to Aridic Calciustepts. Moved it to "established" from proposed.

Modified format by LRM in 1/2006 to include metric conversion and change permeability to saturated hydraulic conductivity.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.