LOCATION WALDECK KS+OKEstablished Series
The Waldeck series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on flood plains or terraces. Mean annual temperature is 58 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 24 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Fluvaquentic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Waldeck fine sandy loam - in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 15 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak granular structure; soft, very friable; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
AC--15 to 24 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; few faint brown mottles in lower 2 inches; weak medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
C1--24 to 46 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and few gray (10YR 6/1) mottles; massive; hard, very friable; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline; diffuse boundary. (8 to 30 inches thick)
C2--46 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; single grained; loose; few thin strata of coarse sand and gravelly sand; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Pratt County, Kansas; 4 1/2 miles east and 2 1/2 miles north of Cairo; 2,540 feet north and 2,270 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 34, T. 27 S., R. 11 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum ranges from 18 to 30 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. Depth to free carbonates ranges from 0 to 12 inches. Reaction throughout the profile is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline. The control section contains more than 50 percent fine or coarser sand.
The Ap horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7 and 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is sandy loam or fine sandy loam in the upper part and fine sand or sand in the lower part. Strata of finer or coarser textured material are common in this horizon. Some pedons lack fine sand or sand horizons.
COMPETING SERIES: The Waldeck series is the only series in this family. Competing soils in other families are Kaski, Lesho, Plevna, Wann, and Zenda series. Kaski soils are fine-loamy and have a thicker mollic epipedon. Lesho soils have contrasting texture within the control section. Plevna soils are more poorly drained. Wann soils are mesic. Zenda soils are fine-loamy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Waldeck soils are on high flood plains or low terraces of large streams. The slope gradient ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in alluvium that commonly is loamy in the upper part and sandy in the lower part. The mean annual temperature varies from 57 to 60 degrees F, and the mean annual precipitation varies from 20 to 35 inches. Thornthwaites Annual P-E Index ranges from 32 to 54.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Canadian, Kanza, Kaski, Lesho, Plevna, and Zenda soils. Canadian soils are better drained and are on higher terraces. Kanza soils are more poorly drained and are on slightly lower positions. Kaski, Lesho, Plevna, and Zenda soils are on similar topographic positions as Waldeck soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; slow runoff; moderately rapid permeability. The water table usually fluctuates between a high of 2.0 feet during the winter and early spring and a low of 6.0 feet in late summer. The soils are occasionally flooded for brief periods.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Waldeck soils are cultivated. Winter wheat, alfalfa, and grain sorghum are the principal crops. Native vegetation is tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Kansas. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Pratt County, Kansas, 1965.