LOCATION WHITEWOLF          CA
Established Series
Rev. HLH/JCW/RWK/TDC
8/96

WHITEWOLF SERIES


The Whitewolf series consists of deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in mixed alluvium. Whitewolf soils are on flood plains and alluvial fans and have slopes of 0 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 7 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 64 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, thermic Xeric Torripsamments

TYPICAL PEDON: Whitewolf loamy sand--grape vineyard. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

Ap--0 to 8 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive, soft, very friable; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)

A--8 to 32 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 32 inches thick)

C--32 to 70 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loamy coarse sand, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, very friable; few very fine interstitial pores; neutral (pH 7.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Kern County, California; approximately 4 miles east of the town of Arvin in the northwest quarter of section 10, T.31 S., R.30 E., MDB&M.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil between the depths of 12 and 22 inches is dry more than half the year. The moisture regime is aridic bordering on xeric. The mean annual soil temperature is 62 degrees to 70 degrees F. Coarse fragments ranging from 2 mm to 2 cm occupy 0 to 15 percent of the profile. Reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline throughout. Organic matter is less than 1 percent at depth of 10 inches.

The A horizon has a dry color of 10YR 5/2, 5/3, or 4/3. Moist color is 10YR 3/2 or 3/3. It is loamy sand, loamy fine sand, loamy coarse sand, sandy loam, or course sandy loam. Clay content is 0 to 10 percent.

The C horizon has a dry color of 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/3, 6/4; 2.5Y 8/2. Moist color is 10YR 3/3, 3/4 or 4/4. It is loamy sand, sand, or loamy coarse sand. Some pedons contain disseminated lime below a depth of 40 inches.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cinco (CA), Inyo (CA) and Wheelridge (T CA) series in the same family and the Arnold, Baywood, Calhi, Corralitos, Delhi, Gorgonio and Tujunga series. Cinco soils have slopes of 50 to 75 percent and have 15 to 35 percent rock fragments. Arnold, Baywood, Calhi, Corralitos, Delhi, and Tujunga soils have a xeric moisture regime. Gorgonio soils have an irregular decrease of organic matter to a depth of 20 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Whitewolf soils are on alluvial flood plains and fans. They formed from mixed alluvial materials, primarily granitic. Slope gradients are 0 to 5 percent. Elevations are 400 to 4,000 feet. The climate is semiarid with hot, dry summers, and moist, mild winters. Average annual precipitation is 6 to 9 inches. Average January temperature is 47 degrees F; average July temperature is 85 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 60 degrees to 70 degrees F. Freeze-free season is 200 to 300 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Arvin, DiGiorgio, Hesperia, and Wasioja soils. Arvin soils are coarse-loamy. DiGiorgio soils have 20 to 35 percent clay. Hesperia soils have less than 18 percent clay. Wasioja soils have a B2t horizon with 18 to 35 percent clay.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; slow runoff; rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for production of irrigated field crops, row crops, grapes, and orchards, but the soils tend to be droughty and need frequent irrigation. In the few areas where natural vegetation occurs, there are annual grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern edge of the San Joaquin Valley and western edge of the Mojave Desert. Series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kern County, California 1976.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.