LOCATION WHITSETT TX

Established Series
CKH-JKW
11/2010

WHITSETT SERIES

The Whitsett series consists of moderately-deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in fine-loamy residuum weathered from sandstone in the Whitsett Formation of Oligocene age. These gently and moderately sloping soils are on shoulder and summit positions on broad interfluves. Slopes range from 1 to 8 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 610 mm (24 in) and the mean annual air temperature is 22 C (72 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, hyperthermic Typic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Whitsett fine sandy loam, on convex, 2 percent slope in rangeland; elevation of 120 meters (390 feet). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 10 cm (0 to 4 in); very dark gray (10YR 3/1), fine sandy loam, black (10YR 2/1), moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; soft, friable; common fine and medium roots; common fine and medium pores; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (thickness of the A horizon ranges from 8 to 25 cm [3 to 10 in])

Bt--10 to 33 cm (4 to 13 in); very dark gray(10YR 3/1), sandy clay loam, black (10YR 2/1), moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm; common fine and few coarse roots; few fine pores; common distinct clay films on all faces of peds; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (thickness of the Bt horizon is 15 to 30 cm [6 to 13 in])

Btk--33 to 62 cm (13 to 24 in); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm; few fine and very fine roots; few distinct clay films on all faces of peds; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (thickness of the Btk horizon ranges from 10 to 35 cm [4 to 15 in])

BCk--62 to 80 cm (24 to 31 in); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), moist; weak subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm; 5 percent by volume coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate; about 10 percent weakly cemented sandstone channers, 2 to 75 mm, flat, angular; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (thickness of the BCk horizon ranges from 0 to 30 cm [0 to 12 in])

Cr--80 to 105 cm (31 to 42 in); white (2.5Y 8/1) weakly cemented sandstone bedrock; light gray (2.5Y 7/1), dry; few thin streaks of yellow (10YR 7/6), yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), and brown (10YR 4/3) relict masses of oxidized iron; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: McMullen County, Texas; from the intersection of Texas Highway 99 and Texas Highway 72 east of Tilden; 8.1 miles north on Texas Highway 99 to the intersection with Jambers Road; 1.1 miles west on Jambers Road to the entrance of the Chapman Ranch; 0.67 mile north on ranch road; 330 feet south in rangeland. Willow Hollow Tank, Texas USGS topographic quadrangle; Latitude: 28 degrees, 36 minutes, 6.55 seconds N; Longitude: 98 degrees, 21 minutes, 35.54 seconds W.; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil Moisture: An typic ustic moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in some or all parts for more than 90 days but less than 180 cumulative days in normal years. June through August and December through February are the driest months. These soils are intermittently moist in September through November and March through May.
Mean annual soil temperature: 22 to 23 degrees C (72 to 74 degrees F)
Mollic epipedon: 25 to 40 cm (10 to 15 in)
Argillic horizon: 7 to 81 cm (3 to 32 in)

Particle-size control section
Clay content: 22 to 34 percent
Secondary Carbonates: 0 to 5 percent
Paralithic contact: 52 to 101 cm (20 to 40 in)

A horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or loam
Clay content: 15 to 30
Effervescense: none or very slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Bt horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 34 percent
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

Btk Horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: sandy clay loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 34 percent
Identifiable secondary calcium carbonate: 0 to 10 percent, masses, threads and nodules, throughout
Effervescence: slight or strong
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

BCk horizon (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 7
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, or sandy clay
Clay content: 20 to 40 percent
Identifiable secondary carbonates: 3 to 14 percent, masses, threads and nodules
Effervescence: strong or violent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

Cr layer (Crk where present)
Hue: 10YR to 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 8
Chroma: 1 or 2
Paralithic materials: weakly cemented sandstone bedrock; some pedons are interbedded with claystone bedrock and thin layers of calcium carbonate
Identifiable secondary carbonates: 0 to 5 percent, coatings, on faces of fragments and in fractures
Effervescence: none or slight
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These include the Alet (TX), Colmena (TX), Orelia (TX), Pernitas (TX), Runge (TX), and Weesatche (TX) series. Similar soils include the Weigang (TX) series
Alet, Colmena, Orelia, Pernitas, Runge, and Weesatche soils: do not have paralithic materials within 100 cm (40 in) of the soil surface.
Weigang soils: have paralithic materials within 50 cm (20 in) of the soil surface

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent Material: fine-loamy residuum weathered from interbedded sandstone and shale like those of the Jackson Formation
Landscape: inland dissected coastal plain
Landform: summits and shoulders of broad interfluves and ridges
Slope: 0 to 8 percent
Mean annual precipitation: 610 to 812 mm (24 to 32 in)
Mean annual temperature: 21 to 24 degrees C (70 to 74 degrees F)
Frost free period: 275 to 320 days
Elevation: 75 to 250 meters (245 to 740 feet)
Thornthwaite annual P-E indices: 30 to 44

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Coy (TX), Laparita (TX), Monteola (TX), Picosa(TX), Tordia (TX), and Weigang(TX) series.
Coy, Laparita, Monteola, and Tordia soils: have sola greater than 100 cm (40 in) deep; more than 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section; are on sidelsopes
Picosa and Weigang soils: are shallow to a paralithic contact; are on a similar landform

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: The soil is well drained: Runoff is very low on 0 to
3 percent slopes, low on 3 to 5 percent slopes, medium on 5 to 8 percent
llopes. Permeability is moderate. The sandstone layer is slowly to very slowly permeable.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly used as native rangeland and wildlife habitat. A few areas are used as improved pasture. The grasses include red grama, threeawns, red lovegrass, Hall's panicum, bristlegrass, and pink pappusgrass. Woody vegetation is mainly blackbrush, spiny hackberry, and agarita. The ecological site is Sandy loam 25 to 35 in PZ (R083AY407TX).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western and Northern Rio Grande Plain, Texas; LRR I; MLRA 83A and 83C; moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: McMullen County, Texas; 2010.

REMARKS: These soils were previously mapped as the Weigang series. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon: 0 to 33 cm (0 to 13 in). (A and Bt horizon)

Argillic horizon: 10 to 62(4 to 24 in). (Bt and Btk horizons)

Paralithic contact: sandstone at 80 cm (31 in). (top of Cr horizon)

ADDITIONAL DATA: Particle size analysis was performed at the local project office on 3 pedons from McMullen County. The assignment of the cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from soils that formed in similar geologic materials.

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

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.