LOCATION ZACHARIAS CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Haploxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Zacharias clay loam on a 1 percent slope. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on March 1, 1977, the soil was dry throughout).
Ap--0 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many very fine and fine and common medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 7.3); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
A--6 to 19 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many very fine and fine roots; and common medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.3); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Bw--19 to 26 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak very coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common very fine, few fine and common medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 22 inches thick)
C1--26 to 53 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (18 to 30 inches thick)
C2--53 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; 15 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8)
TYPE LOCATION: San Joaquin County, California; about 2 miles southwest of Tracy at the corner of Linne and Corral Hollow Roads; 250 feet north and 300 feet east from the southwest corner of section 5, T.3 S., R.5 E., Tracy quadrangle. 37 degrees North latitude, 41 minutes, 48 seconds, 121 degrees West longitude, 27 minutes, 7 seconds. NAD83
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is about 60 to 64 degrees F and is usually not below 47 degrees F at any time. The soil between the depths of 5 to 15 inches is moist in some or all parts from November until May and is dry in all parts the rest of the year. The weighted average of clay content ranges from 20 to 35 percent within the 10 to 40 inch control section and has more than 27 percent clay in some part. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 35 percent gravel throughout.
The A horizon is 10YR 6/3, 5/4, 5/3, 5/2, 4/3, 4/2,or 7.5YR 4/2, 4/3, 5/2. Moist colors are 10YR 4/3, 4/2, 3/3, 3/2, or 7.5YR 3/2, 4/4. Pedons with dark colors are both massive and hard within 7 inches of the surface. It is clay loam or gravelly clay loam. Reaction is slightly acid to neutral.
The Bw horizon is 10YR 5/4, 5/3, 5/2, 4/4, 4/3; 7.5YR 5/2, 5/6. Moist colors are 10YR 5/4, 4/6, 4/4, 4/3, 4/2; 7.5YR 5/4 or 5/6. It is loam, clay loam, gravelly loam or gravelly clay loam. Reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline.
The C horizon is 10YR 6/4, 6/3, 5/4, 5/3, 4/4, or 4/3. Moist colors are 10YR 5/4, 4/4, 4/3. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline. Texture is loam, clay loam, gravelly sandy loam, or gravelly loam.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Los Robles (CA) series. Los Robles soils are dry in all parts for less than 175 days and formed in alluvium from basalt and andesite.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Zacharias soils occur on alluvial fans and low stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 8 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. Elevations are 25 to 400 feet. The climate is subhumid, with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches. Mean annual January temperature is about 47 degrees F.; the mean July temperature is 72 degrees F.; and the mean annual temperature is about 60 to 62 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 260 to 280 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Reiff, El Solyo, Stomar, Capay and Vernalis soils. Reiff soils have a coarse loamy control section and are on slightly lower topographic positions. El Solyo soils are fine in the texture control section and are on basin rims. Stomar soils have an argillic horizon and are on similar topographic positions. The Capay soils have a fine textural control section, intersecting slickensides and are on basin rims. Vernalis soils have soft powdery lime within 4 inches and are on slightly lower topographic positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. In areas with high applications of irrigational water, an apparent water table has developed. In some areas the water table is at depth greater than 60 inches; in other areas the water table is at depth of 48 to 60 inches; negligible to medium runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for irrigated cropland growing fruit, nut and row crops, field crops, pastureland and livestock grazing. Commonly cultivated crops are sugarbeets, tomatoes, field corn and dry beans. The vegetation is annual gasses and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Along the East side of the Coast Range mountains in the lower San Joaquin Valley. The soil is moderately extensive in MLRA-17.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: San Joaquin County, California, 1990.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 19 inches (Ap,A)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 19 to 26 inches (Bw)
CEC/Clay ratio from NSSL pedon number S92CA-099-001 in the W. Stanislaus Soil Survey Area.
Slow to medium runoff terminology adjusted to new notation of negligible to medium runoff, to comply with adjective criteria of the Soil Survey Manual, 10/93.
ADDITIONAL DATA: NSSL pedons S91CA-099-015 (partial pedon) and S92CA-099-001 (type location).