LOCATION ZENDA KSEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Fluvaquentic
Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Zenda clay loam - in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 14 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; hard, friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
C1--14 to 22 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; few fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles in lower part; moderate coarse granular structure; hard, friable; many fine soft lime accumulations; strong effervescence; mildly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
C2--22 to 38 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; few fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and gray (N 5/0) mottles; weak coarse granular structure; very hard, firm; many fine masses of segregated lime; strong effervescence; mildly alkaline; diffuse smooth boundary. (0 to 30 inches thick)
C3--38 to 60 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and few faint gray (5YR 5/1) mottles; massive; very hard, very firm; few lime concretions; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Pratt County, Kansas; 8 1/2 miles east and 3/4 mile north of Pratt; 3440 feet north and 2,490 feet east of the southwest corner, sec. 36, T. 27 S., R. 12 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum ranges from 10 to 35 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. Free carbonates typically are present below the A horizon and are present in the A horizon in some pedons.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 to 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is clay loam, loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. It ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7 and 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. A few pedons have chroma of 1 or less below a depth of 30 inches. It is clay loam, sandy clay loam, or loam. It is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Some pedons have strata of sandy loam or loamy sand, especially below a depth of 40 inches. Distinct high or low chroma mottles are present in the lower part of the C horizon. Some pedons have an AC or B horizon with color, texture, and reaction like that described for the C horizon. Some pedons have coarse sand or loamy sand below 40 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: The Zenda series is the only series in its family. Competing series in other families are the Bippus, Bosque, Caruso, Gageby, Kaski, Kosse, Lesho, Paloduro, Plevna, Spur, Sweetwater, and Waldeck series. Bippus, Bosque, Gageby, and Kaski soils have a thicker mollic epipedon. Caruso soils are mesic. Kosse, Plevna, and Sweetwater soils are wetter. Lesho and Sweetwater soils have contrasting textures. Paloduro and Spur soils lack mottles and, in addition, the Paloduro soils have a regular decrease in organic matter. Plevna and Waldeck soils are coarse-loamy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Zenda soils are on flood plains and low terraces along streams. Slope gradient ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in loamy alluvium which typically is underlain by sandy strata at depths of 4 to 6 feet. The mean annual temperature ranges from 57 to 69 degrees F, and the mean annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 35 inches. Thornthwaite Annual PE Index ranges from 30 to 56.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Canadian, Crisfield, Kanza, Kaski, Lesho, Plevna, and Waldeck soils. The better drained Canadian and Crisfield soils are on higher terraces. The more poorly drained Kanza soils are on slightly lower positions. Kaski, Lesho, Plevna, and Waldeck soils are on similar positions as Zenda soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate. The water table normally is at depths of 3 to 6 feet but rises within 2.0 feet of the surface during wet seasons. The soils are occasionally flooded.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Zenda soils are cultivated. The principal crops are winter wheat, alfalfa, and grain sorghum. Native vegetation is tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and southern Kansas along streams. The soils of this series are of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Pratt County, Kansas, 1965.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to 14 inches; ustic moisture regime; aquic features - mottles of 1 and chroma at 22 inches.
ADDITIONAL DATA: For additional information refer to pedon sampled by National Soil Survey Laboratory (Sample No. 76P0090).