LOCATION ZAAR KS+MO

Established Series
Rev. LEB-ELF-RGC
12/2015

ZAAR SERIES

The Zaar series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained soils that formed in clayey colluvium or residuum weathered from shale of Pennsylvanian age. These soils are on interfluves and hillslopes. Slope ranges from 0 to 10 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1016 mm (40 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 13 degrees C (56 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Vertic Hapludolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Zaar silty clay, on a 3 percent slope in a cultivated field on a footslope at an elevation of 282 meters (925 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silty clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; weak fine and medium granular structure; hard, firm; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

A--20 to 41 cm (8 to 16 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silty clay, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium blocky; very hard, very firm; few shiny faces on peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 66 cm (10 to 26 inches).]

Bw1--41 to 66 cm (16 to 26 inches); very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) dry; weak medium and coarse blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few slickensides; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few small black (10YR 2/1) manganese concretions in the matrix; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.

Bw2--66 to 96 cm (26 to 38 inches); very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) clay, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) dry; weak coarse blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; few slickensides; common fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine black (10YR 2/1) manganese concretions in the matrix; neutral; diffuse wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 41 to 96 cm (16 to 38 inches).]

BC--96 to 135 cm (38 to 53 inches); dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, extremely firm; slickensides larger and more common than in Bw horizon; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common fine black (10YR 2/1) manganese concretions with some concentration in streaks or pockets near the base of the horizon; few fine carbonate concretions; moderately alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. [0 to 76 cm (0 to 30 inches) thick]

C--135 to 152 cm (53 to 60 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) dry; massive; extremely hard, extremely firm; common coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 and 10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine black (10YR 2/1) manganese concretions and stains in the matrix; few pararock fragments of clay shale in lower part; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Crawford County, Kansas; 1 mile northwest of Girard; 1,150 feet east and 60 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 13, T. 29 S., R. 23 E.; USGS Girard, Kansas topographic quadrangle; lat. 37 degrees 31 minutes 41 seconds N. and long. 94 degrees 50 minutes 52 seconds W.; UTM Zone 15, 336724 easting and 4155070 northing; NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 102 to more than 152 cm (40 to more than 60 inches)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: greater than 61 cm (24 inches)
Depth to carbonate concretions: greater than 76 cm (30 inches)
Depth to carbonates throughout the matrix: greater than 127 cm (50 inches)
Other feature: slickensides close enough to intersect do not occur within 102 cm (40 inches) of the surface

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 2, 2.5, or 3, 3 or 4 dry
Chroma: 1 or 2
Structure: weak to strong, fine or medium granular, or weak or moderate, fine or medium subangular blocky
Texture: silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Sand content: 1 to 10 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bw horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value in upper part: 2 to 4, 3 to 5 dry
Chroma in upper part: 1 to 3
Value in lower part: 3 to 5, 4 to 6 dry
Chroma in lower part: 1 to 4
Structure: weak or moderate blocky
Texture: silty clay or clay
Clay content: 40 to 60 percent
Sand content: 1 to 20 percent
Other feature: some pedons contain vertical streaks of darker colored soil in the lower part
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

C horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y
Value: 4 or 5, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 1 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Sand content: 1 to 20 percent
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Zaar soils are on interfluves and hillslopes on plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 10 percent but is commonly between 1 and 4 percent. The soils formed in clayey colluvium or residuum weathered from shale of Pennsylvanian age. The shale contains thin beds of limestone in some places. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 813 to 1067 mm (32 to 42 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 14 to 16 degrees C (57 to 63 degrees F). Elevation is 210 to 465 meters (685 to 1525 feet) above mean sea level. Thornthwaite Annual P-E Index ranges from 56 to 76.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Clareson, Eram, Girard, Kenoma, Lula, and Ringo soils. All these soils, except Girard soils, are on higher topographic positions. Clareson, Eram, Kenoma, and Lula soils have an argillic horizon. Clareson, Eram, and Ringo soils have bedrock at depths less than 102 cm (40 inches). Girard soils are poorly drained and are in lower positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained. Depth to the top of a perched seasonal high water table ranges from 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 inches) between November and May in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is high or very high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is low. Permeability is very slow.

USE AND VEGETATION: About equally divided between native grassland and cultivation. Wheat, corn, sorghum, and alfalfa are the principal crops. Native vegetation is dominated by big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 76 and 112 in southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri. The type location is in MLRA 112. The series is extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Crawford County, Kansas, June 1969.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Mollic epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 96 cm (38 inches) (Ap, A, Bw1, Bw2).
Vertic properties: slickensides present in Bw and BC horizons, from a depth of 41 to 134 cm (16 to 53 inches).
Aquic conditions: redox features present in all horizons below a depth of 41 cm (16 inches).

Classification in a Vertic subgroup rather than Aquic subgroup is based on assumed values for COLE and PLE.

12/2015 revision: added metric units; updated landforms and parent material based on review of NASIS data; updated terminology used to describe redox features; added geographic coordinates; updated competing series.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data is available for User Pedon ID S1973KS037002 or Lab Pedon Number 40A1829 from the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE. This pedon is from the same general area as the typical pedon.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.