LOCATION SALTCREEK          KS 

SALTCREEK SERIES

The Saltcreek series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in loamy eolian sediments over a buried alluvial soil. These soils are on dunes on paleo-terraces in river valleys of the Great Bend Sand Plains (MLRA 79). Permeability is moderate over slow. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is 29 inches (74 centimeters), and mean annual temperature is 56 degrees F (13 degrees C).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Udic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Typical pedon of Saltcreek fine sandy loam on a convex slope with a gradient of 3 percent in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 5 inches (0 to 13 centimeters); brown (10YR 5/3), interior, fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), interior, moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout and common medium throughout; 13 percent clay; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. . (combined thickness of A horizons 4 to 19 inches thick; 10 to 49 centimeters).

Bt1--5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters); grayish brown (10YR 5/2), interior, sandy clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), interior, moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; 20 percent clay; few faint patchy clay films on vertical faces of peds and few faint patchy clay bridging between sand grains; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary

Bt2--10 to 26 inches (25 to 66 centimeters); brown (10YR 5/3), interior, sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3), interior, moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 21 percent clay; few faint patchy clay films on vertical faces of peds and few faint patchy clay bridging between sand grains; neutral; gradual smooth boundary.

Bt3--26 to 39 inches (66 to 99 centimeters); brown (10YR 5/3), interior, fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3), interior, moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 19 percent clay; few faint patchy clay films on faces of peds and in pores and few faint patchy clay bridging between sand grains; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Bt horizons 14 to 44 inches thick; 36 to 112 centimeters thick)

2Btb--39 to 56 inches (99 to 142 centimeters); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2), interior, silty clay, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), interior, moist; few fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; 40 percent clay; few prominent continuous clay films on vertical and horizontal faces of peds; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.

2Btkb1--56 to 66 inches (142 to 168 centimeters); olive gray (5Y 5/2), interior, silty clay loam, olive gray (5Y 4/2), interior, moist; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; 37 percent clay; few prominent continuous clay films on vertical and horizontal faces of peds; common fine irregular soft masses of lime throughout; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.

2Btkb2--66 to 80 inches (168 to 203 centimeters); light olive gray (5Y 6/2), interior, silty clay loam, olive gray (5Y 5/2), interior, moist; few fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist irregular redoximorphic concentrations throughout; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; 32 percent clay; few faint patchy clay films on vertical and horizontal faces of peds; few fine and medium irregular soft masses of lime between peds; moderately alkaline. (combined thickness of 2Bt horizons 8 to 48 inches thick; 20 to 122 centimeters thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Reno County, Kansas; 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) north and 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) west of Hutchinson, 1400 feet east (427 meters) and 550 feet south (168 meters) of the northwest corner of sec. 28, T. 22 S., R. 8 W.; (USGS Sterling SW topographic quadrangle; lat. 38 degrees 6 minutes 49 seconds N. and long. 98 degrees 12 minutes 38.1 seconds W.)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture regime: ustic moisture regime bordering on udic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 56 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C).
Particle-size control section: 18 to 28 percent clay
Depth to bedrock: greater than 80 inches (203 centimeters)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: 40 to greater than 80 inches (102 to greater than 203 centimeters)
Depth to loamy or clayey buried soil ranges from 25 to 60 inches (63 to 152 centimeters).
Some pedons do not have redoximorphic features.
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 10 to 19 inches (25 to 49 centimeters)
Some pedons have, Ab, BA, 2Ab, BC, Btb or 3Btb horizons.

A horizon:

Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 (dry) 3 or 4 (moist)
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy fine sand
Reaction: extremely acid to slightly acid

Bt horizon:

Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 (dry) 3 or 4 (moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: sandy clay loam, fine sandy loam, or clay loam
Reaction: slightly acid to neutral

2Btb horizon:

Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 7 (dry) 3 to 6 (moist)
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, or silty clay
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Redoximorphic features: 0 to 25 percent
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Carman (OK), Lancaster (KS), Leisy (NE), Loretto (NE), Naron (KS), Ost (KS), Shellabarger (KS) and Wells (KS) series. The Lancaster and Wells soils are underlain by shale. The Leisy and Loretto soils have a lower mean annual soil temperature. Carman soils have a hue redder than 7.5YR. Naron soils do not have a paleosol. Ost soils have carbonates within 20 inches (50 centimeters). Shellabarger soils allow up to 15 percent gravel in the profile.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Saltcreek soils

Parent material: eolian over old alluvium
Landform: dunes on paleo-terraces
Slopes: 1 to 3 percent
Elevation: 1550 to 1770 feet (472.4 to 539.5 meters)
Mean annual air temperature: 55 to 57 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C).
Mean annual precipitation: 24 to 35 inches (61 to 89 centimeters)
Wettest months: Mar. - Oct.
Driest months: Nov. - Feb.
Frost-free period: 187 to 225 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Attica, Carbika , Carway , Farnum, Funmar , Hayes , Naron, Pratt, Taver Turon and Warnut soils. The Attica and Hayes soils are coarse-loamy and the Pratt and Turon soils are sandy. They are on similar positions as the Saltcreek soils. Taver soils are fine. Farnum, and Funmar soils are fine-loamy and have a mollic epipedon greater than 20 inches (50 centimeters) thick. Tabler, Farnum and Funmar soils are on lower positions than Saltcreek soils. The wetter, Carbika, Carway and Warnut soils are fine and fine-loamy respectively and are in nearby depressions. Naron soils occupy similar positions as Saltcreek.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is low. Permeability is moderate over slow.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly cultivated; wheat and sorghums are the principal crops. Native vegetation was tall prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South Central Kansas. LRR H (Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range), MLRA 79 (Great Bend Sand Plains). This series is of moderate extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Reno County, Kansas, 1994

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 10 inches (0 to 36 centimeters) (Ap, Bt1)

argillic horizon: The zone from 5 to 80 inches (13 to 203 centimeters) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, 2Btb, 2Btkb1, 2Btkb2)

Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Eighth edition, 1998

ADDITIONAL DATA: This soil was formerly mapped as Naron. Laboratory data is available for a Saltcreek pedon about 13 miles (20.9 kilometers) southeast of the type location (90KS155005; NSSL idped 90P924; idsam 90P552-560; pedon sampled as Milan). Laboratory data is also available for a Saltcreek pedon sampled in Edwards County, KS. (87KS047002; NSSL idped 8700661; idsam 8703478-89; pedon sampled as Naron).

SALTCREEK SERIES
LRR=H
DATE: 12/06/94 Proposed.
TP is 94KS155298
Paul, check out 87KS047002-sampled as Naron. Looks a lot like saltcreek. It could fit the series range with the textures adjusted as per psda and paleosol material
described differently. See hard copy of old profile description (in mail). Right now I have it listed in the additional data part along with 90KS155005 pedon.
RMM.12/6/94
02/08/95: Revised the Bt to 35 inches. Needed the high shrink-swell to show in interps.
04/07/95: Revised mottles to redox features. Replaced Carwile with Carbika, Carway and Warnut.
12/23/99: Established series per Reno County final correlation.