Bruin Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: High positions on natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Silty alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Moderately well drained
• Permeability class: Moderate
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Low
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, thermic Oxyaquic Eutrudepts

Associated Soils

The Bruin series is commonly associated with Commerce and Tunica soils.

• The Commerce soils are somewhat poorly drained.
• The Tunica soils are clayey in the upper part of the solum.

Typical Pedon

Bruin silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes; 2.25 miles south on Louisiana Highway 605 from its intersection with Louisiana Highway 4 in Newellton, 900 feet west-southwest on a field road, and 100 feet south of the road in field of row crops; E1/4 sec. 17, T. 12 N., R. 12 E.; Newellton, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees, 2 minutes, 36.92 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 13 minutes, 18.67 seconds west.

• Ap1—0 to 6 inches; silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Ap2—6 to 11 inches; silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent patchy prominent light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) silt coats on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bw—11 to 20 inches; silt loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent patchy prominent light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) silt coats on faces of peds; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
• C1—20 to 28 inches; stratified very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 3 percent fine and medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have clear boundaries; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions that are in the matrix and have clear boundaries; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
• C2—28 to 36 inches; stratified silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 15 percent discontinuous faint dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) organic stains; 3 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
• C3—36 to 41 inches; stratified loam, 60 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and 40 percent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 3 percent medium prominent spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.
• Ab—41 to 51 inches; silt loam, very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 25 percent medium prominent spherical extremely weakly cemented strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 5 percent fine faint spherical weakly cemented very dark gray (2.5Y 3/1) iron-manganese concretions that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary.
• Cb—51 to 57 inches; stratified silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent coarse distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• A´b—57 to 66 inches; silt loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) broken face; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• C´b1—66 to 71 inches; stratified silt loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 25 percent medium prominent spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• C´b2—71 to 81 inches; stratified silt loam, olive gray (5Y 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 18 to 40 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: Less than 18 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron-manganese accumulations throughout; iron depletions within a depth of 24 inches
• Other distinctive features: Silt coats in the A and B horizons; tubular pores throughout
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3
  • Redoximorphic features—iron depletions with chroma of 2 or less within a depth of 24 inches
  • Texture—silt loam or very fine sandy loam
  • Other distinctive features—silt coats and tubular pores
  • Reaction—strongly acid to slightly alkaline
  • Thickness—4 to 12 inches
• Bw horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 or 4
  • Redoximorphic features—iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within a depth of 24 inches
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
  • Other distinctive features—silt coats and tubular pores
  • Reaction—slightly acid to slightly alkaline
  • Thickness—5 to 40 inches
• BC horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 or 4
  • Redoximorphic features—iron depletions with chroma 2 or less within a depth of 24 inches
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—slightly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 20 inches
• Ab horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron-manganese accumulations in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—slightly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 12 inches
• C horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 4; or hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 3
  • Redoximorphic features—iron depletions in shades of gray and iron-manganese accumulations in shades of brown
  • Texture—loamy fine sand, loamy very fine sand, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam, silty clay loam, or silt loam to a depth of 60 inches or more
  • Other distinctive features—carbonates in some pedons; tubular pores
  • Reaction—slightly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—6 to 71 inches

Bruno Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Ridge-swales of point bars and natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Point bars on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Sandy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Excessively drained
• Permeability class: Rapid
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Low
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Sandy, mixed, thermic Typic Udifluvents

Associated Soils

The Bruno series in the survey area is commonly associated with Bruin and Commerce soils.

• The Bruin and Commerce are silty and are more poorly drained than the Bruno soils.

Typical Pedon

Bruno loamy fine sand in an area of Crevasse and Bruno soils, gently undulating, frequently flooded; South of Point Pleasant; NE1/4NW1/4 sec. 26, T. 13 N., R. 13 E.; Grand Gulf, Mississippi, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees, 4 minutes, 25.72 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 5 minutes, 14.79 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 5 inches; loamy fine sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face; very friable, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and common medium roots throughout; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• C1—5 to 21 inches; stratified fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots throughout; neutral; few faint very thin (less than 1 millimeter) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) bedding planes; abrupt smooth boundary.
• C2—21 to 27 inches; stratified loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly alkaline; few faint very thin (less than 1 millimeter) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) bedding planes; abrupt smooth boundary.
• C3—27 to 41 inches; stratified loamy very fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; moderately alkaline; few faint very thin (less than 1 millimeter) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) bedding planes; abrupt smooth boundary.
• C4—41 to 84 inches; stratified loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; moderately alkaline; few faint very thin (less than 1 millimeter) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) bedding planes.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 2 to 10 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: Less than 15 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations and depletions in the lower part of the C horizon in some pedons
• Other distinctive features: Bedding planes throughout the C horizon
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—dominantly hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4; value of 3 in some pedons where the A horizon is less than 6 inches thick
  • Redoximorphic features—none
  • Texture—loamy fine sand
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—strongly acid to slightly alkaline
  • Thickness—2 to 10 inches
• C horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4; or hue of 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations and depletions in shades of brown or gray in the lower part of some pedons
  • Texture—dominantly sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand but contains thin strata of loamy very fine sand or finer textures
  • Other distinctive features—bedding planes
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—70 to 78 inches

Commerce Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: High positions on natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Silty alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
• Permeability class: Moderately slow
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Moderate
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid, thermic Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts

Associated Soils

The Commerce series is commonly associated with Bruin and Tunica soils.

• The Bruin soils contain less clay than the Commerce soils and are moderately well drained.
• The Tunica soils are clayey in the upper part of the solum and are poorly drained.

Typical Pedon

Commerce silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes; 4.62 miles south on U.S. Highway 65 from Newellton, Louisiana, 1,000 feet northwest on State Highway 607, about 6 miles southeast on State Highway 605, about 900 feet northwest on a field road that runs along the south side of a drainage canal, and 30 feet south of the field road in a field of row crops; SE1/2 sec. 9, T. 11 N., R. 12 E.; Saint Joseph, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 55 minutes, 54.51 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 13 minutes, 26.96 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 7 inches; silt loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; 1 percent fine faint cylindrical brown (10YR 4/3) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• Bw1—7 to 15 inches; silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots throughout; many fine and very fine low-continuity tubular pores; 2 percent fine distinct spherical dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 2 percent fine spherical black (10YR 2/1) manganese masses that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bw2—15 to 22 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots throughout; many fine and very fine low-continuity tubular pores; 2 percent fine distinct spherical dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine distinct irregular light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) shell fragments that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• Bg1—22 to 30 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; many fine and very fine low-continuity tubular pores; 2 percent fine distinct spherical dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine distinct irregular light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) shell fragments that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
• Bg2—30 to 43 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots throughout; many fine and very fine low-continuity tubular pores; 2 percent fine distinct spherical brown (10YR 4/3) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 2 percent fine spherical black (10YR 2/1) manganese masses that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg3—43 to 52 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots throughout; many fine and very fine low-continuity tubular pores; 21 percent fine prominent spherical black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 2 percent fine distinct spherical brown (10YR 4/3) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine faint threadlike light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) shell fragments that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg4—52 to 63 inches; dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 1 percent fine prominent spherical dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine prominent irregular moderately cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) durinodes that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bssg1—63 to 73 inches; dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots between peds; many fine pores; 50 percent discontinuous distinct dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) pressure faces on all faces of peds and 3 percent discontinuous prominent dark gray (2.5Y 4/1) slickensides (pedogenic) on all faces of peds; 1 percent fine prominent spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine prominent spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine faint irregular light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) shell fragments that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately alkaline; few snail shells up to 2 centimeters in diameter; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bssg2—73 to 80 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots throughout; 50 percent continuous distinct olive gray (5Y 5/2) pressure faces on all faces of peds and 3 percent continuous prominent olive gray (5Y 5/2) slickensides (pedogenic) on all faces of peds; 1 percent medium prominent spherical yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 20 to more than 80 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: 18 to 35 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron-manganese accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: Shell fragments throughout; in some pedons, slickensides and pressure faces in the lower part of B horizons that have clayey textures
• Concentrated minerals: None
• Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 3
  • Redoximorphic features—masses of iron accumulation and iron depletions, where present, in shades of brown and gray
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, silt loam, or silty clay loam; an overwash phase of loamy fine sand is recognized.
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—4 to 12 inches
• Bw horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common masses of oxidized iron in shades of brown and iron depletions in shades of gray throughout and, in some pedons, dark gray or very dark grayish brown coatings or stains on ped surfaces
  • Texture—silt loam, loam, or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores; shell fragments
  • Reaction—slightly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—6 to 20 inches
• Bg or BCg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y and chroma of 1
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common masses of oxidized iron in shades of brown and iron depletions in shades of gray throughout the Bg horizon
  • Texture—silt loam, loam, or silty clay loam; and, in some pedons, clayey below a depth of 50 inches
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores; shell fragments
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—more than 30 inches combined
• Ab horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 3
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron accumulations and depletions in shades of brown and gray
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, silt loam, or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 12 inches
• Bssg, 2Bg, or 2BCg horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 2.5Y to 5GY, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2; or neutral in hue and value of 4 or 5
  • Redoximorphic features—few to many masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown or olive
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam with more than 35 percent clay
  • Other distinctive features—slickensides in some pedons where the horizon is thicker; snail shells and fragments in some pedons
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—this layer consists of one or more lenses or layers several inches thick, or it is a continuous layer that extends below a depth of 80 inches.
• Cg horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5GY, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown or olive ranges from none to many.
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam, loam, silt loam, or silty clay loam; commonly stratified; thin strata of silty clay in some pedons
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 23 inches

Crevasse Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Ridge-swales of point bars and natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Point bars on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Sandy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Excessively drained
• Permeability class: Rapid
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Low
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Mixed, thermic Typic Udipsamments

Associated Soils

The Crevasse series in the survey area is commonly associated with Bruin, Bruno, and Commerce soils.

• The Bruin and Commerce soils are silty and are more poorly drained than the Crevasse soils.
• The Bruno soils have strata of fine sandy loam or finer.

Typical Pedon

Crevasse fine sand in an area of Crevasse and Bruno soils, gently undulating, frequently flooded; in an area of grass and herbaceous cover; N1/2 sec. 28, T. 13 N., R. 13 E.; Grand Gulf, Mississippi, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees, 6 minutes, 37.00 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 5 minutes, 26.00 seconds west.

• A—0 to 4 inches; fine sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and few medium roots throughout; slightly alkaline; noneffervescent; gradual smooth boundary.
• C1—4 to 22 inches; stratified loamy sand, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; 15 percent fine distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) mottles; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and few medium roots throughout; moderately alkaline; common very thin (less than 1 millimeter) bedding planes of dark gray (10YR 4/1) organic matter; gradual smooth boundary.
• C2—22 to 84 inches; loamy sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) broken face; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 1 percent medium distinct spherical brown (10YR 5/3) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; moderately alkaline.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 4 to 10 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: Less than 10 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations and depletions in the C horizon
• Other distinctive features: Bedding planes in the C horizon
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A horizon:
  • Color—dominantly hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 2 to 6; or, in some pedons where the horizon is thin, hue of 10YR, value of 3, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—none
  • Texture—fine sand
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to moderately alkaline; calcareous in some pedons
  • Thickness—4 to 10 inches
• C horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6; or hue of 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2
  • Redoximorphic features—iron depletions in shades of gray and iron accumulations in shades of brown
  • Texture—sand, fine sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand; and, in some pedons, thin lenses or strata of loamy materials below a depth of 40 inches
  • Other distinctive features—bedding planes
  • Reaction—moderately acid to moderately alkaline; calcareous in some pedons
  • Thickness—70 to 76 inches

Dowling Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Channel fill and swales of point-bar deposits
• Geomorphic setting: Meander scars on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Clayey alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Very poorly drained
• Permeability class: Impermeable
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Very high
• Slope: 0 to 1 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Very-fine, smectitic, nonacid, thermic Vertic Endoaquepts

Associated Soils

The Dowling series is commonly associated with Sharkey soils.

• The Sharkey soils form cracks when dry.

Typical Pedon

Dowling clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded; in a swamp; 9.4 miles south on U.S. Highway 65 from Newellton, 7.8 miles northwest on State Highway 128, about 3.5 miles southwest on State Highway 573, about 5.62 miles west on Crooked Bayou Road, 3,200 feet northwest on a field road, and 100 feet northeast of the road in an oxbow depression; SW1/4SW1/4NE1/4 sec. 29, T. 12 N., R. 10 E.; Gretna Green, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 59 minutes, 32.49 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 28 minutes, 1.07 seconds west.

• A—0 to 4 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay; massive; very firm, very sticky and very plastic; many fine and medium roots; 15 percent medium distinct irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron throughout; 1 percent wood fragments; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bg1—4 to 18 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very firm, very sticky and very plastic; many fine roots throughout; 35 percent medium and coarse prominent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 5/6 and 5/8) masses of oxidized iron throughout; 1 percent wood fragments; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• Bg2—18 to 31 inches; greenish gray (5GY 5/1) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very firm, very sticky and very plastic; many fine roots throughout; 35 percent medium and coarse prominent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 5/6 and 5/8) masses of oxidized iron throughout; 1 percent wood fragments; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• BCg—31 to 80 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very firm, very sticky and very plastic; 2 percent faint pressure faces on all faces of peds; 15 percent medium distinct irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron; 1 percent fine distinct threadlike light gray (10YR 7/1) masses of barite; 1 percent wood fragments; neutral.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 40 to more than 80 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: More than 60 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: COLE of 0.09 to 0.18 in all mineral layers; no crack formation in the upper part of the subsoil in normal years; slickensides below a depth of 40 inches in some pedons; wood fragments throughout
• Concentrated minerals: Masses of barite in the lower part of the subsoil
• A horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 1 or 2; or neutral in hue and value of 4
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations in shades of yellow to brown
  • Texture—clay
  • Other distinctive features—n-value of less than 0.7
  • Reaction—strongly acid to neutral
  • Thickness—3 to 8 inches
• Bg horizon:
  • Color—dominantly hue of 10YR to 5GY, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or neutral in hue and value of 4 or 5; value of 6 in the lower part in some pedons
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—clay
  • Other distinctive features—n-value of less than 0.7
  • Reaction—slightly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—more than 25 inches
• BCg horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 2.5Y to 5BG, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1; or neutral in hue and value of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations in shades of yellow to brown
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—n-value of less than 0.7; content of organic carbon decreases irregularly with depth and/or is more than 0.2 percent at a depth of 50 inches
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 48 inches
• C horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 5Y to 5BG, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1; or neutral in hue and value of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations in shades of yellow to brown
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—n-value ranging from 0.7 to 1.0 in some pedons
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 51 inches

Dundee Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: High positions on natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Loamy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
• Permeability class: Moderately slow
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Moderate
• Slope: 0 to 2 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Endoaqualfs

Associated Soils

The Dundee series in the survey area is commonly associated with Goldman and Tensas soils.

• The Goldman soils are moderately well drained.
• The Tensas soils are clayey in the upper part of the solum.

Typical Pedon

Dundee silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes; in an area of row crops; NW1/4 S.L.G. sec. 39, T. 10 N., R. 10 E.; Waterproof, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 48 minutes, 25.19 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 25 minutes, 10.40 seconds west.

• Ap1—0 to 3 inches; silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; extremely acid; clear wavy boundary.
• Ap2—3 to 9 inches; silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; extremely acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bt1—9 to 13 inches; loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) interior; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine roots throughout; many fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 20 percent discontinuous faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bt2—13 to 23 inches; loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) interior; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine roots throughout; many fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 70 percent discontinuous distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bt3—23 to 34 inches; very fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) interior; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine roots throughout; common medium low-continuity tubular pores; 20 percent discontinuous faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine distinct spherical moderately cemented very dark gray (10YR 3/1) manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bg1—34 to 43 inches; very fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg2—43 to 48 inches; loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 5 percent medium faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg3—48 to 58 inches; very fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 5 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg4—58 to 65 inches; loamy very fine sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine roots throughout; many fine low-continuity tubular pores; 5 percent medium faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg5—65 to 73 inches; loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common very fine roots throughout; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine prominent spherical extremely weakly cemented strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg6—73 to 82 inches; silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; 5 percent medium distinct spherical extremely weakly cemented strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron-manganese masses that are in the matrix and have sharp boundaries; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
• C—82 to 89 inches; stratified fine sandy loam, 60 percent brown (10YR 5/3) and 40 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face; massive; very friable; moderately acid.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 24 to more than 80 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: 18 to 35 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron-manganese accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: Tubular pores throughout
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3; or, in some pedons where the horizon is less than 6 inches thick, hue of 10YR, value of 3, and chroma of 2
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron accumulations in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—silt loam or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—extremely acid to moderately acid
  • Thickness—4 to 12 inches
• BA or AB horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations and depletions in shades of gray or brown
  • Texture—silt loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to moderately acid
  • Thickness—0 to 8 inches
• Bg or Btg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2; or, in the lower part of the horizon, hue of 10YR, value 6, and chroma of 1 or 2 or hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations and depletions in shades of gray and brown
  • Texture—silty clay loam, loam, or silt loam; the upper 20 inches has 18 to 34 percent clay and more than 15 percent sand that is mainly in the very-fine size fraction.
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to moderately acid
  • Thickness—20 to 40 inches
• BCg horizon: (where present)
  • Color—dominantly hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2 or hue of 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2; below a depth of 80 inches hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations and depletions in shades of brown, yellow, and gray
  • Texture—loam, sandy clay loam, or silt loam
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to moderately acid
  • Thickness—0 to 13 inches
• C or Cg horizon:
  • Color—dominantly hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2 or hue of 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2; or, below a depth of 80 inches, hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4
  • Redoximorphic features—masses of iron accumulation in shades of yellow and brown
  • Texture—loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, silt loam, or silty clay loam; and, in some pedons, strata of silty clay or clay below a depth of 40 inches
  • Other distinctive features—stratification
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to slightly alkaline; calcium-magnesium ratio of more than 1
  • Thickness—7 to 56 inches

Goldman Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Ridges in areas that have ridges and swales
• Geomorphic setting: Convex ridges of natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Loamy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Moderately well drained
• Permeability class: Moderate
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Low
• Slope: 1 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Coarse-silty, mixed, active, thermic Aquic Hapludalfs

Associated Soils

The Goldman series is commonly associated with Dundee, Newellton, and Tensas soils.

• The Dundee soils are fine-silty.
• The Newellton and Tensas soils have clayey surface and subsurface layers.

Typical Pedon

Goldman very fine sandy loam in an area of Dundee-Goldman complex, gently undulating; 21.3 miles south on U.S. Highway 65 from its intersection with Louisiana Highway 4 in Newellton, Louisiana, 8.7 miles west and south on Highway 566 to Powells Cemetery, 600 feet southwest on a field road, and 50 feet south of the road; NW1/4SW1/4 sec. 12, T. 9 N., R. 9 E.; Foules, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 46 minutes, 21.68 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 30 minutes, 41.08 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 5 inches; very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; weak medium granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and common very fine roots throughout; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bt1—5 to 11 inches; very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and common very fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 3 percent discontinuous faint clay bridging; 2 percent fine faint irregular brown (10YR 5/3) clay depletions; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bt2—11 to 18 inches; very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 3 percent discontinuous faint clay bridging; 3 percent fine distinct irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; 1 percent fine faint irregular brown (10YR 5/3) clay depletions; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
• BC—18 to 34 inches; very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 3 percent fine faint irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; 1 percent fine faint spherical extremely weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.
• C—34 to 84 inches; stratified loamy very fine sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; slightly acid.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 20 to 60 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: Less than 18 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations throughout the B horizon
• Other distinctive features: Tubular pores throughout the B horizon
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3
  • Redoximorphic features—none
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—strongly acid to slightly acid, except where lime has been applied
  • Thickness—4 to 8 inches
• Bt horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 or 4
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron or clay depletions in shades of gray or grayish brown within the upper 10 inches of the horizon; iron accumulations in shades of brown throughout
  • Texture—loam, silt loam, or very fine sandy loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to slightly acid
  • Thickness—8 to 22 inches
• BC horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4
  • Redoximorphic features—few to many iron accumulations in shades of brown and iron depletions in shades of gray
  • Texture—loamy very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, silt loam, or fine sandy loam
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—strongly acid to slightly acid
  • Thickness—5 to 48 inches
• C horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4
  • Redoximorphic features—few to many iron accumulations in shades of brown and iron depletions in shades of gray
  • Texture—loamy very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, or loamy fine sand
  • Other distinctive features—stratification
  • Reaction—strongly acid to slightly acid

Newellton Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Channel fill
• Geomorphic setting: Natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Clayey over loamy alluvium
• Geology: Mississippi River alluvium
• Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
• Permeability class: Slow
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: High
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Clayey over loamy, smectitic over mixed, superactive, nonacid, thermic Fluvaquentic Epiaquepts

Associated Soils

The Newellton series is commonly associated with Bruin, Commerce, Dundee, Goldman, Sharkey, and Tunica soils.

• The Commerce and Bruin soils do not have a clayey epipedon.
• The Dundee and Goldman soils have argillic horizons.
• The Sharkey soils are clayey to a depth of more than 40 inches.
• The Tunica soils are clayey to a depth of 20 to 36 inches.

Typical Pedon

Newellton clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes; 1,450 feet north on Highway 605 from its intersection with Highway 4 in Newellton, Louisiana, 0.95 mile east on Highway 887, about 1.2 miles northeast on Highway 808, and 450 feet due west of the road into a field; NE1/4SW1/4 sec. 45, T. 13 N., R. 12 E.; Newellton, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees, 5 minutes, 25.45 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 12 minutes, 58.86 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 7 inches; clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and common medium roots throughout; 2 percent medium faint spherical very weakly cemented brown (10YR 4/3) masses of oxidized iron; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• Bg—7 to 16 inches; clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots throughout; 4 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
• 2BC—16 to 26 inches; very fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots throughout; common fine low-continuity tubular pores; 4 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
• 2C1—26 to 34 inches; stratified silt loam to very fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; structureless; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 4 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
• 2C2—34 to 80 inches; stratified very fine sandy loam to fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) broken face; structureless; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; 4 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; moderately alkaline.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 14 to 32 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: More than 35 percent in the upper part and less than 35 percent below a depth of 20 inches
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: Stratified in the C horizon
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron accumulations in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or, less commonly, silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to slightly alkaline
  • Thickness—4 to 8 inches
• Bg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron accumulations in shades of brown
  • Texture—clay or silty clay
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to slightly alkaline
  • Thickness—4 to 14 inches
• 2BC or 2B horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron accumulations in shades of brown
  • Texture—silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silty clay loam; average content of clay ranges from 10 to 28 percent.
  • Other distinctive features—tubular pores
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 18 inches
• 2C or 2Cg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 3; or hue of 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron accumulations in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—commonly stratified with layers or lenses of silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, fine sand, or silty clay loam; average content of clay ranges from 10 to 28 percent in the 2C horizon within a depth of 40 inches.
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline

Sharkey Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Backswamps
• Geomorphic setting: Backswamps on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Clayey alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Poorly drained
• Permeability class: Impermeable
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Very high
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Very-fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Epiaquerts

Associated Soils

The Sharkey series in the survey area is commonly associated with Commerce, Dowling, Tunica, and Tensas soils.

• The Commerce soils are silty and somewhat poorly drained.
• The Dowling soils do not crack below a depth of 20 inches.
• The Tunica and Tensas soils are loamy below a depth of 36 inches.

Typical Pedon

Sharkey clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes; in an area of row crops; 40 feet south of a farm road at a gap in the fence; SE1/4NW1/4NW1/4 sec. 46, T. 11 N., R. 12 E.; Lake Bruin, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 53 minutes, 36.00 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 17 minutes, 12.00 seconds west.

• Ap1—0 to 2 inches; clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; weak medium granular structure; moderately hard, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots throughout; strongly acid; abrupt irregular boundary.
• Ap2—2 to 7 inches; clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots throughout; 19 percent fine and medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
• Bg1—7 to 11 inches; clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very sticky and very plastic; 40 percent discontinuous distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) pressure faces; 15 percent fine and medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg2—11 to 20 inches; clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very sticky and very plastic; 40 percent discontinuous distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) pressure faces; 1 percent fine faint spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bg3—20 to 28 inches; clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very sticky and very plastic; 40 percent discontinuous distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) pressure faces; 19 percent fine and medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bssg—28 to 49 inches; clay, gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very sticky and very plastic; 80 percent discontinuous distinct gray (10YR 5/1) pressure faces throughout and 10 percent discontinuous prominent gray (10YR 5/1) slickensides (pedogenic) throughout; 9 percent fine and medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 9 percent fine and medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
• Bssyg—49 to 80 inches; clay, gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, very sticky and very plastic; 55 percent discontinuous distinct gray (10YR 5/1) pressure faces throughout and 10 percent patchy prominent gray (10YR 5/1) slickensides (pedogenic) throughout; 9 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 9 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) iron-manganese concretions that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; 1 percent fine prominent platy very weakly cemented white (2.5Y 8/1) gypsum masses that are throughout the horizon and have sharp boundaries; slightly alkaline.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 36 to more than 80 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: More than 60 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron-manganese accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: Formation of 1- to 3-centimeter wide cracks to a depth of 20 to more than 24 inches in most years; COLE of about 0.10 to 0.17 throughout the Bg, Bssg, and Bssyg horizons; slickensides and pressure faces in the lower part of the B horizon and in the C horizon; calcareous at a depth of more than 20 inches in some pedons
• Concentrated minerals: Accumulated gypsum in the lower part of the B horizon and in the C horizon
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 or 2; or, in some loamy overwash phases that are less than 30 percent clay, hue of 10YR, value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 3
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron-manganese accumulations in shades of brown ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam with more than 30 percent clay
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—4 to 12 inches
• Bg horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2; or neutral in hue and value of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—the number of iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of gray, brown, yellow, and red ranges from none to common.
  • Texture—clay
  • Other distinctive features—pressure faces
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—0 to 20 inches
• Bssg or Bssyg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2; or neutral in hue and value of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—few to many iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of gray, brown, yellow, and red
  • Texture—clay
  • Other distinctive features—slickensides and pressure faces; the number of accumulations of gypsum and calcium carbonate ranges from none to common.
  • Reaction—strongly acid to moderately alkaline
  • Thickness—26 to 80 inches
• BC or C horizon: (where present)
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2; or neutral in hue and value of 4 to 6
  • Redoximorphic features—few to many iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of gray, brown, yellow, and red
  • Texture—dominantly clay or silty clay, but coarser textures below a depth of 40 inches in some pedons
  • Other distinctive features—slickensides and pressure faces; the number of accumulations of gypsum and calcium carbonate ranges from none to common.
  • Reaction—neutral to moderately alkaline

Tensas Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Intermediate natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Convex ridges of natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Clayey over loamy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
• Permeability class: Impermeable
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: Very high
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Vertic Epiaqualfs

Associated Soils

The Tensas series is commonly associated with Dundee soils.

• The Dundee soils are loamy throughout and are somewhat poorly drained.

Typical Pedon

Tensas clay in an area of Tensas-Sharkey clays, gently undulating; in an area of row crops; 9.4 miles south on U.S. Highway 65 from Newellton, Louisiana, 1.8 miles west on State Highway 568, about 5.22 miles west on State Highway 802 to Mayflower, Louisiana, 1.04 miles west and southwest on Mayflower Road, 1.66 miles south on a field road, and 150 feet southwest of the road in a field; NW1/4NW1/4NE1/4 sec. 24, T. 11 N., R. 10 E.; Gretna Green, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees, 55 minutes, 28.00 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 23 minutes, 58.00 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm, moderately sticky and very plastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; few fine and medium low-continuity tubular pores; 1 percent fine distinct irregular greenish gray (5GY 5/1) iron depletions on surfaces along pores; 1 percent medium distinct irregular brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
• Btg1—4 to 11 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay; strong medium angular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; many fine roots between peds; 50 percent distinct pressure faces on faces of peds; 25 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 15 percent medium prominent irregular gray (2.5Y 5/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• Btg2—11 to 19 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay; strong medium angular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; many fine roots between peds; few fine low-continuity tubular pores; 52 percent distinct gray (2.5Y 5/1) pressure faces on faces of peds; 25 percent medium prominent irregular brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent very weakly cemented charcoal fragments 2 to 3 millimeters in size; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• 2Bg—19 to 30 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots between peds; few fine low-continuity tubular pores; 51 percent distinct gray (2.5Y 5/1) pressure faces on faces of peds; 25 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 2 percent medium distinct irregular gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint irregular reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) iron-manganese masses on faces of peds; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• 2Bw—30 to 33 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots throughout; few medium moderate-continuity irregular pores; 8 percent distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent medium prominent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 5 percent medium prominent irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• 2Bg´—33 to 42 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy clay loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots throughout; many fine moderate-continuity irregular pores; 15 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint irregular gray (5Y 6/1) iron depletions on surfaces along root channels; moderately acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
• 2Bw´1—42 to 56 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) very fine sandy loam; massive; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; many fine moderate-continuity irregular pores; 25 percent medium distinct irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent fine distinct irregular gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions on surfaces along root channels; moderately acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
• 2Bw´2—56 to 70 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; many fine moderate-continuity dendritic tubular pores; 15 percent medium distinct irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on surfaces along root channels; 1 percent fine spherical iron-manganese concretions; slightly acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
• 2Bg´´1—70 to 76 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silty clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; many fine moderate-continuity dendritic tubular pores; 25 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint irregular gray (5Y 6/1) iron depletions on surfaces along root channels; slightly acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
• 2Bg´´2—76 to 86 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many fine and medium roots throughout; many fine moderate-continuity dendritic tubular pores; 25 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 1 percent fine faint irregular gray (5Y 6/1) iron depletions on surfaces along root channels; slightly acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
• 2BCg—86 to 89 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots between peds; few fine low-continuity dendritic tubular pores; 51 percent discontinuous distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) pressure faces on faces of peds; 25 percent medium prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; 15 percent medium faint irregular light olive gray (5Y 6/2) iron depletions in cracks; slightly acid.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 30 to more than 80 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: 35 to 60 percent
• Redoximorphic features: Iron-manganese depletions and accumulations throughout
• Other distinctive features: Loamy lithologic discontinuity at a depth of 18 to 36 inches; common pressure faces in clayey horizons; tubular pores in loamy horizons
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of brown, yellow, and gray
  • Texture—clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—None
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to neutral
  • Thickness—0 to 7 inches
• Btg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2; or, in some pedons that have subhorizons between the base of the A horizon and a depth of 30 inches, hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or neutral in hue and value of 4 or 5
  • Redoximorphic features—iron accumulations and depletions in shades of brown, yellow, and gray
  • Texture—clay or silty clay
  • Other distinctive features—dark coatings and pressure faces on surfaces of peds in some pedons
  • Reaction—very strongly acid to moderately acid
  • Thickness—combined A and Btg horizons range from 18 to 36 inches
• 2Bg or 2Bw horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3; or, in the lower part, hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2; depth to layers with matrix chroma of 3 is 30 inches or more.
  • Redoximorphic features—iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of brown, yellow, and gray
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam through silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—few to many tubular pores
  • Reaction—strongly acid to neutral
  • Thickness—9 to 36 inches
• 2BCg or 2Cg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—iron-manganese accumulations and depletions in shades of brown, yellow, and gray
  • Texture—very fine sandy loam through silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—the number of pressure faces in the lower part of the horizon ranges from none to common.
  • Reaction—strongly acid to neutral

Tunica Series

• Major Land Resource Area: 131—Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium
• Local physiographic area: Intermediate natural levees
• Geomorphic setting: Intermediate positions on natural levees on alluvial plains
• Parent material: Clayey over loamy alluvium
• Geology: Alluvial flood plains
• Drainage class: Poorly drained
• Permeability class: Impermeable
• Soil depth class: Very deep
• Shrink-swell potential: High
• Slope: 0 to 3 percent
• Taxonomic classification: Clayey over loamy, smectitic over mixed, superactive, nonacid, thermic Vertic Epiaquepts

Associated Soils

The Tunica series is commonly associated with Commerce and Sharkey soils.

• The Commerce soils are loamy throughout and are somewhat poorly drained.
• The Sharkey soils are clayey throughout and are very poorly drained.

Typical Pedon

Tunica clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes; in an area of row crops; 0.65 mile south on U.S. Highway 65 from its intersection with Louisiana Highway 4 in Newellton, 540 feet east of the highway and 600 feet north of fourth light on an airstrip; W1/4 sec. 3, T. 13 N., R. 12 E.; Saranac, Louisiana, USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees, 15 minutes, 45.03 seconds north and long. 91 degrees, 15 minutes, 14.25 seconds west.

• Ap—0 to 5 inches; clay, 90 percent dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face; moderate medium platy structure; platy structure is due to plowpan compaction; firm, loose, very sticky and very plastic; common fine roots on top of horizon; 5 percent prominent threadlike yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron that are lining pores and have sharp boundaries; slightly acid; surface has weak medium granular structure, loose when dry; clear smooth boundary.
• Bg1—5 to 18 inches; clay, 90 percent gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; 15 percent fine prominent spherical moderately cemented reddish brown (5YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; 10 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have sharp boundaries; neutral; shiny red faces along some roots; gradual smooth boundary.
• Bg2—18 to 28 inches; clay, 90 percent gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm, very sticky and very plastic; 15 percent medium distinct weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; neutral; shiny red faces along some roots; abrupt wavy boundary.
• 2Cg1—28 to 43 inches; silt loam, 90 percent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) broken face; massive; friable, very plastic; 16 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6); neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
• 2Cg2—43 to 49 inches; silty clay loam, 90 percent gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; massive; very friable; 16 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
• 2Cg3—49 to 68 inches; silt loam, 90 percent gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; massive; friable; 16 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
• 2Cg4—68 to 84 inches; silty clay loam, 90 percent gray (10YR 5/1) broken face; massive; firm; 16 percent medium distinct spherical weakly cemented dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron that are on faces of peds and have clear boundaries; neutral.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of the solum: 20 to 36 inches
• Content of clay in the control section: More than 35 percent in the upper part and less than 35 percent below a depth of 36 inches
• Redoximorphic features: Iron accumulations throughout, including oxidized rhizospheres in the A and B horizons
• Other distinctive features: Loamy lithologic discontinuity at a depth of 20 to 36 inches
• Concentrated minerals: None
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2; or, in some pedons where the horizon is less than 6 inches thick, hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3, and chroma of 2
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron accumulations in shades of brown and red
  • Texture—silty clay or clay; and, in some pedons, an overwash of silt loam or silty clay loam
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to mildly alkaline
  • Thickness—3 to 12 inches
• Bg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1; hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 6, and chroma of 1 or 2; or, in the Bg2 horizon, hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—few or common iron accumulations in shades of brown and red
  • Texture—silty clay or clay
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to mildly alkaline
  • Thickness—17 to 29 inches
• 2Cg horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2
  • Redoximorphic features—in some pedons, variegated in shades of brown, yellow, and gray below a depth of 30 inches; few or common iron accumulations in shades of brown
  • Texture—silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam; and, in the lower part of some pedons, loamy fine sand
  • Other distinctive features—none
  • Reaction—moderately acid to moderately alkaline Page 1 Page 1

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