LOCATION CASS               NE+KS SD TX WY
Established Series
Rev. PTC-JCR
09/2005

CASS SERIES


The Cass series consists of deep, well drained soils on bottom lands, formed in mixed sandy and loamy alluvium. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 12 degrees C (53 degrees F), and mean annual precipitation is about 58 centimeters (23 inches) at the type location.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Fluventic Haplustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Cass fine sandy loam - on a 1 percent southeast-facing slope in a cultivated field. When described, the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 18 centimeters (0 to 7 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (15 to 23 centimeters (6 to 9 inches) thick)

A--18 to 30 centimeters (7 to 12 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft; very friable; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 28 centimeters (4 to 11 inches) thick)

AC--30 to 51 centimeters (12 to 20 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) fine sandy loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; soft; very friable; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 38 centimeters (0 to 15 inches) thick)

C1--51 to 119 (20 to 47 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable; neutral; diffuse wavey boundary. (25 to 76 centimeters (10 to 30 inches) thick)

C2--119 to 152 centimeters (47 to 60 inches); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; single grain; loose; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Hall County, Nebraska; about 7 miles north of Doniphan, Nebraska; 1,300 feet east and 700 feet south of the northwest corner, sec. 17, T. 10 N., R. 9 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: ustic moisture regime.
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: >60 inches, some profiles contain strata of free carbonates below a depth of 64 centimeters (25 inches).
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 51 centimeters (10 to 20 inches)

Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content: 2 to 10 percent

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 (dry) 2 or 3 (moist)
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: fine sandy loam or loam, and less commonly silt loam or very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 20 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
Thickness: 4 to 11 inches

C horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 7.5YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7 and 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam and sandy loam in the upper part and loamy fine sand in the lower part
Clay content: 5 to 15 percent upper part, 2 to 10 percent lower part
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline
Note: Strata of coarser material are common, and some profiles are fine sand and coarse sand in the lower part. Strata of silty clay loam or mixed sand and gravel are common below a depth of 40 inches. Loamy and clayey substratum phases are recognized.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Darr series.
Darr soils have mixed sand and gravel between a depth of 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: mixed loamy or sandy alluvium
Landform: floodplains
Slopes: 0 to 3 percent
Elevation: 304 to 914 meters (1000 to 3000 feet)
Mean annual temperature: 9 to 13 degrees C (48 to 55 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 51 to 81 centimeters (20 to 32 inches)
Frost-free period: 140 to 200 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Alda, Inavale, Leshara and Wann soils.
Alda soils are on similar topographic positions, have a higher seasonal water table, and have sand and gravel between depths of 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches).
Inavale soils are on similar topographic positions, are sandy.
Leshara soils are are generally on nearby landscapes which are slightly lower in elevation fine-silty, and are wetter.
Wann soils are on similar topographic positions, have a higher seasonal water table.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage: Well drained
Surface runoff: very low runoff
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: high
Water table: 183 centimeters (6 feet) or more

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated, and much of it is irrigated.
The main crops are corn, alfalfa, and sorghum.
The native vegetation is tall prairie grasses and deciduous trees along streams.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota; LLR G, MLRA 66; LLR H, MLRA 71, 74, 75; LRR M, MLRA 102B, 106, 107; the series is extensive.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cass County, Nebraska, 1913.

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle-size control section: 25 to 102 centimeters (10 to 40 inches). (A, AC, C1 horizons)
Mollic epipedon: 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches) (Ap and A horizons)
Other features: udic moisture regime

The assignment of the cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.
6/00
Added clay content from the Soil Interpretation Record to the Range in Characteristics.
Added frost free period from the Soil Interpretation Record to the Geographic Setting.
Last updated by LM and JCR in 09/2005 to semi-tab format with metric conversion and changed permeability to saturated hydraulic conductivity.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.