LOCATION HARRIS TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Vertic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Harris clay--rangeland.
(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ag1--0 to 5 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very hard, very firm; many medium roots; many strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation along root channels; slightly saline; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
Ag2--5 to 12 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium subangular; very hard, very firm; few medium roots; many strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation along root channels; slightly saline; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Ag3--12 to 19 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate medium angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; few fine roots; few shiny pressure surfaces on surfaces of peds; few fine distinct yellowish brown masses of iron accumulation along root channels; moderately saline; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)
Bg1--19 to 30 inches; dark gray (N 4/0) clay, gray (N 5/0) dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky and fine angular blocky; very hard, very firm; few fine roots; few light gray (N 6/0) silt coatings on surfaces of prisms; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation with clear and sharp boundaries in the matrix; few fine faint gray (N 5/0) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in the matrix; moderately saline; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (10 to 18 inches thick)
Bg2--30 to 44 inches; dark gray (N 4/0) clay, gray (N 5/0) dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm; few fine roots; few light gray (N 6/0) silt coatings on surfaces of prisms; common fine dark concretions; common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation with clear and sharp boundaries; few fine faint gray (N 5/0) and light gray (N 7/0) iron depletions; strongly saline; slightly alkaline; diffuse smooth boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)
Cg--44 to 80 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) silty clay, gray (5Y 6/1) dry; massive; very hard, firm; very few fine roots; few fine dark concretions; common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation with clear and sharp boundaries in matrix; few fine faint light gray (N 7/0) iron depletions with diffuse boundaries in matrix; strongly saline; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Chambers County, Texas; from the intersection of Farm Road 1985 and Farm Road 562, which is about 11 miles southeast of Anahuac, 4.2 miles east on Farm Road 1985, 11.3 miles south and east on shell and dirt road, 0.3 mile northwest on spoil bank of Oyster Bayou, 600 feet west in rangeland.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum thickness ranges from 40 to 60 inches. The particle-size control section averages between 40 and 60 percent clay. The soil is saturated to the surface for periods of 4 to 8 months and seldom dries to below field capacity. Soil salinity ranges from slight to strong. Reaction ranges from neutral to strongly alkaline throughout the soil. The soil has less than 15 percent saturation with sodium in the upper 20 inches, or the sodium saturation is constant or increases with depth below 20 inches.
The Ag horizon has hue of 10YR, 5Y, or N, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or less. Masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown or yellow range from none to common. Texture is clay or silty clay, but some pedons have a thin loamy overwash. Some pedons have an organic surface horizon less than 4 inches thick. The total thickness of the Ag ranges from 10 to 24 inches. The organic matter content ranges from 2 to 15 percent and is highest in the upper part.
The Bg and C horizons have hue of 10YR, 5Y, or N, values of 4 to 7, and chroma of 1 or less. Redoximorphic features, mainly iron-manganese and iron accumulations are in shades of yellow and brown. Iron depletions, in various stages of reduction, are in shades of gray. Redoximorphic features range from few to common. Texture is clay or silty clay.
Some pedons have a 2C horizon below a depth of 60 inches. The matrix color is the same as the B and C horizons, but some pedons may contain reddish, brownish or yellowish strata. Texture ranges from loam to clay and is stratified with clayey and sandy material.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Iberia series in the same family. Similar soils are the Agee, Barbary, Beaumont, Caplen, Kaufman, Lomalta, Surfside, Tracosa, and Velasco series. Iberia soils are nonsaline in all horizons and have a mollic epipedon with soil reaction ranging from moderately acid to slightly alkaline. Agee soils are nonsaline in all horizons. Barbary soils have very-fine particle-size control sections and have n-value more than 0.7 to a depth of 40 inches or more. Beaumont, Kaufman, and Lomalta soils have slickensides. Caplen soils have n-value more than 1.0 to a depth of more than 40 inches. Surfside soils have vertic properties and have very-fine particle-size control sections. Tracosa soils have a ochric epipedon and have a peraquic moisture regime. Velasco soils have a mollic epipedon more than 30 inches thick, B horizons with hue redder than 7.5YR, and a very-fine particle-size control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Level coastal marshlands less than 5 feet above sea level. Gulf storms and high tides flood most areas. The soils formed in saline, clayey sediments. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 70 to 72 degrees F. Frost-free days range from 250 to 280. Thornthwaite P-E index ranges 62 to 82.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the similar Beaumont, Tracosa, and Surfside series and the Franeau, Francitas, Galveston, Ijam, Narta, Stowell, and Veston series. Beaumont soils are on slightly higher elevations and are better drained. Franeau and Francitas soils are vertisols on slightly higher elevations. Galveston soils are sandy throughout. Ijam and Veston soils have a ochric epipedon, and also, Veston soils have a fine-silty control section. Narta soils have a natric horizon. Stowell soils have a argillic horizon and have a fine-loamy control section. Tracosa soils are in lower landscape positions. Surfside soils are in slightly higher landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; very low internal drainage and runoff; very slow permeability. A permanent water table fluctuates from the soil surface to a depth of about 30 inches. Harris soils are flooded with saline and brackish water to a depth of 1 foot during high tides. Flooding to a depth of severl feet occurs during major storms.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Rice is grown on a small acreage where the soil is protected from flooding by salt water, and water control is maintained. Native vegetation is water-loving and salt tolerant grasses and sedges such as marshhay cordgrass, common reed and seashore saltgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Gulf Coast Marsh (MLRA 151) of Texas from Calhoun County to the Sabine River. The series is of large extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harris County, Texas; 1922.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 19 inches (Ag1, Ag2, Ag3 horizons)
Aquic moisture regime - gleyed colors and low chroma matrix due to wetness.
SOIL INTERPRETATION RECORD NUMBER: TX0019