LOCATION LATINA TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, hyperthermic Calcic Aquisalids
TYPICAL PEDON: Latina sandy clay loam--rangeland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Az--0 to 4 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky and granular structure, is massive and hard when; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; strongly saline; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
Bnz1--4 to 9 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate fine and medium blocky; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; few fine pores; thin patchy clay films; black organic stains on surfaces of peds; strongly saline; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
Bnz2--9 to 16 inches; light brownish gray (2.5YR 6/2) sandy clay loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate fine and medium angular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few fine pores; few patchy clay films; few fine faint yellowish brown masses of iron accumulation; common threads of salt; strongly saline; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 9 inches thick)
Bknz--16 to 30 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy clay loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few fine pores; few faint yellowish brown masses of iron accumulation; common threads and nests of salt; 4 percent masses of calcium carbonate; strongly saline; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (8 to l8 inches thick)
BCknz--30 to 63 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) sandy clay loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure, appears massive when moist; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and reddish brown (5YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation; many masses and few concretions of calcium carbonate; strongly saline; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Cameron County, Texas; on Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge 100 feet west of West Lake Road; 1.1 mile north of its intersection with General Brandt Highway. This intersection is 4.0 miles east of the junction of General Brandt and Farm Road 1847.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 60 to greater than 80inches. Soil salinity throughout the soil ranges from 40 to 60 dS/m or more (2 to 3 percent salt), except for periods following heavy rainfall when the upper 6 inches is 15 to 40 mmhos/cm.
The A and Bnz horizons have hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 or 2. They are moderately alkaline and calcareous or noncalcareous. Texture of the A horizon is fine sandy loam or sandy clay loam, and is massive and hard when dry.
The Bnz2 and Bknz horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. Redoximorphic features range from few to common and are fine faint to distinct in shades of brown and yellow. Texture of B horizons are sandy clay loam or clay loam, with a clay content ranging from 25 to 35 percent.
The BC horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 or 3. Redoximorphic features range from none to common in shades of brown and red. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils are the Arrada, Barrada, Saragosa, Saucel, and Sejita series. Arrada and Barrada soils do not have calcic horizons. In addition, Barrada soils are in the fine family. Saragosa soils are in the fine-silty family, have a gypsic horizon, and gypsic mineralogy. Saucel and Sejita soils do not have calcic horizons and, in addition, Saucel soils are in the coarse-loamy family, and Sejita soils are in the fine-silty family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Latina soils occur on coastal terraces. Surfaces are plane to slightly concave with slopes less than 1 percent. The soil formed in stratified loamy materials of marine or deltaic origin. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 36 inches, the mean annual temperature ranges from 72 to 74 degrees F. Frost free days range from 330 to 340 days, and elevation ranges from 5 to 15 feet. Thornthwaite P-E index ranges from 30 to about 44.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Lomalta, Point Isabel, Saucel, Sejita and Willamar series. Lomalta and Point Isabel soils have more than 35 percent clay in the 10- to 40- inch control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Permeability is slow. Runoff is low. Seasonal water table at depths of 1 foot to 3 feet in early spring and fall. When cyclonic storms or high intensity rainfall move inland these soils may be ponded for brief periods.
USE AND VEGETATION: Utilized as native rangeland. Forage production is low. Vegetation consists of Gulf cordgrass, bushy sea-oxeye, shoregrass and pickleweed.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Limited to coastal fringe of the Lower Texas Gulf Coast and probably in Mexico. The series is of minor extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cameron County, Texas; l970.
REMARKS: Classification change from Aquollic Salorthids to Calcic Aquisalids based on application of the 6th edition of SOIL TAXONOMY.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 4 inches. (Az horizon)
Calcic horizon - 30 to 63 inches. (BCknz horizon)
Soil Interpretation Record: TX0469