LOCATION LEERAY TXEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, thermic Typic Haplusterts
TYPICAL PEDON: Leeray clay--rangeland. (Intermediate between microknoll and microhigh; colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate very fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; very hard, firm, sticky and plastic; many very fine and fine roots throughout; few fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
A2--4 to 11 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium and coarse angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous tubular pores; few fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 7 to 20 inches)
Bss1--11 to 17 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous pores; prominent continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) slickensides; few very dark gray (10YR 3/1) stains on slickenside surfaces; common fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
Bss2--17 to 32 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium and coarse angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous pores; prominent continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) slickensides; common very dark gray (10YR 3/1) iron-manganese stains on slickenside faces; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions and common fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bkss1--32 to 43 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium and coarse angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine low continuity pores; prominent brown (10YR 4/3) slickensides; few very dark gray (10YR 3/1) iron-manganese coatings on slickenside surfaces; common fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules and few medium and coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bkss2--43 to 55 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous pores; prominent continuous brown (10YR 4/3) slickensides; common medium and coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate and common fine and medium irregular carbonate nodules; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Bkss horizons is 25 to 60 inches)
Bk1--55 to 62 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) silty clay, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous pores; few iron-manganese coatings; common medium and coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate and few thin fine and medium irregular carbonate nodules; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bk2--62 to 74 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) silty clay, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm, very sticky and very plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine low continuity pores; common thin iron-manganese coatings; common medium and coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate and few fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions; strongly effervescent; 1 percent siliceous pebbles; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of Bk horizons is 0 to 25 inches)
2BCKss-74 to 80 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) silty clay, brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; common fine and coarse distinct light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) redox concentrations; moderate coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, very sticky and plastic; few fine roots throughout; few very fine continuous pores; prominent continuous brown (7.5YR 5/4) slickensides; common thin iron-manganese coatings; common medium and coarse irregular masses of calcium carbonate and few fine and medium irregular calcium carbonate nodules; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions; strongly effervescent; abrupt smooth boundary
TYPE LOCATION: Stephens County, Texas; from the junction of U. S. Highway 180 and Farm Road 252 East of Caddo, 5.5 miles southeast on Farm Road 252, 0.8 miles south on field road. (UTM Zone 14, 3613200N, 536610E; Latitude: 32N, 58, 57; Longitude: 98W, 36, 36).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: This is a cyclic soil with solum more than 80 inches thick. Weathered bedrock of shale or limestone occurs between 80 and 100 inches in most pedons. Clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 40 to 60 percent. In undisturbed areas there is gilgai microrelief with mircoknolls 4 to 12 inches higher than microdepressions. Cycles of knolls and depressions are repeated each 7 to 23 feet. There are cracks 2 to 7 cm wide that extend from the surface to a depth of more than 50 cm when the soil is dry. Cracks remain open from 150 to 210 cumulative days during most years. Slickensides begin at a depth of 15 to 24 inches. The soil is moderately alkaline below the A horizon. Siliceous pebbles range from none to few throughout. Mean annual soil temperatures range from 66 to 68 degrees F. Salinity ranges from slightly saline to moderately saline in the lower part of most pedons.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture is silty clay or clay. Concretions and masses of calcium carbonate range from none to few. Reaction ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline.
The Bss and Bkss horizons have hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is silty clay or clay. Concretions, masses and threads of calcium carbonate range from few in the upper part to many in the Bkss horizons. Gypsum crystals range from none to common.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 8, and chroma of 4 to 6. Texture is silty clay or clay. Concretions, masses and threads of calcium carbonate range from common to many. Iron-manganese concretions and coatings range from few to many. Gypsum crystals range from none to few.
The 2BCkss horizon has hue of 7.5YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 4 to 6. Texture is silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay. Redox concentrations in shades of yellow or red range from none to few. Concretions, masses and threads of calcium carbonate range from common to many. Gypsum crystals range from none to few.
COMPETING SERIES: These include the Campwood (TX), Indiahoma (OK), Irion (T TX), McLean (T TX), Roscoe (TX), and Sountplains (T TX) series. Campwood soils do not have calcic horizons, are nonsaline in the lower part of the solum, and are derived from sediments of Cretaceous age. Indiahoma soils do not have redoximorphic features or lithologic discontinuities within 80 inches of the surface. Irion soils are dry in the soil moisture control section for slightly longer periods of time, and in addition, Irion soils developed in alluvial sediments within closed depressions and playas. McLean, Roscoe, and Sountplains soils are not saline in the lower part of the solum. In addition, McLean and Southplains soils have mean annual soil temperatures less than 66 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Leeray soils are on nearly level to gently sloping valley fill positions. The soil formed in calcareous clay that is several feet thick. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 29 inches and mean annual temperature ranges from 64 to 66 degrees F. Frost free days range from 210 to 240 days, and elevation ranges from 1,050 to 1,750 feet. Thornthwaite P-E indices range from 36 to 44.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Hensley, Lindy, Nuvalde, Palopinto, Set, Tarrant, and Thurber series. Hensley and Lindy soils have reddish, clayey argillic horizons and are on positions similar to Leeray soils. Nuvalde soils have fine-silty control sections and are on similar positions. Palopinto and Tarrant soils have sola less than 20 inches thick over a lithic contact of limestone bedrock and are above on hillsides and ridgetops. Set soils have fine-silty control sections and are above on knolls and escarpments. Thurber soils have clayey argillic horizons and are on similar or slightly lower positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Permeability is very slow. Runoff is low on slopes less than 1 percent, medium on 1 to 3 percent slopes and high on 3 to 5 percent slopes. Water enters to soil rapidly when it is dry and cracked, and very slowly when it is moist.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for cropland and range. Small grains, forage sorghums, and grain sorghums are the main crops. Native vegetation is mostly sideoats grama, vine-mesquite, Texas wintergrass, Arizona cottontop, buffalograss, mesquite, pricklypear, and condalia.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mainly in the Texas North Central Prairie, Rolling Limestone Prairie, West Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie. The series is extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Eastland County, Texas; 1972.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 17 inches (A1, A2 and Bss horizons).
Cambic horizon - 11 to 55 inches (A2, Bss, Bkss horizons).
Calcic horizon - 55 to 86 inches (Bk and BCkss horizons).
Vertic Properties - Slickensides from 11 to 55 inches, more than 40 percent clay from the surface to greater than 40 inches, and cracks that open and close periodically.