LOCATION NARON              KS 

NARON SERIES

The Naron series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in loamy eolian sediments. These soils are on dunes on paleo-terraces in river valleys of the Great Bend Sand Plains (MLRA 79). Slope ranges from 0 to 8 percent. The mean annual temperature is 57 degrees F (14 degrees C), and mean annual precipitation is 27 inches (69 centimeters).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Udic Argiustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Naron fine sandy loam on a 2 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 8 inches (0 to 20 centimeters); brown (10YR 4/3), interior, fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3), interior, moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; 11 percent clay; noneffervescent throughout (HCl, 1 normal); moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--8 to 14 inches (20 to 36 centimeters); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), interior, fine sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), interior, moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; 15 percent clay; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of A horizons 6 to 14 inches thick; 15 to 36 centimeters thick)

Bt1--14 to 28 inches (36 to 71 centimeters); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), interior, sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4), interior, moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots throughout; 25 percent clay; few distinct discontinuous clay films on vertical faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.

Bt2--28 to 39 inches (71 to 99 centimeters); brown (10YR 5/3), interior, sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3), interior, moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 23 percent clay; few distinct discontinuous clay films on vertical faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.

Bt3--39 to 55 inches (99 to 140 centimeters); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), interior, sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4), interior, moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 20 percent clay; few distinct discontinuous clay films on vertical faces of peds; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizons 10 to 45 inches thick; 25 to 114 centimeters thick)

BC--55 to 66 inches (140 to 168 centimeters); brown (10YR 5/3), interior, fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3), interior, moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 17 percent clay; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick; 0 to 38 centimeters thick)

C--66 to 80 inches (168 to 203 centimeters); pale brown (10YR 6/3), interior, loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3), interior, moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 7 percent clay; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick; 0 to 38 centimeters)

TYPE LOCATION: Reno County, Kansas; 17 miles (27.4 kilometers) west and 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of Hutchinson; 775 feet (236 meters) west and 100 feet (30 meters) south of the northwest corner of sec. 28 T. 22 S. R. 08. W; (USGS Sterling SW topographic quadrangle; lat. 38 degrees 6 minutes 53.3 seconds N. and long. 98 degrees 12 minutes 46.7 seconds W.)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture regime: ustic moisture regime bordering on udic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 56 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C)
Particle-size control section: 18 to 27 percent clay
Depth to bedrock: greater than 80 inches (203 centimeters)
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: typically below 60 inches (152 centimeters), but a few pedons are calcareous below the Bt horizon
The organic carbon is less than 0.6 percent below a depth of 20 inches (50 centimeters).
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 10 to 19 inches (25 to 49 centimeters)

A horizon:

Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5 (dry) 2 or 3 (moist)
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bt horizon:

Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 6 (dry) 3 to 5 (moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, or sandy clay loam
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline

BC horizon:

Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 6 (dry) 4 to 7 (moist)
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or loamy fine sand
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

C horizon:

Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 or 6 (dry) 4 or 5 (moist)
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, or fine sand
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Carman (OK), Lancaster (KS), Leisy (NE), Loretto (NE), Nalim (KS), Saltcreek (KS), Shellabarger (KS) and Wells (KS) series. The Lancaster and Wells soils are underlain by shale. The Leisy and Loretto soils have lower mean annual soil temperature. Carman soils have hues that are redder than 7.5YR. Saltcreek soils have a paleosol between 30 to 60 inches (152 centimeters). Shellabarger soils allow up to 15 percent gravels within the profile. Nalim soils have more gravel and a higher clay content in the control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Naron soils

Parent material: wind-modified alluvium
Landform: paleo-terraces
Slopes: 0 to 8 percent
Elevation: 1200 to 2000 feet (365.8 to 609.6 meters)
Mean annual air temperature: 55 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C)
Mean annual precipitation: 23 to 32 inches (58 to 81 centimeters)
Wettest months: Mar. - Oct.
Driest months: Nov. - Feb.
Frost-free period: 187 to 225 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Attica, Carbika , Carway , Carwile, Farnum, Funmar , Hayes , Milan, Pratt and Saltcreek soils. The more sandy Attica, Hayes, Pratt and Saltcreek soils have more complex slopes that are undulating to rolling. The poorer drained and more clayey Carbika and Carwile soils and loamy Carway soils are in depressions. Farnum, Funmar and Milan soils are on slightly less undulating slopes. Farnum soils have 27 to 35 percent clay in the series control section.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly cultivated; wheat and sorghums are the principal crops. Native vegetation was tall prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South Central Kansas. LRR H Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range, MLRA 79 Great Bend Sand Plains. This series is of large extent with about 350,000 acres.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Reno County, Kansas, 1963.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
mollic epipedon: The zone from 0 to 14 inches (0 to 36 centimeters). (Ap, A)
argillic horizon: The zone from 14 to 55 inches (36 to 140 centimeters). (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3)
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Eighth edition, 1998

ADDITIONAL DATA: There are also sandy substratum and eroded phases for this soil.
Laboratory Data:
S85KS155001
S87KS047002
S92KS079001