LOCATION RUELLA KS+OKEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Udic Haplustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Ruella loam - cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 9 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium and fine granular structure; soft, very friable; few small, calcium carbonate concretions on surface and throughout upper 6 inches; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
Bk--9 to 32 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable; common fine threads of calcium carbonate and few small and medium calcium carbonate concretions comprising about 5 percent of the soil mass; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 35 inches thick)
C--32 to 60 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; massive but porous; slightly hard, friable; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Harper County, Kansas; about 7 miles west and 2 miles south of Anthony, Kansas; about 550 feet west and 300 feet south of the northeast corner of sec. 3, T. 34 S., R. 8 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum ranges from about 24 to 50 inches. The soils are slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline throughout. They typically contain secondary calcium carbonates throughout, but some pedons lack secondary calcium carbonates to depths of 10 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 5YR, 2.5YR, or 7.5YR; value of 4 to 6 and 3 to 5 moist; and chroma of 4 to 6. It is loam or clay loam.
The Bk horizon has hue of 2.5YR, 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6 and 3 to 5 moist, and chroma of 4 to 6. It is loam or clay loam typically averaging between 22 and 30 percent clay but ranging from 18 to 35 percent. Some pedons have thin layers of sandy clay loam or sandy loam less than 10 inches thick.
The C horizon has colors like the Bk horizon. It is loam or clay loam and some pedons have thin strata of fine sandy loam. Some pedons have sandy loam or loamy sand below depths of 40 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the family. Soils in similar families include the Berda, Berthoud, Case, Gerlane, Midessa, Nashville, Quinlan, Shep, Weymouth and Woodward series. Berda, Berthoud, and Midessa are drier for longer periods. Case, Shep, and Weymouth soils have calcic horizons. Gerlane soils have mollic epipedons and coarse-loamy textures. Nashville and Woodward soils have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Quinlan soils have bedrock at depths less than 20 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Typically, Ruella soils are on gently sloping to sloping erosional upland which appear to be dissected remnants of old, high terraces bordering the valley floors of larger streams within the Central Rolling Red Prairies. Slope gradients typically are between 1 and 5 percent but range from 0 to 10 percent. The soils are formed in deep, calcareous, medium textured old alluvium of reddish hue. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 26 to 38 inches, and mean annual temperature ranges from 57 to 61 degrees F. Thornthwaite Annual P-E Index is 44 to 50. Frost free days are 185 to 210.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Carman, Devol, Eda, Grant, Nashville, and Tivoli soils. Carman, Devol and Grant soils have argillic horizons and are on adjacent uplands. Nashville soils have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches and are on higher landscapes. The Eda and Tivoli soils have sandy control sections and are on adjacent hummocky areas.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium to high. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly cultivated with wheat and sorghums being the principal crops. Native vegetation is mid and tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Rolling Red Prairies (MLRA-80A) of south-central Kansas and adjacent parts of Oklahoma. The series is not extensive.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Harper County, Kansas, 1970.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of about 9 inches; (the A horizon)
cambic horizon - the zone from about 9 to 32 inches; (the Bk horizon)
udic-ustic moisture regime.
Series Interpretative Record: KS0100