LOCATION SHELLABARGER       KS+OK 

SHELLABARGER SERIES

The Shellabarger series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium on paleo-terraces in river valleys of the Great Bend Sand Plains (MLRA 79). Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual temperature is 14 degrees C (58 degrees F) and the mean annual precipitation is 71 centimeters (28 inches).

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

TYPICAL PEDON: Shellabarger fine sandy loam - on a 2 percent slope in range. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 33 centimeters (0 to 13 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 46 centimeters (6 to 18 inches) thick)

BA--33 to 48 centimeters (13 to 19 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches) thick)

Bt--48 to 96 centimeters (19 to 38 inches); reddish brown (5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; thin patchy clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (25 to 76 centimeters (10 to 30 inches) thick)

C--96 to 203 centimeters (38 to 80 inches); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) coarse sandy loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; single grained; soft, very friable; slightly acid.

TYPE LOCATION: Harper County, Kansas; about 9.7 kilometers (6 miles) north and 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) east of Attica; 610 meters (2000 feet) south and 12 meters (40 feet) west of the northeast corner, sec. 21, T. 31 S., R. 8 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil moisture regime: ustic moisture regime bordering on udic
Soil temperature regime: mesic
Mean annual soil temperature: 13 to 14 degrees C (56 to 58 degrees F)
Particle-size control section: 18 to 37 percent clay
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate: greater than 86 centimeters (34 inches)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 50 centimeters (10 to 20 inches)

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5YR
Value: 3 to 5, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: commonly is sandy loam or fine sandy loam and less commonly loamy sand, loamy fine sand, or loam
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

Bt horizon:
Hue: 2.5YR to 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 6, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam, or sandy loam and has 18 to 27 percent clay and more than 20 percent sand coarser than fine
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent by volume
Some pedons have a few mottles of yellow or brown in the lower part.
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline
Some pedons have a BC horizon.

C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 2.5YR
Value: 4 to 7, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, loam, or fine sandy loam, Some pedons are loamy sand, sand, or coarse sand below 102 centimeters (40 inches).
Rock fragments: 0 to 20 percent by volume
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Lancaster, Leisy, Loretto, Nalim, Naron, and Saltcreek series.
Lancaster soils are underlain by shale.
Leisy and Loretto soils have fewer frost free days.
Nalim, Naron and Saltcreek soils have less gravel in the profile.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material: alluvium
Landform: nearly level, sloping, to strongly sloping paleo-terraces
Slopes: 0 to 15 percent
Elevation: 365.8 to 533.4 meters (1200 to 1750 feet)
Mean annual air temperature: 13 to 14 degrees C (55 to 57 degrees F)
Mean annual precipitation: 71 to 81 centimeters (28 to 32 inches)
Wettest months: Mar. - Oct.
Driest months: Nov. - Feb.
Frost-free period: 187 to 225 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Albion, Attica, Farnum, Milan, and Pratt soils.
Albion soils are on slightly lower positions.
The Attica and Pratt soils have less clayey subsoil and are on steeper slopes.
Farnum and Milan soils are on less sloping landscapes.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage: well drained
Runoff: low or medium
Saturated hydraulic conductivity: moderately high

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated.
The principal crops are winter wheat and grain sorghum.
Native vegetation is tall grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South Central Kansas and North Central Oklahoma. LRR H, Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range, MLRA 79 Great Bend Sand Plains. The soil is extensive with about 450,000 acres (182,250 hectares).

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Salina, Kansas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Saline County, Kansas, 1952.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: 0 to 48 centimeters (0 to 19 inches). (A, BA)
Argillic horizon: 48 to 97 centimeters (19 to 38 inches). (Bt)
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Eighth edition, 1998

ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data are available from a pedon sampled in the general area as the typical pedon described here. This information is listed under National Soil Survey Laboratory numbers 76P0106 through 76P0114.

SHELLABARGER SERIES
LRR=H
DATE: 1/25/95
Oklahoma requests.
Adding MLRA information.
7.5YR colors in Bt.
Precipitation and PE ranges.
SIR number
DATE: 6/14/95
Updated the series to reflect climate conditions in MLRA 79 (Reno County). Taxonomy was changed to mesic.

Modified format by LRM in 10/2005 to include metric conversion and change permeability to saturated hydraulic conductivity.