LOCATION SPUR               TX+NM+OK
Established Series
Rev. CRC-TLC-CLN-WJG
11/2003

SPUR SERIES


The Spur series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils. These nearly level to very gently sloping soils formed in loamy alluvial sediments on nearly level and gently sloping flood plains in the Central Rolling Red Plains (MLRA 78). Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Fluventic Haplustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Spur clay loam--pasture. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 15 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; hard, friable; many fine roots; many fine and medium pores; many wormcasts; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (11 to 20 inches thick)

Bk1--15 to 38 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky and moderate fine granular structure; hard, friable; numerous strata of slightly darker material 1/2 to 1 inch thick; many fine roots and pores; many wormcasts; few films, threads, and fine concretions of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick)

Bk2--38 to 50 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; few threads, films, and fine concretions of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)

Bk3--50 to 60 inches; light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) clay loam, reddish brown (5YR 5/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; few fine concretions of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Fisher County, Texas; from Texas Highway 70 in Roby; 3.5 miles west on U. S. Highway 180; 0.8 mile south and 0.4 mile west on county road; 100 feet north in pasture.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 20 inches thick. Reaction is moderately alkaline throughout.

The A horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is clay loam, loam, or fine sandy loam.

The Bk1 horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 6. Texture is loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam with clay content of 20 to 35 percent.

The Bk2 and lower horizons have hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 6. Darkened strata and lighter colored and sandier layers are common. Texture is clay loam, loam, or sandy clay loam. Calcium carbonate accumulations are few to common in the form of films, threads, and fine concretions. Some pedons have C horizons below 40 inches.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Easpur and Pursley series in the same family. Soils in similiar families include Bippus, Bosque, Colorado, Clairemont, Gageby, Guadalupe, Paloduro, Port, Rups, and Toyah series. The Easpur and Pursely soils are moist in the control section for longer periods of time and have secondary carbonates below 40 inches. Clairemont and Rups soils have less than 15 percent sand coarser than very fine sand in the control section. Bippus, Bosque, Gageby, and Port soils have a mollic epipedon thicker than 20 inches. Colorado and Guadalupe soils have an ochric epipedon. Paloduro soils have a regular decrease in organic matter. Toyah soils are dry for longer periods of time.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils occur in nearly level and very gently sloping flood plains of streams draining dominantly loamy soils. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The soil formed in calcareous, loamy alluvium. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 22 to 28 inches. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 57 to 64 degrees F. Thornthwaite annual P-E index from 32 to 44. Frost free days range from 180 to 230. Elevation ranges from 1,0001,200 to 2,100 feet.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the similar Colorado, Gageby, and Rups series. These soils are on the same landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; negligible to low surface runoff; moderate permeability; rare to frequent flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for both cropland and rangeland. Principal crops are grain sorghums, cotton, wheat, and alfalfa. Native grasses are blue grama, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, and switchgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Rolling Plains of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas (MLRA 78B, 78C). The series is moderately extensive.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Temple, Texas

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Dickens County, Texas; 1922.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon - the A horizon from 0 to 15 inches.

Cambic horizon - the Bw horizons from 15 to 60 inches.

Fluventic feature - strata of darker alluvial material causes irregular decrease of organic matter in the solum.

Saline phases are recognized.

Range Site: Loamy Bottomland - 078CY050OK

ADDITIONAL DATA: none

TAXONOMIC VERSION: Soil Taxonony, Second Edition, 1999.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.