Our Science

Patricia and Amarillo Soil Series

The Patricia & Amarillo series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in sandy eolian sediments in the Blackwater Draw Formation of Pleistocene age. These soils are on very gently to gently sloping plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 457 mm (18 in) and the mean annual temperature is 16 degrees C (61 degrees F).

Depth to well-drained caliche rock varies across the Rowland Taylor property ranging from 33 inches to rock in shallower areas and greater than 60 inches to rock in areas with deeper soil.

TAXONOMIC CLASS

Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aridic Paleustalfs

Patricia Soil Series

A1–0 to 13 cm (0 to 5 in), yellowish red (5YR 5/8) loamy fine sand, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; loose, loose; many very fine and fine roots; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 13 cm [0 to 5 in] thick

A2–13 to 30 cm (5 to 12 in), yellowish red (5YR 5/8) loamy fine sand, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; common very fine and fine roots; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (20 to 38 cm [8 to 15 in] thick)

Bt1–30 to 69 cm (12 to 27 in), red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam, dark red (2.5YR 3/6) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine pores; few distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (30 to 64 cm [12 to 25 in] thick)

Bt2–69 to 102 cm (27 to 40 in), red (2.5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam, red (2.5YR 4/8) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (50 to 1237 cm [20 to 50 in] thick)

Bt3–102 to 198 cm (40 to 78 in), red (2.5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; common very fine and fine root channels; common fine pores; common prominent clay films; very slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (15 to 76 cm [6 to 30 in] thick)

Btk–198 to 221 cm (78 to 87 in), yellowish red (5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist;moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few very fine root channels; common fine pores; common distinct clay films on ped surfaces; about 40 percent calcium carbonate by volume in the form of masses, films, and nodules; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline.

TAXONOMIC CLASS

Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aridic Paleustalfs

Amarillo Soil Series

Ap–0 to 28 cm (0 to 11 in); brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; hard, very friable; many fine roots; many fine and medium pores; many wormcasts; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Thickness is 13 to 48 cm [5 to 19 in].)

Bt–28 to 69 cm (11 to 27 in); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) sandy clay loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; very hard, friable; many fine and medium pores; common wormcasts; common distinct clay films on faces of prisms and clay bridged sand grains throughout; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Thickness is 20 to 64 cm [8 to 25 in].)

Btk–69 to 98 cm (27 to 39 in); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; clay bridged sand grains; about 5 percent calcium carbonate by volume in the form of films and filaments on faces of peds; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Thickness is 20 to 76 cm [8 to 30 in].)

Btkk–98 to 142 cm (39 to 56 in); pink (5YR 7/3) sandy clay loam, light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable; about 60 percent calcium carbonate by volume in the form of masses, nodules, and finely disseminated carbonates; 50 percent calcium carbonate by weight; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Thickness is 15 to 91 cm [6 to 36 in].)

B’tk1–142 to 216 cm (56 to 85 in); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; few faint clay films and clay bridged sand grains; about 20 percent calcium carbonate by volume in the form of masses and nodules concentrated mainly along faces of prisms; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Thickness is 20 to 127 cm [8 to 50 in].)

B’tk2–216 to 251 cm (85 to 99 in); reddish brown (5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) moist; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable; few faint clay films and clay bridged sand grains; about 10 percent calcium carbonate by volume in the form of masses concentrated mainly along faces of prisms; violently effervescent, moderately alkaline.