Friona soil and landscape
(L) Profile of Friona loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes, showing a petrocalcic horizon that has a laminar capped indurated layer over strongly cemented calcium carbonate in the lower part. (R) The cemented pan in the Friona soil negatively affects the water holding capacity of this soil for crop growth and is a major limitation for septic tank absorption fields. (Soil Survey of Deaf Smith County, Texas by Thomas C. Byrd, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Map Unit Setting
General location: Southern High Plains of western Texas and eastern New Mexico
Major land resource area: 77C
Geomorphic setting: These soils are on very gently sloping plains and occur along Tierra Blanca creek in the southwestern part of the county.
Map Unit Composition
Friona and similar soils: 80 percent
Contrasting soils: 20 percent
Based on transect data and other field observations of the map unit during the survey, the best estimate is that the Friona soil and similar soils make up 80 percent of the map unit, and contrasting soils make up 20 percent. The soils similar to Friona are the Kimberson soils that occur on the same landscape position. Also included in the map unit are small areas of Friona soils with slopes less than 1 percent.
Soil Description
Friona
Landscape: Plateau
Landform: Plain
Parent material: Loamy eolian sediments from the Blackwater Draw Formation of
Pleistocene age.
Typical Profile
Ap—0 to 8 inches; brown, slightly alkaline loam
Bt1—8 to 15 inches; brown, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam
Bt2—15 to 26 inches; yellowish red, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; slightly effervescent
Btk—26 to 31 inches; yellowish red, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; about 5 percent films, threads, concretions, and masses of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent
Bkm—31 to 35 inches; pinkish white petrocalcic, laminar in the upper part
B'tk—35 to 80 inches; pinkish white, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; about 50 percent masses and concretions of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent
Properties and Qualities
Slope: 1 to 3 percent
Surface features: None specified
Percent of area covered by surface fragments: None specified
Depth to restrictive feature: Petrocalcic, 20 to 35 inches
Slowest permeability class in the soil profile: Moderate above the petrocalcic
Permeability of restrictive feature: Slow
Salinity: Not saline within 40 inches
Sodicity: Not sodic within 40 inches
Available water capacity: About 4.7 inches (Low)
Natural drainage class: Well drained
Runoff: High
Annual flooding: None
Annual ponding: None
Depth to seasonal high water table: Not present within 80 inches
Interpretive Groups
Land capability nonirrigated: 3e
Land capability irrigated: 3e
Ecological site name: Deep Hardland PE 25-36
Ecological site number: R077CY022TX
Typical vegetation: The potential natural plant community for this site is shortgrass dominant with a few midgrasses and forbs. Very few shrubs or woody plants occur on this shortgrass prairie. The most prevalent grasses are blue grama and buffalograss with blue grama being dominant.
Use and Management
Major land uses: These soils are used primarily as rangeland and habitat for wildlife. They are not used extensively as cropland or improved pasture.
Rangeland management: Native plants yield moderate amounts of forage. The depth to a cemented pan, low available water capacity, and high runoff are limitations. The hazard of wind erosion is severe. The main concerns in management are continuous overgrazing, fire suppression and invasion of woody species, and undesirable perennial grasses or annual forbs. Proper stocking rates, brush management, and controlled grazing can help improve or maintain productivity.
Wildlife habitat: The slow percolation is a major limitation that restricts plant growth necessary for good habitat. The potential for wind erosion is severe.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX117/0/...
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FRIONA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#friona
Friona soil and landscape
(L) Profile of Friona loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes, showing a petrocalcic horizon that has a laminar capped indurated layer over strongly cemented calcium carbonate in the lower part. (R) The cemented pan in the Friona soil negatively affects the water holding capacity of this soil for crop growth and is a major limitation for septic tank absorption fields. (Soil Survey of Deaf Smith County, Texas by Thomas C. Byrd, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Map Unit Setting
General location: Southern High Plains of western Texas and eastern New Mexico
Major land resource area: 77C
Geomorphic setting: These soils are on very gently sloping plains and occur along Tierra Blanca creek in the southwestern part of the county.
Map Unit Composition
Friona and similar soils: 80 percent
Contrasting soils: 20 percent
Based on transect data and other field observations of the map unit during the survey, the best estimate is that the Friona soil and similar soils make up 80 percent of the map unit, and contrasting soils make up 20 percent. The soils similar to Friona are the Kimberson soils that occur on the same landscape position. Also included in the map unit are small areas of Friona soils with slopes less than 1 percent.
Soil Description
Friona
Landscape: Plateau
Landform: Plain
Parent material: Loamy eolian sediments from the Blackwater Draw Formation of
Pleistocene age.
Typical Profile
Ap—0 to 8 inches; brown, slightly alkaline loam
Bt1—8 to 15 inches; brown, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam
Bt2—15 to 26 inches; yellowish red, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; slightly effervescent
Btk—26 to 31 inches; yellowish red, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; about 5 percent films, threads, concretions, and masses of calcium carbonate; strongly effervescent
Bkm—31 to 35 inches; pinkish white petrocalcic, laminar in the upper part
B'tk—35 to 80 inches; pinkish white, moderately alkaline sandy clay loam; about 50 percent masses and concretions of calcium carbonate; violently effervescent
Properties and Qualities
Slope: 1 to 3 percent
Surface features: None specified
Percent of area covered by surface fragments: None specified
Depth to restrictive feature: Petrocalcic, 20 to 35 inches
Slowest permeability class in the soil profile: Moderate above the petrocalcic
Permeability of restrictive feature: Slow
Salinity: Not saline within 40 inches
Sodicity: Not sodic within 40 inches
Available water capacity: About 4.7 inches (Low)
Natural drainage class: Well drained
Runoff: High
Annual flooding: None
Annual ponding: None
Depth to seasonal high water table: Not present within 80 inches
Interpretive Groups
Land capability nonirrigated: 3e
Land capability irrigated: 3e
Ecological site name: Deep Hardland PE 25-36
Ecological site number: R077CY022TX
Typical vegetation: The potential natural plant community for this site is shortgrass dominant with a few midgrasses and forbs. Very few shrubs or woody plants occur on this shortgrass prairie. The most prevalent grasses are blue grama and buffalograss with blue grama being dominant.
Use and Management
Major land uses: These soils are used primarily as rangeland and habitat for wildlife. They are not used extensively as cropland or improved pasture.
Rangeland management: Native plants yield moderate amounts of forage. The depth to a cemented pan, low available water capacity, and high runoff are limitations. The hazard of wind erosion is severe. The main concerns in management are continuous overgrazing, fire suppression and invasion of woody species, and undesirable perennial grasses or annual forbs. Proper stocking rates, brush management, and controlled grazing can help improve or maintain productivity.
Wildlife habitat: The slow percolation is a major limitation that restricts plant growth necessary for good habitat. The potential for wind erosion is severe.
For additional information about the survey area, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/texas/TX117/0/...
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FRIONA.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#friona