Nebraska Soils Field Trip - Virginia Tech

4th IUSS Soil Classification Conference Field Tour Guidebook
LOCATION AKSARBEN NE +KS
Established Series
SAS, LGR, PTC
06/2008
AKSARBEN SERIES
The Aksarben series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in loess on uplands. Slope
ranges from 0 to 11 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 11 degrees C, and mean
annual precipitation is about 74 centimeters.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Aksarben silty clay loam with a convex slope of 1 percent - cultivated.
(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 15 centimeters; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish
brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; many very fine and
fine roots throughout; many fine and medium tubular pores; moderately acid; abrupt smooth
boundary.
A--15 to 30 centimeters; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish
brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular;
slightly hard, friable; many very fine and fine roots throughout; many fine and medium tubular
pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 15 to
51 centimeters)
Bt1--30 to 46 centimeters; dark brown (10YR 3/3) silty clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry;
moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine subangular blocky; hard,
firm; common fine roots throughout; common fine tubular pores; many faint very dark grayish
brown (10YR 3/2) continuous clay films (cutans) on vertical and horizontal faces of peds;
slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--46 to 66 centimeters; brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam; brown (10YR 5/3) dry; few fine
distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron masses in the soil matrix; the iron accumulations
are relict redox features; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine and
medium subangular blocky; hard, firm; few fine roots throughout; few fine tubular pores; many
faint dark brown (10YR 3/3) continuous clay films (cutans) on vertical and horizontal faces of
peds; few fine irregular soft masses of iron-manganese; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
Bt3--66 to 86 centimeters; brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry;
prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) iron masses in the soil matrix; the iron accumulations are
relict redox features; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to strong medium subangular
blocky; hard, firm; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine tubular pores; many faint dark
brown (10YR 3/3) continuous clay films (cutans) on vertical and horizontal faces of peds;
common fine irregular soft masses of iron-manganese; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
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