Nisene series

The Nisene series consists of deep, well drained soils on mountains. These soils formed in residuum derived from sandstone or shale. Slope ranges from 15 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 60 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is about 55 degrees F.

Nisene soils are similar to Aptos, Felton, and Lompico soils. They are mapped in a complex with Aptos soils and are near Ben Lomond, Catelli, Felton, Lompico, and Sur soils. Aptos and Lompico soils have paralithic contact at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Felton soils have a mollic epipedon less than 20 inches thick. Ben Lomond, Catelli, and Sur soils do not have an argillic horizon, and they average less than 18 percent clay in the control section.

Typical pedon of a Nisene loam in an area of Nisene Aptos complex, 30 to 50 percent slopes, about 6,400 feet due east of intersection of Olive Springs Road and Hinckley Creek Road on Hinckley Creek Road in T. 10 S., R. 1 E. (projected):

0-2 inches to 0; mat of partially decomposed leaves, needles, and twigs.

A1-0 to 10 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots and many medium and coarse roots; many fine and medium interstitial and tubular pores; neutral; clear wavy boundary.

B21t-10 to 22 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots and many medium and coarse roots; many fine tubular pores, common medium tubular pores, and common fine interstitial pores; common thin clay films on faces of peds, and few thin clay films lining pores; 10 percent angular pebbles; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.

B22t-22 to 32 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots and many medium and coarse roots; common fine pores and many medium tubular pores; common thin clay films on faces of peds, and few thin clay films lining pores; 10 percent angular pebbles; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.

B23t-32 to 48 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots and many medium and coarse roots; common fine tubular pores and many medium tubular pores; few thin clay films lining pores, and common thin clay films on the faces of peds; 10 percent angular pebbles; slightly acid; diffuse irregular boundary.

B3t-48 to 58 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots and common medium and coarse roots; few fine tubular pores and common very fine interstitial pores; common thin clay films bridging mineral grains; 15 percent angular pebbles; slightly acid; clear irregular boundary.

Cr-58 inches; weathered fine-grained sandstone; slightly acid.

Depth to paralithic contact is 40 to 66 inches. The profile is 0 to 15 percent pebbles.

The A horizon has value of 3 to 5 and chroma of 1 or 2. It is slightly acid to neutral.

The B2t horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. In places, at a depth of more than 20 inches, it has value of 6 and chroma of 4. The 132t horizon is sandy clay loam or clay loam. It is medium acid to slightly acid.

Some pedons have a C horizon 5 to 10 inches thick that has hue of 10YR, value of 6 or 7, and chroma of 4. It is loam or sandy clay loam. It is slightly acid.

The Cr horizon is weathered sandstone or shale.