Vernalis Series
The Vernalis series consists of very deep, well drained soils on alluvial fans. These soils formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent.
Taxonomic Class: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Calcic Haploxerepts.
Typical Pedon: Vernalis clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.
Ap—0 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many medium and very fine roots; many medium and very fine tubular and interstitial pores; neutral (pH 6.8) ; clear smooth boundary.
A—10 to 20 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many medium and very fine tubular and interstitial pores; neutral (pH 7.0) ; clear smooth boundary.
Bt—20 to 34 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many medium and very fine tubular pores; common thin clay films lining pores; lower part slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6) ; clear smooth boundary.
Btk1—34 to 46 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many medium and very fine tubular pores; common thin clay films lining pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated carbonates and occasional segregations of carbonates in common fine seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0) ; gradual wavy boundary.
Btk2—46 to 62 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; many medium and very fine tubular pores; few thin clay films lining pores; strongly effervescent with disseminated carbonates and in common fine seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2) .
Typical Pedon Location: Stanislaus County, California; 100 feet south and 1,055 feet west of the northeast corner of sec. 7, T.6 S., R.8 E., 37 degrees 26' 06" north Lat. and 121 degrees 07' 24" west Long., Crows Landing quadrangle.
Range in Characteristics: Gravel content is 0 to 5 percent.
The A horizon is 10YR 5/2, 5/3, 6/2 or 6/3. Moist color is 10YR 3/2, 3/3, 4/2 or 4/3. Texture is loam or clay loam. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.
Bt and Btk horizon is 10YR 4/3, 5/3, 5/4, 6/3 or 6/4. Moist color is 10YR 4/3, 4/4, 5/3 or 5/4. Texture is clay loam, loam or silt loam. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.