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  1. Data Collection Methods
  2. Soils
  3. Soil Descriptions
  4. Konza Prairie Agroecosystem NEON (KONA) Soil Descriptions

Konza Prairie Agroecosystem NEON (KONA) Soil Descriptions

Distributed Soils Reports

Pedon Descriptions

Pit‐level observations and field measurements reported using the standard NRCS format. They contain volume estimates for coarse fragments > 20 mm where applicable.

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Site Level Plot Summary

A narrative summary that places the sampled soil pedons in the broader context of soils and geomorphology for the entire NEON site.

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Megapit Images

soil profile

D06 KONA megapit soil profile 5-200 cm

soil profile

D06 KONA megapit soil profile 0-24 cm

soil profile

D06 KONA megapit soil profile 29-56 cm

soil profile

D06 KONA megapit soil profile 29-193 cm

Download All Images

Megapit Pedon Description

Print Date Jul 22 2015
Description Date Aug 4 2014
Describer D. Kohake, B. Wehmueller, C. Remley, J. Hellerich
Site ID S2015PR055001
Site Note This site was sampled as a representative soil for the NEON instrumentation located in the Konza Prairie Biological Experiment Station. This site is located in an agricultural field that was currently in wheat stubble. The map unit describes the site as rarely flooded. Most agreed that the site was either rarely or possibly even very rarely flooded.
Pedon ID S2014KS161503
Pedon Note This pedon description was classified as a Pachic Vertic Argiudoll which is a taxadjunct to the Chase series. It was felt that this Chase pedon would not have aquic conditions. It was also felt that it would not meet the requirements of oxyaquic (saturation for 20 or more consecutive days or 30 or more cumulative days) during normal years. The organoargillans that were described in the lower horizons were along old large root channels that were from before this field was farmed.
Lab Source ID KSSL
Lab Pedon # 14N0950
Soil Name as Described/Sampled Chase
Classification Fine, smectitic, mesic Pachic Vertic Argiudolls
Pedon Type taxadjunct to the series
Pedon Purpose laboratory sampling site
Taxon Kind taxadjunct
Physiographic Division Interior Plains
Physiographic Province Central Lowland Province
Physiographic Section Dissected till plains
State Physiographic Area Flint Hills Upland
Geomorphic Setting on tread of terrace on river valley
Upslope Shape linear
Cross Slope Shape linear
Particle Size Control Section 12 to 62 cm.
Description origin NASIS
Country United States
State Kansas
County Riley
MLRA 76 -- Bluestem Hills
Soil Survey Area KS161 -- Riley County, Kansas
5-SAL -- Salina, Kansas
Map Unit 4350 -- Chase silty clay loam, rarely flooded
Quad Name Swede Creek, Kansas
Std Latitude 39.1082778
Std Longitude -96.6104722
Latitude 39 degrees 6 minutes 29.80 seconds north
Longitude 96 degrees 36 minutes 37.70 seconds west
Datum WGS84
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 706610 meters
UTM Northing 4331511 meters
Primary Earth Cover Crop cover
Secondary Earth Cover Close-grown crop
Parent Material Close-grown crop
Description database KSSL
Diagnostic Features mollic epipedon 0 to 119 cm.
argillic horizon 12 to 200 cm.
redox concentrations 31 to 119 cm.
slickensides 89 to 156 cm.
secondary carbonates 119 to 200 cm.
Slope (%) 1.0
Elevation (meters) 328.0
Aspect (deg) 45
Drainage Class moderately well
Horizon Details

Ap--0 to 12 centimeters (0.0 to 4.7 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), dry; 5 percent sand; 30 percent clay; weak coarse cloddy structure; slightly hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; noneffervescent; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04703

Bt1--12 to 31 centimeters (4.7 to 12.2 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silty clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), dry; 5 percent sand; 36 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable; common fine roots throughout; 20 percent faint 10YR 2/2), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; noneffervescent; clear smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04704

Bt2--31 to 54 centimeters (12.2 to 21.3 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), dry; 5 percent sand; 46 percent clay; weak medium prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm; common fine roots throughout; 25 percent faint 10YR 2/2), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; 1 percent fine distinct 7.5YR 4/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron; noneffervescent; gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04705

Bt3--54 to 89 centimeters (21.3 to 35.0 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty clay, grayish brown (10YR 5/2), dry; 5 percent sand; 44 percent clay; weak medium prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm; common fine roots throughout; 30 percent faint 10YR 3/2), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; 2 percent fine distinct 7.5YR 5/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron; noneffervescent; gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04706

Btss--89 to 119 centimeters (35.0 to 46.9 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) silty clay, brown (10YR 5/3), dry; 5 percent sand; 42 percent clay; moderate coarse prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm; few fine roots throughout; 1 percent prominent 10YR 2/1), moist, organoargillans on surfaces along root channels and 10 percent distinct slickensides (pedogenic) and 30 percent distinct 10YR 3/2), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; 1 percent fine distinct 7.5YR 5/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron; noneffervescent; clear smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04707

Btkss--119 to 156 centimeters (46.9 to 61.4 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3), dry; 5 percent sand; 38 percent clay; moderate coarse prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm; 1 percent prominent 10YR 2/1), moist, organoargillans on surfaces along root channels and 10 percent distinct slickensides (pedogenic) and 30 percent distinct 10YR 3/2), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; 2 percent coarse moderately cemented 10YR 6/2), moist, carbonate concretions; noneffervescent; gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 14N04708

Btk--156 to 200 centimeters (61.4 to 78.7 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3), dry; 5 percent sand; 35 percent clay; moderate coarse prismatic parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm; 2 percent prominent 10YR 2/1), moist, organoargillans on surfaces along root channels and 20 percent distinct 10YR 3/3), moist, clay films on all faces of peds; 1 percent medium weakly cemented carbonate concretions and 2 percent medium threadlike carbonate masses; noneffervescent. Lab sample # 14N04709

Credits: This megapit soil pedon description was generously created by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service staff, with particular thanks to Larry West, Jon Hempel, and numerous field staff.

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