Soil Survey of Lubbock County, Texas Page: 11

LUBBOCK COUNTY, TEXAS

11-Berda loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This deep,
gently sloping soil is on the sides of draws. It occurs as
long narrow areas that range from 20 to 200 acres.
The surface layer is friable, moderately alkaline, gray-
ish brown loam about 8 inches thick (fig. 5). From about 8
to 20 inches is friable, moderately alkaline, grayish brown
loam that has a few fine concretions, films, and threads of
calcium carbonate. From 20 to 28 inches is friable,
moderately alkaline, light reddish brown loam that also
has a few fine concretions, films, and threads of calcium
carbonate. From 28 to 40 inches is friable, moderately al-
kaline, light brown loam that has a few visible calcium
carbonate threads in soft powdery forms and concretions.
From 40 to 60 inches is friable, moderately alkaline,
brown loam that has a few visible calcium carbonate
threads in concretions and soft masses.
This soil is well drained. Surface runoff is medium.
Permeability is moderate, and available water capacity is
medium. The root zone is deep. The hazard of water ero-
sion is severe, and the hazard of soil blowing is moderate.
Included in mapping are spots of Bippus, Mansker, and
Posey soils and a few areas of a soil that is similar to the
Berda soil but has a darker colored surface layer. These
included soils make up less than 20 percent of any one
mapped area
This soil is used as cropland and range. Cotton and
wheat are the main crops, but other crops can be grown.
The potential is medium for irrigated cotton and low
for nonirrigated cotton. It is medium for irrigated wheat
and low for nonirrigated wheat. It is low for irrigated and
nonirrigated grain sorghum. The low rainfall, slope, and
susceptibility to water erosion are the most limiting fac-
tors. Crop residue should be kept on the surface in order
to conserve moisture and control water erosion and soil
blowing in cultivated areas. Contour farming and terraces
are essential in controlling excess runoff. Emergency til-
lage is needed during dry years when crop residue pro-
vides inadequate protection. Fertilizer is needed if the
soil is irrigated. A designed sprinkler irrigation system
and proper application of irrigation water are essential.
This soil has high potential for native range plants. Na-
tive range plants are mainly mid and short grasses, which
produce a large amount of forage. The potential is medi-
um for wildlife habitat

This soil has high potential for most urban and recrea-
tional use. It is corrosive to uncoated steel and has low
strength, but these limitations can be easily overcome by
good design and installation. Keeping an adequate vegeta-
tive cover is essential because of the slope and the high
susceptibility to water erosion.
Capability subclass IVe nonirrigated and irrigated;
Hardland Slopes range site.
12-Berda-Potter association, hilly. The deep and
very shallow, hilly soils of this association are on foot
slopes below steep escarpments. Slopes range from 10 to
30 percent. Mapped areas are irregularly shaped and
range from 25 to several hundred acres.

Berda soils make up about 60 percent of this associa-
tion, Potter soils about 30 percent, and other soils about
10 percent The delineations of this association are much
larger and the composition more variable than those of
other map units in the county. Mapping was controlled
well enough, however, for the anticipated use of the
areas.
Berda soils have a concave surface. They occupy the
less sloping areas. The surface layer is friable, moderately
alkaline, reddish brown loam about 10 inches thick that
has a few concretions of calcium carbonate. From 10 to 24
inches is very friable, moderately alkaline, reddish brown
loam that has common films, threads, and concretions of
calcium carbonate. From 24 to 34 inches is very friable,
moderately alkaline, reddish brown light sandy clay loam
that is about 3 percent visible soft powdery masses of cal-
cium carbonate. From 34 to 60 inches is friable, moderate-
ly alkaline, yellowish red loam that has a few films,
threads, and concretions of calcium carbonate.
Berda soils are well drained. Surface runoff is medium.
Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
medium. The root zone is deep and is easily penetrated by
plant roots. The hazard of water erosion is severe. The
hazard of soil blowing is moderate.
Potter soils have a convex surface. They occupy the
steeper parts of this association. The 4-inch surface layer
is friable, moderately alkaline, brown gravelly loam that
is about 20 percent by volume hard caliche fragments.
From 4 to 12 inches is friable, moderately alkaline, light
brown gravelly loam that is about 35 percent by volume
hard caliche fragments up to 2 inches in diameter. From
12 to 20 inches is moderately alkaline, pinkish white,
weakly cemented caliche that can be cut with a spade.
From 20 inches to more than 30 inches is moderately al-
kaline silty shale that has seams of calcium carbonate.
Potter soils are well drained. Surface runoff is rapid.
Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
very low. Fertility is low, and the hazard of water erosion
is severe.
Included in mapping are spots of Mobeetie soils and ex-
posed geologic material. These included spots make up
about 10 percent of any one mapped area.
This association is used for range and recreation. It is
not suitable as cropland. The potential is low for range,
low to medium for wildlife habitat, and low for most

urban and recreational use. The potential for all uses is
limited by steep slopes and the severe hazard of water
erosion (fig. 6).
Berda soil in capability subclass Vile, Hardland Slopes
range site; Potter soil in capability subclass VIIs, Very
Shallow range site.
13-Bippus fine sandy loam, frequently flooded. This
deep, nearly level soil is in drainageways and on bottom
lands of draws that are frequently flooded. It occurs as
long areas that range from 10 to 150 acres. Slopes are 0
to 1 percent.
The surface layer is very friable, moderately alkaline,
dark brown fine sandy loam 6 inches thick. From 6 to 24

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