Soil Survey of Runnels County, Texas Page: 7
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RUNNELS COUNTY, TEXAS
B22t-24 to 36 inches, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay
loam, yellowish red (5YR 4/6) when moist; weak.
prismatic structure that breaks to moderate, medium
subangular blocky; few clay films on ped surfaces;
friable when moist, very hard when dry; a few
waterworn pebbles /s to 1/2 inch in diameter; neu-
tral; abrupt boundary.
R-36 to 44 inches +, weathered, weakly and strongly
cemented, red and yellow sandstone.
The thickness of the A horizon ranges from 4 to 20 inches.
In dry soil the hue is 5YR to 7.5YR, the value 4 or 5, and the
chroma 3 or 4.
The thickness of the Bt horizon ranges from 11 to 40 inches
but is dominantly less than 29 inches. In dry soil the hue is
2.5YR to 5YR, the value 4 or 5, and the chromna 4 to 6.
In about 50 percent of the profiles observed, there is a layer
of accumulated calcium carbonate up to 6 inches thick. In
some this layer is calcareous but contains no visible calcium
carbonate. In others it is 50 percent concretions and soft
masses of calcium carbonate.
The depth to the R horizon ranges from 20 to 48 inches.
Most commonly the R horizon is weathered, red or yellow,
non-calcareous, fine-grained sandstone. In places it is weath-
ered conglomerate, red marine clay, or siltstone. Most of this
material is noncalcareous. In spots where the soil overlies
conglomerate, the profile is 2 to 40 percent waterworn pebbles.
Cobb soils are deeper over sandstone than the nearby Latomn
soils. but they are shallower than Miles soils. They have a
sandier, more friable Bt horizon than the nearby Winters
soils.
Cobb-Latom complex (CI).-This complex occupies low
ridges and areas adjacent to ridges in the northwestern
part of the county. Slopes range from 1 to 8 percent. This
complex is about 55 percent Cobb soils and 20 percent
Latom soils. Included in mapping were spots of Potter
soils and of Winters fine sandy loam, outcrops of sandstone
and conglomerate, exposures of marine clays, areas of soils
that are similar to Cobb soils except for a surface layer of
loamy fine sand, and areas of soils like Cobb soils but only
12 to 20 inches thick over sandstone.
Cobb soils are predominantly gently sloping, but the
pockets between sandstone outcrops have stronger slopes.
Latom soils occupy ridgetops and steeper parts that are
closely associated with sandstone outcrops.
Cobb soils have a surface layer of reddish-brown, non-
calcareous fine sandy loam about 10 to 15 inches thick and
a subsoil of reddish-brown, noncalcareous sandy clay loam.
Ordinarily the underlying material is calcareous to non-
calcareous, weakly to strongly cemented sandstone. In
places it is weakly to strongly cemented conglomerate.
Latom soils have a surface layer of calcareous fine sandy
loam about 8 inches thick. This layer is underlain by
strongly cemented, noncalcareous sandstone or conglomer-
ate. The rocks have caliche coatings in the crevices.
Cobb soils have aL moderate water-intake rate, medi-
um rullotf in sloping areas, and( a moderate available
water capacity. The risk of water erosion is slight to
moderate, and the risk of soil blowing is moderate. Lat-
om soils take in water rapidly but have a low available
water capacity. This low capacity and the strong slopes
allow much runoff. The risk of water erosion is serious
if the soils are overgrazed. Fertility is moderate.
If these soils are to be used as cropland, a cropping
system that supplies large amounts of orgamc mat-
ter and litter is needed for control of soil blowing and
water erosion. Sorghum and small grain are exanples of'
suitable crops. Tillage should be on the contour. Ter-
races are needed. In part of the acreage the soils are shal-
330-435-70-- 2low over sandstone, are not suitable for terracing, and
should be ill permanent pasture grasses.
Thlis complex is used as range. It produces a wide
variety of vegetation. It makes good wildlife habitat
because the vegetation includes oaks and other woody
plants that provide cover, browse, and mast. (Capabili-
ty unit IVe-4; Cobb soils in Sandy Loam range site;
Latoml soils in Sandstone Hills range site)
Cobb-Winters fine sandy loams, 0 to 1 percent slopes
(CwA).-This complex occurs as areas about 150 acres in
size, in the northwestern part of the county. It is made
lip of about equal parts of Cobb and Winters soils. These
soils are underlain by sandstone, red marine clay and clay
loam, and conglomerate. Those underlain by conglomerate
contain some resistant quartzitic pebbles. The surface is
smooth. Soils similar to Cobb soils except for a surface
layer of loamy fine sand make up about 5 percent of each
mapped area, and soils that are in small valleys and have
a thicker surface layer because of the accumulation of
sediments blown or washed from higher lying areas make
up another 5 percent. Also included in mapping were a few
vwi(lely scattered small outcrops of sandstone.
Cobb soils have a reddish-brown, noncalcareous surface
layer about 12 to 18 inches thick and a subsoil of reddish,
noniicalcareous sandy clay loam that extends to a depth of
about 36 to 48 inches. The underlying material is weakly
cemented sandstone.
Winters soils have a reddish-brown, noncalcareous sur-
face layer about 10 inches thick and a subsoil of reddish,
noncalcareous sandy clay that extends to a depth of about
50 inches. The underlying material is reddish, calcareous
clay loam that has an accumulation of lime in the upper-
most part.
Cobb soils have a moderate water-intake rate and a
moderate to high capacity for holding water and plant
nutrients. Winters soils have a moderately slow water-
intake rate and a moderate to high capacity for hold-
ing water and plant nutrients. Both have slow run-
off. The risk of water erosion is slight, and the risk of
soil blowing is moderate.
These soils are well suited to cultivation, and about
half the acreage is cultivated. Large amounts of organic
matter and stubble are needed on the surface to con-
trol soil blowing. Sorghum and small grain are exam-
ples of suitable crops. The response to fertilization is
good.
All1 of this compl)lex is rangeland. It produces a wide
variety of vegetation. It makes good wildlife habitat be-
cause the vegetation includes oaks and other woody
plants that provide cover, browse, and mast. (Capabili-
ty unit IIIe-4: Sandy Loamn range site)
Cobb-Winters fine sandy loams, 1 to 3 percent slopes
(CwB).-This complex is on low rounded hills in the north-
western part of the county. It is made up of about equal
parts of Cobb and Winters soils. Slopes are convex. Soils
similar to Cobb soils except for a surface layer of loamy
fine sand make up about 10 percent of each mapped area,
Latom soils about 2 percent, and widely scattered sand-
stone outcrops less than 1 percent.
Cobb soils have a noncalcareous surface layer about 6
to 10 inches thick and a subsoil of reddish, noncalcareous
sandy clay loam that extends to a depth of about 30 to 36
inches.
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Wiedenfeld, C. C.; Barnhill, L. J. & Novosad, Clifford J. Soil Survey of Runnels County, Texas, book, March 1970; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth224548/m1/11/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.