Formation and Classification of the Soil

This section describes the major factors of soil formation, tells how these factors have
affected the soils of theVentura Area, and explains some of the principal processes in horizon
development . It also defines the current system for classifying soils and shows the
classification of the soils by series and higher categories.

Factors of Soil Formation

Soil forms through the interaction of the major soil-forming factors--parent material, climate,
vegetation and animal life, relief, and time.
Climate and vegetation are the active forces in soil formation. Relief modifies the effects of
climate and vegetation, mainly through its influence on runoff and temperature. Parent
material also affects the kind of profile that forms. Time is needed for changing the parent
material into soil. Usually a long time is required for the formation of distinct horizons
Parent Material
Parent material, which is the weathered rock or unconsolidated mass from which the soil
forms, determines the chemical and mineralogical composition of the soil. Soils of the
Ventura Area formed in material weathered from sandstone, shale, and basic igneous rock,
and in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources.
Marine sandstone, shale, and semi consolidated material occupy the major part of the
uplands. Considerable interbedding occurs, and the material varies in hardness and lime
content. In sandstone and shale the percentage of the slowly weatherable mineral quartz is
relatively high. these rocks differ mainly in the size of the individual grains and the strength
of the cementing agents. Sandstone is the coarser grained. Sandy soils, such as Arnold and
Gaviota soils, formed in material weathered from sandstone. Loamy, silty, and clayey soils,
for example, Balcom, Castaic, Diablo, Nmcimiento, and San Benito soils, formed in material
weathered from shale.
Basic igneous rocks occur in the southern part of the Ventura Area, mainly in an area that
extends from Long Grade Canyon and Conejo Mountain through the south side of Santa Rosa
Valley. They also occur south of Newbury Park and in an area that extends from Sandstone
Peak to the Ventura County-Los Angeles County line. In basic igneous rocks the percentage
of weatherable minerals is high. Clayey soils, such as Gilroy and Hambright soils, formed in
material weathered from these rocks.
Except for Vina soils, which formed in alluvium derived from basic igneous rocks, the
alluvial soils in the Area are derived from mixed rock sources Some are relatively uniform in
texture; some are stratified. The texture ranges from sand to clay, and the reaction from
slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
Climate
The climate of the Area is characterized by mild winters, warm summers , and moderate
rainfal1. Presumably it is similar to the climate under which the soils formed. Only the stony
and cobbly soils in the Ojai and Santa Clara Valleys appear to have formed under a climate in
which storms were of higher intensity. About 14 to 22 inches of rain falls annually. This
amount is insufficient to leach bases from the soil profiles. Consequently, some soils, for
example, Anacapa, Cropley, Pacheco, Salinas, and Sorrento soils, have a zone of carbonate
accumulation.
Living Organisms
Vegetation, burrowing animals, insects, earthworms, bacteria, and fungi are important in the
formation of soils. Plants generally have a greater influence on soil formation than other
living organisms have. They provide shade and cover, thus reducing runoff and the erosion
hazard, and their roots loosen the soil material and add organic matter, thereby influencing
soil structure and physical condition. Bases move upward from plant roots to the leaves and
stems and are eventually returned to the soil, unless they are removed by grazing animals.
This process counteracts the leaching of bases by rainfall and adds organic matter to the soil.
Scanty vegetation contributes no appreciable amount of organic matter. Hence, soils that
developed under brush, Arnold and Gaviota soils, for example, are affected by droughtiness,
are low in organic-matter content, and have a light-colored surface layer. In contrast, soils
that developed under grasses and forbs, Diablo, Linne, and Nacimiento soils, for example, are
fine textured, are high in organic-matter content, and have a dark-colored surface layer. Well-
drained alluvial soils, such as Anacapa, Garretson, Mocho, and Sorrento soils, developed
under annual grasses and scattered brush. Poorly drained soils, for example, Camarillo,
Hueneme, and Pacheco soils, developed under salt-tolerant and water-tolerant plants.
Micro-organisms play an important part in transforming plant nutrients. Burrowing animals
and earthworms loosen and mix the soil and thus slow down the formation of distinct soil
horizons.
Relief
Relief, or the shape of the landscape, influences soil formation, mainly through its effect on
drainage and erosion, and partly through variations in exposure to the sun and wind and in air
drainage.
Camarillo, Hueneme, and Pacheco soils formed in low-lying, poorly drained areas under salt-
tolerant and water-tolerant plants. They have mottled underlying horizons that contain
segregated lime and gypsum. Anacapa, Garretson, and Pico soils formed on well-drained
alluvial fans and plains. They lack mottles and segregated gypsum. Upland soils on north-
facing slopes receive less direct sunlight, have cooler soil temperatures and retain moisture
longer than those on south-facing slopes, and they therefore tend to develop a denser
vegetative cover, and in turn, a deeper, darker colored surface layer. For example, San Bonito
soils, which generally occur on north-facing slopes, have a deeper surface layer than
Nacimiento soils, which commonly occur on adjacent south-facing slopes. On steep slopes,
relief is the dominant factor in soil formation. In these areas the soil material is removed by
erosion nearly as fast as it forms; consequently, a thick soil profile seldom develops.
Examples of shallow, steep soils are the Calleguas, Gaviota, and Millsholm soils.
Time
A long time is generally required for soil formation. The length of time depends largely on
the other four soil-forming factors. Presumably, under a good vegetative cover and the most
favorable climate, the formation of a single inch of topsoil from the raw material of the
subsoil takes from 200 to 1,000 years. The formation of Huerhuero and Rincon soils, for
example, which have a strongly developed subsoil, or Chesterton soils, which have a silica-
cemented hardpan, indicates a million or more years of soil-building processes. Soils that
have been in place for a relatively short time have not yet been influenced enough by the
other soil-forming factors to have developed well-defined and genetically related horizons.
Examples are Anacapa, Garretson, and Pico soils, which formed in recent alluvium. Time is
directly related to relief for young soils in areas where soil material is removed by erosion
nearly as fast as it forms. Young soils on steep slopes, such as Arnold, Balcom, Castaic,
Gaviota, Nacimiento, and Saugus soils, lack well- developed horizons.

Processes of Soil Formation

The accumulation of organic matter, the solution, transfer, and reprecipitation of calcium
carbonate and bases, the liberation, reduction, and transfer of iron, and the formation and
translocation of silicate clay minerals have been active processes in the formation of the soils
of the Ventura Area.
Accumulation of organic matter in the surface layer of the soils has been an important
process in the formation of an Al horizon. In general, the soils that formed under dense
vegetation and have the thickest, darkest colored Al horizon are highest in organic-matter
content.
Leaching of carbonates from the upper horizons has occurred in a few soils in the Area,
Generally this process precedes translocation of silicate clay minerals. The Huerhuero soil is
an example of a soil that has been leached of carbonates to a depth below the accumulated
silicate clay minerals.
Silicate clay accumulates in pores and forms bridges across sand grains and films on surfaces
along which water moves. In the soils of this Area, the leaching of bases and the translocation
of silicate clays are among the more important processes of horizon differentiation. The
Hambright soil is an example of a soil that has a minimum of translocated clay. In contrast,
the Huerhuero soil an example of a soil that has maximum clay translocation.
The reduction of iron, a process called gleying, results in mottled or olive and gray colors.
Gleying is associated with poorly drained soils, such as Camarillo and Pacheco soils.
Classification of the Soils
Classification consists of an orderly grouping of soils according to a system designed to make
it easier to remember soil characteristics and interrelationships. Classification is useful in
organizing and applying the results of experience and research. Soils are placed in narrow
classes for discussion in detailed soil surveys and for application of knowledge within farms
and fields. The many thousands of narrow classes are then grouped into progressively fewer
and broader classes in successively higher categories, so that information can be applied to
geographic areas.
Two systems of classifying soils have been used in the United States in recent years. The
older system was adopted in 1938 (2) and revised later (9). The system currently used by the
National Cooperative Soil Survey was adopted in 1965 (11). It is under continual study.
Readers interested in the development and application of the system should refer the latest
literature available (6, 7).
The current system of classification has six categories. Beginning with the most inclusive, the
categories are the order, the suborder, the great group, the subgroup, the family, and the
series. The criteria for classification are soil properties that are observable or measurable, but
the properties selected so that soils of similar genesis are grouped together. The placement of
some soil series in the current system of classification, particularly in families, may change as
more precise information becomes available.
Table 7 shows the classification of each soil series of the Ventura Area by family, subgroup,
order, according to the current system.
A detailed description of each soil series represented in the Ventura Area is given in the
section ‘Descriptions of the Soils.”
TABLE 7.--SOIL SERIES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

Series Family Subgroup Order

Anacapa Coarse-loamy, mixed, thermic Calcic Pachic Haploxerolls Mollisols

Arnold Mixed, thermic Typic Xeropsamments Entisols

Azule Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Mollic Haploxeralfs Alfisols

Balcom Fine-silty, mixed, calcareous, thermic Typic Xerorthents Entisols

Loamy-skeletal, mixed, calcareous,

Calleguas Lithic Xerorthents Entisols
thermic

Camarillo Fine-loamy, mixed, calcareous, thermic Aquic Xerofluvents Entisols

Castaic Fine-silty, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic Xerorthents Entisols

Chesterton 1/ Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Abruptic Durixeralfs Alfisols

Cibo Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Typic Chromoxererts Vertisols

Corraljtos Mixed, thermic Typic Xeropsamments Entisols

Cortina Loamy-skeletal, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic Xerofluvents Entisols

Cropley Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Chromic Pelloxererts Vertisols

Cropley,
Fine,montmorillonitic, thermic Chromic Pelloxererts Vertisols
calcareousvariant

Diablo Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Chromic Pelloxererts Vertisols

Garretson Fine-loamy, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic Xerorthents Entisols

Garretson, calcareous
Fine-silty, mixed, calcareous, thermic Typic Xerorthents Entisols
variant

Gaviota Loamy, mixed, nonacid, thermic Lithic Xerorthents Entisols

Gazos 1/ Fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haploxerolls Mollisols

Gilroy Fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Argixerolls Mollisols

Hambright Loamy-skeletal, mixed, thermic Lithic Haploxerolls Mollisols

Hueneme Coarse-loamy, mixed, calcareous, thermic Aquic Xerofluvents Entisols

Huerhuero Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Haplic Natrixeralfs Alfisols

Kimball Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Mollic Palexeralfs Alfisols

Linne Fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Calcic Pachic Haploxerolls Mollisols

Lodo Loamy, mixed, thermic Lithic Haploxerolls Mollisols

Los Osos Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Typic Argixerolls Mollisols

Malibu Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Abruptic Palexeralfs Mollisols

Metz Sandy, mixed, thermic Typic Xerorthents Entisols

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 The environmental characteristics of Ventura County and its soils

 How this survey was made
 General Soil Map
 Formation and Classification of the Soil
 Additional facts about the area
 Vegetable and Strawberry Crop Production
 Ag Water Quality Programs
 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
 Agricultural Labor Management
 Weeds and Invasive Plants of Ventura County