Kleberg – Kenedy Soil Survey Final Acre Ceremony

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Kleberg-Kenedy Soil Survey recently held a Final Acre Ceremony at the Dick Kleberg County Park in Kingsville, Texas. The ceremony celebrated the completion of field mapping of Kleberg and Kenedy counties, which is approximately 1.8 million acres.

Soil survey project leader, Nathan Haile, thanked attendees for their presence and cooperation throughout the survey, which started in 1996. He said work to finalize the soil survey will be completed in the upcoming months by digitizing the soil survey maps, developing a soil survey manuscript and general soil map of the counties. The survey is expected to be available to the public by the summer of 2007.

NRCS soil scientists presented a correlation sample of the last acre showing the different horizons, including properties like color, texture, and structure. The soil survey staff also gave a brief presentation on how soils differed in Kleberg County from east to west from the clayey Beaumont formation to the sandy soils of the silt sheet formation along the Jim Wells County line. They also explained how the sandsheet formation in Kenedy County covered alluvial sediments deposited by ancient rivers. They also described the mapping process used, including aerial photography, probe trucks, and other soil survey equipment.

Roy Cantu, Kleberg County commissioner, questioned the staff about the uses and advantages of the soil survey. The soil scientists gave some examples of the uses for county drainage projects, city and state road construction projects, and land management practices for producers. Robert Schmidt, NRCS district conservationist, added that in conservation planning the soil information is a vital factor in determining the management practices needed to control erosion, improve soil and water quality, increase production, and sustain the resources for future generations.

The final acre mapped in the soil survey area was Czar fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes. A correlation sample was presented to the Soil and Water Conservation District Board to signify the completion of field work and a breakfast was provided in appreciation for the producers and landowners’ cooperation in field mapping and soil survey activities.

Other discussions about the importance of soil surveys and conservation practices arose during the breakfast among the participants. David Schubert, Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District, stated that residue management is extremely important in South Texas because the region doesn’t receive enough rainfall to produce the excessive amount of biomass or crop residue to either maintain or improve soil tilth, the overall health of the soil.


The soil scientists also talked about the studies that have shown the difference in soil surface temperatures between soils with ample crop residue than those tilled conventionally, which exposes the soil surface to “baking” by the sun. Heat has been proven to act as a catalyst in breaking down organic matter, a major component for soil quality.

Other participants included Roel Guerra Jr. and John Sackett, NRCS soil scientists; Jessica J. Benavides, Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District; Herb Schwertner, Farm Service Agency county executive director; Ernest Bippert Jr. and Trey Quackenbush, Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District board members; David Rosse, Kleberg County commissioner; Susan Ivy, park director; and guest Richard LaBlue.

Anyone interested in soil survey information can access soils information using the Web Soil Survey on the internet at the following address.
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

David Rosse, center, Kleberg County commissioner, discusses soil issues in Kleberg County.	NRCS soil survey staff presents correlation sample to Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District Board and commissioners. From left to right: Roel Guerra, Jr. , NRCS MLRA 83 soil scientist; Herb Schwertner, Farm Service Agency county executive director; Nathan Haile, NRCS Kleberg-Kenedy soil survey project leader; David Rosse, Kleberg County commissioner, Precinct 1; Ernest Bippert, Jr., Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 vice chairman; David Schubert, Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 director; John Sackett, NRCS MLRA 83 soil scientist; Robert W. Schmidt, NRCS district conservationist; Trey Quackenbush, Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 director.	Group discusses atlas sheets.
Roel Guerra Jr., center, and John Sackett, right, discuss conservation as it relates to soils with David Schubert, left.	Group at last acre site from left to right: Roel Guerra Jr., NRCS MLRA 83 soil scientist; David Rosse, Kleberg County commissioner Precinct 1; Herb Schwertner, FSA county executive director; Ernest Bippert Jr., Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 vice chairman; John Sackett, NRCS MLRA 83 soil scientist; Nathan Haile, NRCS Kleberg-Kenedy soil survey project leader; David Schubert, Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 director; Robert Schmidt, NRCS district conservationist; and Trey Quackenbush, Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD #356 director.	Group discusses photos taken throughout the soil survey.

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