Holdrege -- Nebraska State Soil

Photograph of landscape of Holdrege soil series.

Photograph of the profile of a typifying pedon of Holdrege soil series.

Holdrege Soil Profile

Surface layer: dark grayish brown silt loam
Subsoil - upper: dark grayish brown silty clay loam
Subsoil - middle: light brownish gray silty clay loam
Subsoil - lower: light gray silt loam

Holdrege soils are extensive, making up about 1.8 million acres in south-central Nebraska. Most areas of these soils are used for crops, pasture, or rangeland. Corn, soybeans, and small grain are the main crops grown under dryland conditions. Many areas are irrigated.

The Holdrege series consists of deep, nearly level to gently sloping, well-drained soils on uplands. These soils formed in silty, calcareous loess. Slopes typically range from 0 to 6 percent, but they are as much as 15 percent in some areas. The average annual precipitation is about 22 inches, and the annual average snowfall is about 22 inches. The average annual air temperature is about 50 degrees.

The Holdrege series was established in Phelps County, Nebraska, in 1917. it is named after a community in the county. It was selected as the Nebraska State soil in 1979.

Small scale map of Nebraska showing distribution of Holdrege soil series.

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