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002.36)5, TABLE 2, -Management and conservation practices. recommended, aCMrding to capability .< h land-Contmued OJ t e Land- capability 01"'" SolI group Slope and er08ion VIII (purple)l. Not suitable forcultiva- tioll, graz. ing,orfor. estry. 7. Loosesands..._. Aslopes________ Rlverwash. 88. Playa lake beds.. A slopesj all ero-' __.__do_ Randall olay. sion classes, di~t~i~a~~ I, II, and V do not occur in the Baca County CLASS III LAND Class III land must have intensive e!osion-con trol or mana.gemen t prac- . tlCes for safe and permanent cultivation. In Baca County class III land consists of the deep, moderately sandy soils (group 3) and the gentle slopes on .the deep .sandy loams of group 5. Moder- ate YIelds may be expected and cultiva- tIOn may be continuous provided intensive pra,ctices are employed. These bmds are highly susceptible to wmd erOSIOn, but they are more suitable for the production of crops under sparse and erratic seasonal rainfall than are othcr soils of this county. Yields will vary, but almost every year class III land will produce the adapted crops- broomcorn J grain sorghums and forage s,!rghm:'s, including Sudan' grass-pro- VIded 'It IS managed carefully and erosion is controlled (fig. 2). Although accurate data are not available, esti-. mated yields of about 300 pounds per acrc of broomcorn, 10 to 15 bushels of grain sorghums, and 1)\ to 2 tons of forage sorghums may be expectcd un- der good farming practices. Wheat is not adapted to lands of class III' the erosion hazard is too great. ' The secret of erosion control in this area is protective cover, and all efforts must be conccntrated in maintaining such cover throughout the year, par- ticularly dming the windy season. Timely tillage, by establishing a cloddy and ridgcd or furrowed surface when moisture is prcsent in the soil, is prob- ably the most effective single practice that can be used to increase the produc- Practices recommended for- Oropland or idle land Cbased on dry.land farming) Pas;~~oom:~ow, Special conditions Range, woodland, and wildlife treat- ments are not generally appli- cable. . ..u_ ____.do_____________ Where stream-bank erosion is signifi. cant, protection may be feasible on a district basis. Do. None___________n__ th:sCb~7fe~t~~inguishing class area on the maps accompanying tion of crops and to maintain cover> and. therefore indir~ctly to bring about eroslO~ control. S~ce the wind may be a~ Its heIght durmg planting time, s~cunng a stand often is extremely dI~cult. Deep listinli is almost imper- atIve at plantmg tune in order to roughen the surface, which aids in breaking up wind currents, and to bring up small clods of soil that are wind- resistant. Unless land has been well stabilized before planting a stand of any crop is aJmost iJ?pos~ible (fig. 3). E;ren If germmatlOn IS perfect, drifting SOlI may completely level the lister fur- rows. The cutting action of shifting sand damages young, tender plants and often destroys the stand. Planting three or four times is not unusual and replanting may be necessary as a ~esult of one strong' wind. A difference of only a few days in seeding time may mean the difference in a good crop and a poo~ one, or- even no crop at aU, June IS the recommended time for planting grain and forage sorghums. Strip cropping of grain sorghums w~th forage sorghums, is recommended, WIth strips approximately at right angles to the prevailing wind. Plant residues must be kept on the surface to help control erosion. Me- chanical tillage alone is of only tem- porary beDefit. The ridges soon break down under the action of wind and listing must be repeated, once or'more untIl the new crop is able to hold its own, Mqisture-conservation practices are essential. Wherever the topograpby Western and Southeastern Raea County Soil Conservation Districts, Colorado II '''-'.'