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26 If the range is overgrazed, the proportion of preferred forage plants decreases and the proportion of less preferred forage plants increases. Therefore, livestock grazing should be managed so that the desired balance of preferred species is maintained in .the plant community. Range seeding is suitable if the range is in poor condition. The plants selected for seeding should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock or wildlife, or both. Other management practices that are suitable for use on this unit are proper range use, deferred grazing, and rotation grazing. If the plant cover is disturbed, protection from erosion is needed. Loss of the surface layer results in a severe decrease in productivity and in the potential of the soil to produce plants suitable for grazing. This unit is well suited to winter wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum. Low annual precipitation is the main limitation for the crops that can be grown on this unit. Because precipitation is not sufficient for annual cropping, a cropping system that includes small grain and summer fallow is most suitabie. Precipitation usually is too low for crops on this unit to make efficient use of fertilizer. Maintaining crop residue on or near the surface reduces runoff, reduces soil blowing, and helps to maintain soil tilth and organic matter content. Stubble- mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum tillage help to control erosion and conserve moisture. Terraces reduce runoff and the risk of erosion and help to conserve moisture. This unit is well suited to windbreaks and environmental plantings. Supplemental irrigation may be needed when planting and during dry periods. This map unit is in capability subclass IVe, nonirrigated, and in Loamy Plains range site. 31-Klm-Mltchell complex, 0 to 6 percent slopes. This map unit is on smooth to slightly dissected plains and alluvial fans. . This unit is about 45 percent Kim loam and 40 percent Mitchell silt loam. The components of this unit are so intricately intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately at. the scale used. Included in this u~it are small areas of Haverson, Thedalund, and Keota toams. Included areas make up 15 percent of the total acreage. The percentage varies from one area to another. The Kim soil is deep and well drained. It formed in calcareous loamy alluvium. Typically, the surface layer is light brownish gray loam 3 inches thick. The subsurface layer is light brownish gray clay loam 4 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches or more is light gray loam. The soil is calcareous throughout. Permeability of the Kim soil is moderate. Available water capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Runoff is medium to rapid, and the hazard of water erosion is slight to moderate. The hazard of soil blowing is moderate. I' Soil survey . The Mitchell soil is deep and well drained. It formed in calcareaus loamy alluvium. Typically, the surface layer is brown and pale brown silt loam 7 inches thick. The . subsurface layer is silt loam 5 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches or more is silt loam. The soil is calcareous throughout. Permeability of the Mitchell soil is moderate. A vailabie water capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Runoff is slow to medium, and the hazard of water erosion is slight to moderate. The hazard of soil blowing is moderate. Most areas of this unit are used as rangeland. A few areas are used as nonirriga~ed cropland. Winter wheat is the main crop. The potential plant community on the Kim soil is mainly blue grama, western wheatgrass, sedges, and buffalograss. The average annual production of air-dry vegetation ranges from 500 to 1,500 pounds. The potential plant community on the Mitchell soil is mainly blue grama, western wheatgrass, and fourwingsaltbush. The average annual production of air-dry vegetation ranges from 500 to 1,600 pounds. If the range is overgrazed, the proportion of preferred forage plants decreases and the proportion of less preferred forage plants increases. Therefore, livestock grazing should be managed so that the desired balance of preferred species is maintained in the plant community. Range seeding is suitable if the range is in poor condition. The plants selected for seeding should meet the seasonai requirements of livestock or wildlife, or both. Other management practices that are suitable for use on this unit are proper range use, deferred grazing, and rotation grazing. If the plant cover is disturbed, protection from ercsion is needed. Loss of the surface layer results in a severe decrease in productivity and in the potential of the unit to produce plants !?uitable for grazing. This unit is suited to winter wheat, barley, oats, and sorghum. Because precipitation is not sufficient for annual cropping, a cropping system that includes small grain and summer fallow is most suitable. Precipitation usually is too low for crops on this unit to make efficient use of fertilizer. Maintaining crop residue on or near the surface reduces runoff, reduces soil blowing, and helps to maintain soil tilth and organic matter content. Stubble- mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum tillage help to control erosion and conserve moisture. Terraces reduce runoff and the risk of erosion and help to conserve moisture. This unit is well suited to windbreaks and environmentai plantings. It is limited mainly by the hazard of soil blowing where the surface layer is barren of vegetation. Only small areas or strips should be cleared for tree planting. Soil blowing can be reduced by cultivating only in the tree rows and by leaving a strip of vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed when planting and during dry periods.