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<1 % in soil test pit 96 -10 and ranged from 0.2 to 4.3 % in soil test pit 96 -09, confirming the deep <br />nature of the soils. <br />Soil chemical results are presented in Table 2: <br />Soil pH. pH is perhaps the most important chemical characteristic of the soil and indicates <br />acidity of the soil. Soil pH serves as a general index to the availability of plant nutrients, <br />potential toxicity problems, and sodic soil conditions. A soil pH of 6.5 to 8.0 is ideal for most <br />agronomic crops. Soil pH ranged from 7.0 -8.0 for both soil test pits sampled, within the ideal <br />agronomic range. For classification purposes the soils would be described as neutral to <br />moderately alkaline (USDA- NRCS). <br />Soil Salinity. Soil salinity is the amount of soluble salts in a soil, and is measured by the <br />electrical conductivity (EC) of the saturated paste extract. The salinity of a soil is important <br />because high salt levels make it difficult for plants to obtain water (Bohn, et al., 1985). Saline <br />soils are conventionally defined as having EC values of greater than 4.0 mmhos /cm , however <br />sensitive plants can be affected at 2.0 mmhos /cm and highly tolerant plants are productive at EC <br />levels greater than 8.0 mmhos /cm. Soil test pit 96 -10 had EC in some horizons of the profile that <br />would be classified as very slightly saline (EC ranging between 2 and 4 mmhos /cm), while all <br />the horizons in test pit 96 -09 had EC less than 1.0 (non - saline) (USDA- NRCS). <br />Soil Sodicity. Sodic soils are "nonsaline soils containing sufficient exchangeable sodium to <br />adversely affect crop production and soil structure" (Soil Science Society of America, 2001). <br />High levels of sodium tend to disperse soil particles thereby sealing the soil. The result can <br />produce hard surface crusts, reduced infiltration rates, and reduced oxygen diffusion rates, all of <br />which interfere with or prevent plant growth. By definition, sodic soils are those that have an <br />exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of more than 15, an EC less than 4 mmhos/cm, and a pH <br />between 8.5 and 10 (U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954). ESP concentrations are all less than <br />2.0 and pH less than 8.5 in all samples tested. <br />3.3. 1989 Intermountain Resource Inventories Inc. Soil. Survey <br />The 1989 Intermountain Resources soil survey was conducted to supplement work performed <br />during the Peabody soil survey, and included an extensive soil survey of the Morgan Property. <br />During this soil survey 24 soil test pits were evaluated. The 1989 Intermountain Resources soil <br />survey mapped the soils within the Morgan Property, however the final soil survey map only <br />denote soil associations and/or complexes. Soil test pit descriptions from the Intermountain soil <br />survey are located in Appendix B. <br />Morgan Property Soil Survey Page 7 <br />