2015-03-05_REVISION - M1986074 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

52 SOIL SURVEY brown and brown sandy loam about 18 inches thick and is calcareous in the lower part. The substratum is light gray and pale brown, calcareous sandy loam and loamy sand extending to 60 inches or more. Permeability is moderately rapid. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Available water capacity is moderate. Surface runoff is medium, the erosion hazard is moderate, and the soil blowing hazard is moderate. This sod is used mainly for nonirrigated and irrigated cropland. Some areas are used for grazing. Wheat is the principal crop in nonirrigated cropland. Alfalfa, corn, and sugar beets are the main crops on irrigated cropland. Primary objectives of management in nonirrigated cropland areas are protecting soil from blowing and con- serving moisture. Stubble mulch tillage and incorporating crop residues are essential practices to protect the soil from blowing and improve soil tilth. Planting crops in al- ternate strips at right angles to the prevailing wind is ef- fective in protecting soil from blowing. Close grown crops are also effective in protecting soil from blowing. In irrigated areas the main concerns of management are proper use of irrigation water, soil fertility and con- trol of soil erosion. This soil is suited to contour furrow, contour ditch or sprinkler methods of irrigation. Land leveling and irrigation water management are needed to obtain uniform distribution and efficient use of water. Ir- rigation runs should be short when using the contour systems to minimize soil losses. Incorporating crop residues is needed to reduce soil blowing during periods when the soil is not protected by growing crops and to improve soil tilth. Applications of manure and commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus are needed in maintaining soil fertility. The rangeland vegetation of this soil consists mainly of sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, sand dropseed, little bluestem, blue grama, needleandthread, and switchgrass. Sand sagebrush--is interspersed with the grasses. To maintain a productive growth of forage plants, proper grazing use is essential. Periodic deferment of grazing during the growing season is beneficial in maintaining and improving range condition. Fencing is necessary to obtain more uniform distribution of grazing animals. Brush management is needed when sand sagebrush becomes ex- cessively dense and reduces forage production. Openland wildlife such as pheasant, cottontail rabbit and mourning dove are suited to this soil. In cropland areas favorable habitat can, be developed by establishing areas for nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is vital and should be included in plans for habitat development. Tree and shrub plantings along fence lines, irrigation ditches, roadsides and streambanks also help encourage wildlife. Rangeland wildlife, including antelope and jackrabbits, can be en- couraged by water development. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally suited to this soil. Soil blowing is the principal concern to establishing trees and shrubs. This hazard can be over- come by cultivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of vegetative cover between the rows. Supplemental irrigation is necessary at the time of planting and during dry periods. Trees best suited and having good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian -olive and hackberry. Shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac and Siberian peashrub. This soil is well suited for use as homesites and other urban developments, with only minor limitations that can be easily modified. Sealing methods are required to over- come the excessive seepage when the soil is used as a sewage lagoon site. Capability subclass IVe nonirrigated, IIIe irrigated. 63— Manter sandy loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes. This is a deep, well drained soil on upland hills and ridges. It formed in calcareous, loamy eolian and alluvial materials. The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 18 inches. Slopes are moderately sloping. Included in this unit are small areas of Ascalon sandy loam. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is dark grayish brown and brown sandy loam about '18 inches thick and is cal- careous in the lower part. The substratum is light gray and pale brown, calcareous sandy loam and loamy sand extending to 60 inches or more. Permeability is moderately rapid. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Available water capacity is moderate. Surface runoff is medium, the erosion hazard is moderate, and the soil blowing hazard is moderate. This soil is used mainly for nonirrigated and irrigated cropland. Some areas are used for grazing. Wheat is the principal crop on nonnrigated cropland. In irrigated cropland areas alfalfa, corn and sugar beets are the main crops grown. In nonirrigated cropland areas the main concerns of management are conserving soil moisture and protecting soil from blowing. Stubble mulch tillage and incorporating crop residues are needed to protect soil from blowing, im- prove soil tilth and conserve moisture. Planting crops in alternate strips at right angles to the prevailing wind is effective in protecting soil from blowing. Close grown crops are also effective in protecting sod from blowing. Tillage should be kept to a minimum. In irrigated areas the main concerns of management are proper use of irrigation water, controlling soil erosion and maintaining and improving soil fertility. This soil is suited to contour furrow, contour ditch or sprinkler methods of irrigation. Land leveling- is needed in most areas to smooth slopes to obtain more uniform application of water. Irrigation runs should be short when using con- tour systems to minimize soil losses. Incorporating crop residues is needed to reduce soil blowing during periods when soils are not protected by growing crops and im- prove soil tilth. Applications of manure and commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus are needed in maintaining soil fertility.