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IV SOIL SURVEY IICb-52 to 60 inches, pale -brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loamy sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) when moist; massive to single grain (structureless) ; slightly hard when dry, very friable when moist; noncalcareous : pH 7.8. The A horizon ranges from 4 to 8 inches in thickness. The B2t horizon ranges from heavy silty clay loam to clay. When the soil is moist, very dark grayish -brown or darker colors extend to a depth of 20 to 50 inches. In most areas free lime has been leached to a depth of 60 inches, but a few areas are calcareous at a depth of 40 inches. Pleasant soils have a more uniform color in the subsoil than have Rago soils. Also, Pleasant soils lack the distinct layer of accumulated lime that occurs in Rago soils. Pleasant loam (0 to 3 percent slopes) (Ps) occupies the acreage in the south-central part of the county at the west and northwest edges of the sandhills. Included with this soil in mapping were areas of Rago and huma loams. Also included were playas and a few areas having a surface layer of light clay loam. Pleasant loam is deep and takes water slowly, but it does not release water readily to plants. Runoff is slow. This soil is suitable for cultivation, and about half the acreage is cultivated. In dryfarmed areas, crops and grass for pasture or range are suited. Also suited are irrigated crops, pasture, or hay. This soil periodically is flooded after heavy rains. If the soil is tilled when wet, plowpans tend to form in the upper part of the subsoil. Periodic chiseling when the soil is dry breaks up the plowpan. Stubble mulching or use of crop residue generally helps to reduce erosion in dryf armed areas. Ahough the soil is nearly level, irrigated fields re- quire leveling so that water spreads uniformly. Practices for controlling soil blowing and for maintaining fertility are careful management of irrigation water and working crop residue into the soil. Blue grama, buffalograss, and western wheatgrass grow vigorously on this soil. In cultivated or overgrazed areas, reseeding is desirable if the soil is moist and covered with litter. All grazing should be deferred until the grass forms a good root system. Overgrazing can be avoided if salt, watering points, and fences are located so that animals graze the entire range. Capability units IIIs-1 (dryland) and IIe-2 (irrigated) ; Clayey Plains range site; wind- break suitability group 1. Rago Series The Rago series consists of deep, well -drained, loamy soils. These soils occur on uplands and are nearly level or gently sloping. They occupy broad, flat areas and are extensive throughout the county. In a typical profile the plow layer is grayish -brown loam about 5 inches thick (fig. 6). It is easily worked. The subsoil is about 21 inches thick. The upper part is dark grayish -brown, slightly hard loam and hard clay loam. The middle part is dark -gray, hard silty clay loam, and the lower part is pale -brown, slightly hard silty clay loam that is strongly calcareous and contains visible lime. The underlying material is very pale brown loam and silt loam that is very strongly calcareous and contains visible lime. Surface runoff is medium, because these soils are not more than gently sloping and have a moderately perme- Figure 6.—Profile of Rago loam. able surface layer. They have a high capacity to ho water and are high in natural fertility. Except for a few small areas, the Rago soils are dr farmed. Winter wheat, barley, and sorghums are the ma crops. Some oats are grown in a few areas. The nati- vegetation consists mainly of western wheatgrass and bli grama grasses. Typical profile of Rago loam in a field of wheat stubb (295 feet west and 84 feet north of southeast corner section 36, T. 8 N., R. 43 W.) :