Laserfiche WebLink
18 <br /> SOIL SURVEY <br /> IICb-52 to 60 inches, pale-brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loamy <br /> sand,grayish brown (IOYR 5/2) when moist;massive <br /> to single grain (structureless) ; slightly hard when <br /> dry, very friable when moist; nonealeareous; pH 7.8. <br /> _J1 <br /> The A horizon ranges from 4 to 8 inches in thickness. The <br /> B2t horizon ranges from heavy silty clay loam to clay. When <br /> the soil is moist, very dark grayish-brown or darker colors <br /> extend to a depth of 20 to 50 inches. In most areas free lime <br /> has been leached to a depth of 60 inches, but a few areas are <br /> calcareous at a depth of 40 inches. ti <br /> Pleasant soils have a more uniform color in the subsoil than <br /> have Rago soils. Also, Pleasant soils lack the distinct layer <br /> of accumulated lime that occurs in Rago soils. <br /> Pleasant loam (0 to 3 percent slopes) (Ps) occupies the <br /> acreage in the South-central part of the county at the west <br /> and northwest edges of the sandhills. <br /> Included with this soil in mapp <br /> ing were areas of Rago, <br /> and Kunia loans. Also included were playas and a few <br /> areas having a surface layer of light clay loam. <br /> Pleasant loam is deep and takes water slowly, but it <br /> does not release water readily to plants. Runoff is slow. <br /> This soil is suitable for Cultivation, and about half the <br /> acreage is Cultivated.In dryfarmed areas, crops and grass <br /> for pasture or range are suited. Also suited are irrigated <br /> crops,pasture,or hay. <br /> This soil periodically is flooded after heavy rains.If the <br /> Soil is tilled when wet,plowpans tend to form in the tipper <br /> part of the subsoil. Periodic chiseling when the soil is dry <br /> breaks up the plowpan. Stubble mulching or use of crop <br /> residue enerally helps to reduce erosion in dryfarmed <br /> areas. Although the soil is nearly level, irrigated fields re- <br /> quire leveling so that water spreads uniformly. Practices <br /> for controlling soil blowing and for maintaining fertility <br /> are careful management of irrigation water and working <br /> crop residue into the soil. <br /> Blue grama,buffalograss, and western wheatgrass grow <br /> vigorously on this soil. In cultivated or overgrazed areas <br /> reseeding is desirable if the soil <br /> is moist and covered with <br /> litter.All grazing should be deferred until the grass forms <br /> a good root system. Overgrazing can be avoided if salt, <br /> watering points, and fences are located so that animals <br /> graze the entire range. Capability units IIIs_j (dryland) <br /> and IIe-2 (irrigated) Clayey Plains range site; wind- <br /> break suitability group 1. <br /> Rago Series <br /> The Rago series consists of deep, well-drained, loamy <br /> soils. These soils occur on-uplands and are nearly level or <br /> gently sloping. They occupy broad, flat areas and are <br /> extensive throughout the county. <br /> In a typical profile the plow layer is grayish-brown loam <br /> about 5 inches thick (fig. 6). It is easily worked. Figure 6.—Profile of Rago loam. <br /> The subsoil is about 21 inches thick. The tipper part is able surface layer. They have a high capacity t <br /> dark grayish-brown, slightly hard loam and hard clay water and are high in natural fertility. <br /> loam. The middle part is dark-gray, hard silty clay loam <br /> and the lower part is pale-brown, slightly hard silty clay' Except for a few small areas, the Rago soils a: <br /> ime. <br /> loam that is strongly calcareous and contains visible Ii farmed.Winter wheat,barley, and sorghums are th The underlying material is very pale brown loam and crops. Some oats are_grown in a few areas. Thevegetation consists mainly of western wheatgrass ai <br /> silt loam that is very strongly calcareous and contains <br /> visible lime. grama grasses. <br /> Surface runoff is medium, because these soils are not (295 Typical profile of Rago loam in a field of wheat feet west and 84 feet north of southeast coi <br /> more than gently sloping and have a moderately perme- section 36, T. 8 N., R. 43 W.) : <br />