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2.04.9 Soils Resource Information <br />SOIL RECONSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR DISTURBED LAND <br />METHOD OF EVALUATION <br />The criteria for evaluating soil as a plant growth media are given in Table 4.4.1. <br />The criteria include sodium adsorption ration (SAR), electrical conductivity or salinity <br />(EC), toxic materials, soil reaction (pH), available water holding capacity (AWHC), <br />erosion factor (k), wind erosion group, texture, and percent coarse fragments. <br />Criteria are given for good, fair or poor sources of reconstruction material (Table <br />4.4.1). A good rating means vegetation is relatively easy to establish and maintain, the <br />surface is stable and resists erosion, and the reconstructed soil has good potential <br />productivity. Material rated fair can be vegetated and stabilized by modifying one or <br />more properties. Top dressing with better material or application of soil amendments <br />may be necessary for satisfactory performance. Material rated poor has such severe <br />problems that revegetation and stabilization is very difficult and costly. Top dressing <br />with better material may be necessary to establish and maintain vegetation (USDA, <br />1978). <br />SOIL CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES <br />Chemical and physical data for permit area soils were collected to evaluate the <br />soils as reconstruction material for disturbed lands. Soil chemical and physical data <br />from analysis by F & L Labs are reported in the Appendix. SCS Soil Survey <br />Interpretation Records were also used in making the evaluations. <br />Soils were sampled by horizon and analyzed using standard agricultural <br />techniques. The parameters tested were paste pH, electrical conductivity, moisture <br />saturation percentage, soluble sodium, magnesium and calcium, SAR, organic matter, <br />particle size distribution, textural class, and boron. The techniques used (Appendix) are <br />those of USDA Handbook 60 (1954) and American Society of Agronomy Monograph #9 <br />(black, 1965). <br />SUITABILITY AS A SOURCE MATERIAL FOR RECLAMATION OF DISTURBED <br />LANDS <br />Table 4.4.2 is an evaluation of soil reconstruction material for each horizon of <br />each soil type in the permit area. The evaluation is based on field descriptions, soil <br />chemical and physical data (Appendix) and the criteria of Table 4.4.1. The soils are <br />rated good, good fair, fair, fair poor, or poor sources of reconstruction material. The <br />overall rating given for each horizon is based on the most limiting factors and the <br />number of restrictive factors. <br />Vegetation is difficult to establish on soils with high SAR which indicates potential <br />instability and water transmission problems (USDA, 1978). SAR values range from less <br />PR -02 2.04-46 10/12 <br />