Laserfiche WebLink
13.2 Irrigated Pastureland Topsofl Preparation Procedures <br />Topsoil replacement operations may be carried out during most of the year, the exception being <br />those periods when wet conditions would preclude handling of the topsoil materials. <br />IA - Deep ripping of the subsurface - Upon successful completion of placing the Bench 1 as <br />described in the soil redistribution plan, the Bench 1 will be ripped to a minimum depth of 24 <br />inches to alleviate the compaction from heavy equipment traffic. The Bench 1 will be ripped <br />during dry soil conditions. <br />1B - Deep ripping of topsoil - Upon successful completion of placing topsoil on the ripped <br />subsoil the newly place soil will be ripped to a depth of at least 2 inches greater than the depth of <br />topsoil. This will alleviate compaction of the topsoil and assist in the removal of any boundaries <br />between the ripped subsoil and topsoil. <br />2 - Land leveling - A blade may be pulled behind a farm tractor to level the topsoil surface and <br />allow a smoother surface for seeding. <br />3 - Rock picking - Rock picking is done by a mechanical device that are pulled behind a tractor <br />that windrows rocks and then another device that picks up large rocks over approximately 2.5 <br />inches in diameter. Rocks up to approximately 24" diameter can be picked up by the device. <br />Sandstone lenses that are identified in any topsoil or Bench 1 will be buried in lower Bench 1 <br />overburden, at least eight feet below the topsoil level. <br />4 - Fertility testing - Three soil samples will be obtained in the field to be tested. The field is <br />defined as that area that has recently been topsoiled. Samples will be taken and analyzed by a lab <br />using the standard soil test for pH, salts, organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. <br />The lab will be informed that the vegetation is irrigated pastureland. The reference area will be <br />sampled separately. <br />5 - Disking - Prior to final seedbed preparation, soil conditioning and weed control tillage will be <br />carried out through disking or other standard agricultural practice. Disking will be used to <br />condition soil, break up clods, and control weeds prior to seeding. If annual weeds are a problem, <br />several tillage operations may be required to get adequate control. <br />6 - Final Seedbed Preparation - (For irrigated areas) Cultipacking prior to seeding will be <br />conducted if land leveling did not provide a smooth soil surface for seeding. The best period for <br />tillage in these areas may be in the early spring prior to the irrigation season. For flood irrigated <br />areas - A standard marker will create furrows of approximately 4" to 6" depth on 30" centers, <br />which is standard for the gated pipe used for the flood irrigation. <br />July 2018 (TR -84) 2.05.4(2)(d)-21 <br />