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Water Soluble Cations (Ca, Mg, Na) and SAR. The SAR value is a relation- <br />. ship of soluble Na to Ca + Mg in the soil paste extract. It provides a means of <br />determining or predicting sodic conditions. When the soil solution and the <br />ambient soil are in equilibrium, the SAR is highly correlated to exchangeable <br />sodium percentage (a nomogram has been derived and is present on page 103 of <br />USDA Handbook 60). <br />SAR values less than 6.0 indicate no sodium problems, 6.0 to 10 a moderate <br />hazard, 10-15 a high sodium hazard, and greater than 15 a severe hazard. <br />SAR values for all lithologies were much below 6.0; therefore, no sodic <br />conditions should exist on the reclamation lands. <br />Plant Nutrients (Nitrate-N, Pho~horus,_Potassium). There is no set range <br />of values which should be present for these nutrient elements. They do, <br />• however, have a value in evaluating potentially toxic levels of nutrients which <br />may be in underground spoil waters. <br />Neither nitrate-nitrogen nor phosphates are high enough to cause water <br />problems in spoil waters of any lithologies of either drill hole. <br />Plant nutrients (N-P-K) will have to be used in the reclamation plan during <br />establishment of range grass species. Such use should be minimal, however, to <br />prevent species which are more responsive under fertilization from becoming <br />dominant over others which are less responsive, later die out when fertilization <br />is terminated, resulting in a reduction of cover. <br />Mechanical Analyses (Texture). The texture of the soil and subsurface <br />materials controls the exchange capacities of nutrients and trace elements, the <br />. water-holding capacity and availability, the erosion due to both wind and water, <br />- 82 - (Rev. 5/86) <br />