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3 -Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum. This nearly level map unit is on bottom lands and flood <br />plains of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls, which have a dark colored surface layer, make <br />up about 60 percent of the unit. Aquents, which have a lighter colored surface layer, make up about 35 <br />percent. About 5 percent is Aquepts and Bankard sandy loam. <br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly <br />the soils have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately alkaline loamy or clayey surface layer and <br />underlying material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel within 48 inches. In places they have a <br />gleyed layer in the underlying material. <br />Most of the acreage is subject to flooding. The water table is at or near the surface early in spring and <br />recedes to as deep as 48 inches in fall in some years. <br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Some small areas have been reclaimed by major <br />drainage and leveling and aze used for irrigated crops. <br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by alkali sacaton, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass. <br />Saltgrass, sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent. Potential production ranges from 3,000 <br />pounds per acre in favorable years to 2,000 pounds in unfavorable years as range conditions deteriorates, <br />the switchgrass, alkali sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and saltgrass, sedge, and rush increase. <br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total annual production. <br />Seeding is difficult and costly because numerous tillage practices aze required to eliminate the saltgrass <br />sod. Switchgass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tall wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for <br />seeding. They can be seeded into a clean, firm seedbed. Seedbed preparation usually requires more than <br />1 year to eliminate the saltgrass sod. A grass drill should be used. Seeding eazly in spring has proven <br />most successful. <br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit. The wetland plants provide nesting and <br />protective cover, as well as some food. The nearby imgated cropland, where wildlife obtain much of <br />their food and find protective cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and openland wildlife. <br />Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in <br />some areas. <br />These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and <br />overuse by livestock. They should not be drained. <br />These soils have good potential as a source of sand and gravel. Capability subclass VIw; Salt Meadow <br />range site. <br />