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14 SOIL SURVEY
<br /> ing corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grain, The potential native vegetation is dominated by blue
<br /> potatotes, and onions. An example of a suitable cropping grams. Several mid grasses, such as western wheatgrass
<br /> system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for and needleandthread, are also present. Potential produc-
<br /> silage, sugar beets, small grain, or beans. Few conserva- tion ranges from 1,600 pounds per acre in favorable years
<br /> tion practices are needed to maintain top yields. to 1,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition
<br /> All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir- deteriorates, the mid grasses decrease; blue grams, buf-
<br /> rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and com- falograss, snakeweed, yucca, and fringed sage increase;
<br /> mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields. and forage production drops. Undesirable weeds and an-
<br /> Windbreaks and environmental plantings of trees and nuals invade the site as range condition becomes poorer.
<br /> shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br /> suited to this soil. Cultivation to control competing on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br /> vegetation should be continued for as many years as tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br /> possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and Sideoats grams, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, blue
<br /> have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are
<br /> redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet the
<br /> hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into
<br /> lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum. a clean, firm sorghum stubble or it can be drilled into a
<br /> Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove, firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has
<br /> and cottontail, are best suited to this soil. Wildlife habitat proven most successful.
<br /> development, including tree and shrub plantings and Windbreaks and environmental plantings of trees and
<br /> grass plantings to serve as nesting areas, should be suc- shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well
<br /> cessful without irrigation during most years. Under ir- suited to this .soil. Cultivation to control competing
<br /> rigation, good wildlife habitat can be established, benefit- vegetation should be continued for as many years as
<br /> ing many kinds of openland wildlife. possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br /> This soil has good potential for urban and recreational have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br /> developments. Road design can be modified to compen- redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br /> sate for the limited capacity of this soil to support a load. hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br /> Capability class I irrigated. lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<br /> 15—Colby loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a de Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove,
<br /> ep,
<br /> well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,850 to 5,050 and cottontail, and rangeland wildlife, such as antelope,
<br /> feet. It formed in calcareous eolian deposits. cottontail, and coyote, are best suited to this soil. Under
<br /> irrigation, good wildlife habitat can be established,
<br /> Typically the surface layer is pale brown loam about 12
<br /> inches thick. The underlying material is very pale brown benefiting many kinds of ope wildlife. Forage
<br /> silt loam to a depth of 60 inches. production is typically low eland, and grazing
<br /> Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is management needed if livestock
<br /> rangeland,
<br /> and wildlife share the
<br /> high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. range. Livestock watering facilities also are utilized by
<br /> various wildlife species.
<br /> Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br /> moderate. development. Road design can be modified to compensate
<br /> In irrigated areas this soil is suited to all crops com- for the limited capacity of this soil to support a load.
<br /> monly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets, Capability subclass Ile irrigated, IVe nonirrigated;
<br /> beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An exam- Loamy Plains range site.
<br /> ple of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa 16—Colby loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br /> followed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain, well drained soil on upland hills and ridges at elevations
<br /> or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing of 4,850 to 5,050 feet. It formed in calcareous eolian
<br /> pipelines may be needed for proper water application. deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br /> All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir- have fine sandy loam or loam underlying material.
<br /> rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and com- Typically the surface layer is pale brown loam about 10
<br /> mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields. inches thick. The underlying material is very pale brown
<br /> In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, silt loam to a depth of 60 inches.
<br /> barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br /> winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 28 bushels high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br /> per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years Surface runoff is medium to rapid, and the erosion hazard
<br /> to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is is moderate.
<br /> too low for beneficial use of fertilizer. In irrigated areas this soil is suited to crops commonly
<br /> Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til- grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or close
<br /> lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion. grown crops should be grown at least 50 percent of the
<br /> Terracing may also be needed to control water erosion. time. Contour ditches and corrugations can be used in ir-
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