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U. S. DE-rARTNENT OP AGRICULTURE PAGE 3 uF 3 <br />NATUkA~ RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ~ ~ 04('tl(46 <br />CONS'TkUi.TION ARTERIALS <br />Endnote -- CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS--Continued <br />Topsoil is used to cover an area so that vegetation can be established and maintained. The upper 60 inches of a soil <br />is evaluated for use as topsoil. Also evaluated is the reclamation potential of the borrow area. Plant grovth is <br />affected br toxic material and br such properties as soil reaction, available eater capacity, and fertility. The ease <br />of excavating, loading, and spreading is affected by rock fragments, slope, a eater table, soli texture, and thickness <br />of suitable material. keciametion of the borrow area is affected by slope, a voter table, rock fragments, bedrock, <br />and toxic material. <br />soils rate 'Good' have friable loamy material to a depth of at least 40 inches. They are free of stones and cobbles, <br />have little or no gravel, end have slopes of less than d Percent. They are low in content of soluble salts, ere <br />naturally fertile or respond veil to fertilizer, and are not so wet that excavation is difficult. <br />Soils rated 'Pair' are sandy soils, Leamy sails that have a relatively high content of clay, soils that have only t0 <br />to 60 inches of suitable materiel, soiis that have an appreciable amount of gravel, stones, or soluble salts, or <br />soils That have slopes of 8 to 15 percent. The soiis are not so wet that excavation is difficult. <br />Soils rate 'Poor' are very sandy or clayey, have less than i0 inches of suitable materiel, have a large amount of <br />gravel, stones, or soluble salts, have slopes of more than Si percent, or have a seasonal water table at or near the <br />surface. The surface layer of most soils is generally preferred for topsoil because of it organic matter content. <br />Organic matter greatly increases the absorption and retention of moisture end nutrients for plant grovth. <br />