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• Section 2.04.9, Soils Resource Information). The moderately deep to deep soils could be <br />placed in hay production, however the various operators' management objectives dictate a use <br />of these lands for irrigated pasture. At the other extreme, are the areas of shallow soils. <br />These lands normally occur as the remnant sagebrush type or as disturbed areas associated <br />with farmsteads or facilities. In these cases, the operator has chosen to apply irrigation water <br />on seeded pasture species even though the site potential is low. In some cases, the sites are <br />so shallow, that tillage and seeding are not feasible and continued application of irrigation <br />water has allowed for volunteering of species normally found in the irrigated pasture type. <br />These shallow, sites have a lower production potential than the deeper sites, but it is much <br />higher than if left in the dry remnant sagebrush state. Within the irrigated pasture type are <br />small localized areas that receive only limited amounts of supplemental irrigation water <br />because of the natural topography or landform. These areas are too small to stratify out from <br />the type. Land leveling or shaping to overcome these problems has not been done to any <br />great extent within the study area. Ground water seeps and boggy areas from irrigation runoff <br />and irrigation recharged ground water systems contribute to areas of higher production or <br />occur as the swaleldrainage vegetation type. <br />. The overall composition and species diversity of the sile is indicative of the generally poor <br />condition of the irrigated pasture type. Both Kentucky bluegrass and buckhorn plantain <br />dominate the composition of the stand and have frequencies of occurrence of greater than 85 <br />percent (see Table 2.04.10-15). The considerable presence of quackgrass, field bindweed, <br />and dandelion is also indicative of the deteriorated pasture condition. Most of the operators <br />contacted indicated that a standard pasture mix originally was used to establish most of the <br />pastures. Smooth brome (Bromoosis inermis sso. inermis), orchardgrass, timothy, white Dutch <br />clover, and red clover occurred in the pasture type and are normally included in standard <br />irrigated pasture mixes, <br />Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) is a common invader shrub of irrigated pastures in the Nucla area, <br />with Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) and elm (Juglans nigra) occurring at lesser levels <br />where pastures have been abandoned. <br />Irrigated Hayland Type <br />(REVISED 9/99) 2.04.10 - 59 <br />