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AIL
<br />Typically the surface layer is a dark grayish brown
<br />sandy loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is a dark
<br />grayish brown heavy sandy loam and sandy clay loam
<br />alx~ut 18 inches thick. The substratum is Light brownish
<br />gray, calcareous sandy clay Inamrboul IX inches thick
<br />over light brown coarse sand and gravel that extends to
<br />fat inches or more
<br />Pernteahility is mcalerate. Effective rating depth is till
<br />inches or more. Avuilahle water capacity is malrrate.
<br />Surface runoff is medium. and the erosion hazard is
<br />moderate.
<br />TheAr soils arc used almost entirely for grazing. 'Phcy
<br />are nut suited to cnlplAnd beCAUNe of the Inw avuilahlr
<br />water capacity oC thr• Dix soil. lhr slope, and thr• tension
<br />hazard. Small isolated areas are used fur nunirrigatrd
<br />cn>pLrnd, but am txeat seeded twck to grass.
<br />Rangeland vegetation of the I)Ix 5011 COnAL4tA mainly of
<br />blue gnma, ardN•WLS grtma, little 6luestem, and sedge.
<br />Rangeland vegetation n}' the Alhan soi! consists mainly
<br />of blur grams, huffalograss, western whr~tgrass, and
<br />sedge. Proper grving ur~rnrl planned grazing systems
<br />arc the must important management practices to maintain
<br />quantify and quality of dr•sirahle vegetation. Comhina-
<br />tions of stockwutcr development, Icncing and deferrers
<br />grazing during the grazing season help improve and main-
<br />tain range condition. Range seeding will spetvi the
<br />rnccgetatian of areas depleted by hcacy grazing, cultiva•
<br />t.imr ur ether di9turbances. Contour furrowing and pitting
<br />are practices that improve water infiltration and reduce
<br />runoff and are i•sprcially effective on rangeland area.. in
<br />prwr and fair t•undition of the Altvxn soil.
<br />Windbreaks and envirunmeutul plantings are difficult
<br />to establish or. these soils. Limited available water capaci-
<br />ty, depth u, sand and gravel, and slope an• the principal
<br />concerns in establishing tree and shrub plantings. Special
<br />Bare consisting of summer fallow- a year ir• advance of
<br />plantings, planting mr the contour, continued cultivation
<br />Cur nerd control, and supplemental water is needed w in-
<br />surr eslai,li;hment unrl survival of plantings. Trees best
<br />.uited and having grrod sun'iv;d ore Rocky Stour.tain ju-
<br />niper, easta•rn rralr•a1ar, pundervrsu pint and $ibrri:m elm.
<br />Shntbs best adapted are skunkbush sumac amt lilac.
<br />Rangeland wildlife such as antulolx, cottontail and
<br />coynie are hest adapted nn these sails. The relief, natural
<br />springs and native vegetation provide Coors and cover.
<br />Area.; of these soils provide sites that can be readily
<br />developed and managed fur wildlife. Proper licestnck
<br />grazing management is ret•essur}' iC livrstrx•k and wildiiCt•
<br />share the range. W'alering facilities are also imlxrrL•mt
<br />and are ulilizeri by various wildlife sprrieA. The Iwsition
<br />of these soils in rehdiunship to cropland make. i[ valuable
<br />as eaampe rover arras for openland wilrllil'e, rsprcially
<br />phew-rants.
<br />Slope is the primary limiting soil feature where thesa•
<br />soils are used fur humesitrs ur other urban developments
<br />Intensive en{,dnerring desikms :uu1 me:a_vurr•s :tee needed
<br />to minrmve the Alopr• limitations. Where the SndA Ar'F• t'orL
<br />siiicrcd for a svwagc L•rguun system, special sealing
<br />UttYEt'
<br />methods Are required Gi overcome exceaaive seepage.
<br />Capahility subclass Vie nor.irriguted.
<br />25-Dix•Eckley complex, 5 to 2fi percent NIOpeN.
<br />These mnderatrh• sloping to moderately steep soils are or.
<br />gracelh' uplands in the northern part of the county. The
<br />average annual preripitatinn ranges from I ~ to 14 inches.
<br />Dix gravelly' sanely loam. 9 to LS percent slopes, makes up
<br />about 5ll percent of the mrpping unit and Eckley sandy
<br />loam, $ [o lt+ pr•rtrnt slopes, about all percent. The Dix
<br />soils are on strepa•r wrests and ridges. Thr Ecklry soils
<br />ore at midalope.
<br />About 8U percent of this unit is Chappell sandy loam, ;i
<br />to y pert•ent slopes, and Altcan sandy loam, S to 9 percent
<br />slopes. The i'hnppell soil is on the narn,w elongated
<br />drainugeuays, fans sort font slopes. The Altvan soil is un
<br />mid slope and Cunt. slope positions.
<br />Thr Ilix soil iv a der:p, somewhat excessively drainers,
<br />gravelly soil. It Curmrd in aer}~ )Tavrlly Alluvial deposits
<br />of the Ogallala Formation
<br />Typically the surface layer N dark kTAy'lah brown
<br />gravelly sandy loam about d inches thick The subsoil is
<br />dark grayish brown gravelly' coarse sandy loam about I.1
<br />inches thick. The substratum is a reddiwh yellow gr•{velly
<br />warar sand and grovel lfig. 7i to a depth of ri!r inchr_s or
<br />more
<br />Permeability is rapid. ECfective rooting depth is MI
<br />inches Or more. Availahlr w:aer capacity is loin Surface
<br />runoff is rapid, and the water r•rusiun hazanl is high
<br />Thr Rcklrc soil is u deep, well drained soil. It formed in
<br />stratified gravelly alluvia] matcrixls of the Og:dlala For-
<br />mation.
<br />Typically the surface layer is dark grayish brown
<br />gravely loam shout 3 inches thick Thr subsoil is dark
<br />hn~wn gravelly Aundy c4ry loam about I i inches thick.
<br />The suhstratum is light brown, gravelly cortrAe sand br till
<br />inches or more.
<br />Permeability is moderate. The rfAretive routing depth
<br />is till inr•hes or more. Available water capacity is
<br />moderate. Surface runoff is medium, and thr_• water rrn-
<br />sion hazard is high.
<br />These soils are nsrd almost entirely for grnzing. They
<br />are not suit~'d W cropland becauAr of the low available
<br />water capacity of the Dix suit, the slope, and thr• erosion
<br />hazani. Small iiulateri areas arc used for nnr.imguted
<br />cropland, including mainly odd field boundaries and rnr-
<br />ners. Thee aneas are usually severely traders and arc
<br />trey seeded hack to grass.
<br />Rangeland vegetation of twth soils tronsuts mainly of
<br />blue grtmu, aide-naLs {,•r•t+ma, little blueatem, huffalograas,
<br />and sedge Prul,rr ~Tazing use and pktnned grazing
<br />systems arc rteerird nn these soils to maintain the key
<br />forage slx:cics in gaud vigor. Periodic summer deferment
<br />is beneficial in reaching the objectives of range irnprnve-
<br />ment and maintenance of high range runditions. Fencing
<br />and randul Irrcation of watering sites help improve dis-
<br />trihutinn of grazing use.
<br />Windhreaks and environmental plantings ara• difficult
<br />to csta6liah on their sulfa. Limited available water rapaCl-
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