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<br />49-Morop loam, 2 to 18 percent slopes. This deep, <br />well drained soil is on terraces. It formed in alluvium. The <br />native vegetation is mainly grass. Elevation is 7,000 to <br />8,000 feet. The average annual precipitation is 16 to 18 <br />inches, the average annual air temperature is 40 to 44 <br />degrees F, and the average frost-free period is 75 to 100 <br />days. <br />Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown loam <br />about 7 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is <br />mainly clay loam and clay about 23 inches thick, and the <br />lower part is very stony clay about 10 inches thick. The <br />substratum to a depth of 60 inches or more is very stony <br />clay loam, and it has a high content of accumulated <br />calcium carbonate. The soil is neutral to a depth of 30 <br />inches, mildly alkaline to a depth of 40 inches, and <br />moderately alkaline below that depth. <br />Included in this unit is about 5 percent Breece sandy <br />loam in narrow drainageways. Also included are areas <br />where cobbles are on the surface. <br />Permeability of this Morop soil is slow. Available water <br />capacity is moderate. Effective rooting depth is 60 <br />inches or more. RunofT is medium to rapid, and the <br />hazard of water erosion is high to very high. <br />Most areas of this unit are used as rangeland. A few <br />areas are used as irrigated and nonirrigated cropland. <br />Hay and pasture are the main irrigated crops. Small grain <br />such as oats and barley is the main nonirrigated crop. <br />Some areas were farmed in the past but have been <br />reseeded to grass. The steeper areas of this unit are not <br />suited to cultivation. <br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly <br />western wheatgrass, blue grama, needleandlhread, and <br />Indian ricegrass. The average annual production of air- <br />dry vegetation is about 1,300 pounds per acre. If tY <br />condition of the range deteriorates, sand dropseed, <br />threeawn, snakeweed, and sleepygrass increase. Range <br />seeding is suitable if the range is in poor condtion. <br />The more gently sloping areas of this unit are well <br />suited to irrigated pasture and hay. The choice of crops <br />is limited to grasses because of the short growing <br />season. Irrigation water can be applied by corrugations <br />and by flooding from contour ditches. Leveling helps to <br />insure the uniform application of water. Because stones <br />are in the substratum of the soil in this unit, onsite <br />investigation may be needed before leveling. If properly <br />managed, this unit can produce 3 tons of irrigated grass <br />hay per acre. <br />This unit is well suited to windbreaks and <br />environmental planting. Supplemental irrigation may be <br />needed when planting and during dry periods. Among <br />the trees that are suitable for planting are ponderosa <br />pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, and Russian-olive. Among <br />the shrubs are skunkbush sumac and lilac, <br />If this unit is used (or homesite development, the main <br />limitation is the shrink-swell potential of the subsoil. The <br />effects of shrinking and swelling can be reduced by <br />maintaining a constant moisture content around the <br />foundation. Backfilling with material that has low shrink- <br />swell potential can also reduce the effects of shrinking <br />and swelling. <br />Septic tank absorption fields of conventional s :e do <br />not function adequately, because of the slow <br />permeability of the soil. Other kinds of sewage disposal <br />systems may be needed. <br />This map unit is in capability subclass IVe, irrigated <br />and nonirrigated. It is in Loamy Foothills range site. <br />