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eh ESPEV, HUSTON & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br /> <br />Vegetation is difficult to establish on soils with high pH. Many of the <br />soils with high pH also have a high sodium adsorption ratio which indicates potential <br />instability and water transmission problems. Available water capacity also is <br />important in establishing vegetation. Soils with low available water capacity may <br />require irrigation for establishment of vegetation. <br />The stability of the soil depends upon its erodibility by water and wind <br />and its strength. Water erodibility is indicated by the K factor; wind erodibility is <br />rated according to the wind erodibility group. Potential slippage hazazd is related <br />to soil texture, and although other factors also contribute, the ratings of soil texture <br />represent one important factor. <br />U.S. Depaztment of Agriculture texture also influences a number of <br />properties listed above, such as available water capacity and erodibility by wind or <br />water. Texture also influences soil structure and consistence, water intake rate, <br />• runoff, fertility, workability and trafficability. <br />The percentage by weight of the coarse fragment fractions which are <br />greater than 3 inches in size influence the suitability of soil materials for <br />reconstruction purposes. Rock fragments influence the ease of excavation, stockpil- <br />ing and respreading, and suitability for the final use of the land. A certain amount <br />of rock fragments can be tolerated depending upon size and the intended use of the <br />reclaimed azea. If the size of rock fragments exceeds 10 inches, the problems aze <br />more severe. <br />This guide does not cover all the soil features required in planning soil <br />reconstruction, for example, slope, thickness of material, ease of excavation, <br />potential slippage hazard, and soil moisture regime. Slope of the original soil may <br />influence the method of stripping and stockpiling of reconstruction material but may <br />have little effect on the final contour and therefore, on the stability and produc- <br />tivity of the reconstructed soil. Therefore, slope is not a criterion in Table I-5. <br />n <br />I-63 <br />