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<br />3 -Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum. This nearly level map unit is on bottom
<br />lands and flood plains of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls, which have a dark
<br />colored surface layer, make up about 60 percent of the unit. Aquents, which have a lighter
<br />colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent. About 5 percent is Aquepts and Barnkard
<br />sandy loam.
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in recent alluvium. No one pedon is
<br />typical. Commonly the soils have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately alkaline loamy or
<br />clayey surface layer and underlying material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel
<br />within 48 inches. In places they have a gleyed layer in the underlying material.
<br />Most of the acreage is subject to flooding. The water table is at or near the surface early in
<br />spring and recedes to as deep as 48 inches late in fall in some yeazs.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. Some small areas have been
<br />reclaimed by major drainage and leveling and are used for irrigated crops. The potential
<br />native vegetation is dominated by alkali sacaton, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass.
<br />saltgrass, sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent. Potential production ranges
<br />from 3,000 pounds per acre in favorable years to 2,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and
<br />saltgrass, sedge, and msh increase.
<br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total
<br />annual production. Seeding is difficult and costly because numerous tillage practices are
<br />required to eliminate the saltgrass sod. switchgrass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tall
<br />wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for seeding. They can be seeded into a clean, fum
<br />seedbed. Seedbed preparation usually requires more than I year to eliminate the saltgrass sod.
<br />A grass drill should be used. Seeding eazly in spring has proven most successful.
<br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit. The wetland plants provide
<br />nesting and protective cover, as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland, where
<br />wildlife obtain much of their food and fmd protective cover, makes this unit valuable to both
<br />wetland and openland wildlife.
<br />Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for cover and nesting. Deer fmd
<br />excellent cover in some areas.
<br />These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from fve and fenced to prevent
<br />encroachment and overuse by livestock. They should not be drained.
<br />These soils have good potential as a source of sand and gravel. Capability subclass Vlw;
<br />Sait Meadow range site.
<br />32 -Kim loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a deep, well drained soil on smooth plains
<br />and alluvial fans at elevations of 4,900 to 5250 feet. It formed in mixed eolian deposit and
<br />parent sediment from a wide variety of bedrock. Included in mapping are small areas of soils
<br />that have loamy sand underlying material.
<br />Typically the surface layer is brown and pale brown loam about 12 inches [hick. The
<br />upper 28 inches of the underlying material is pale brown loam. The lower part to a depth of
<br />60 inches is pale brown fine sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is high. The effective rooting depth is
<br />60 inches or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />In irrigated areas this sail is suited to all crops commonly grown in the area, including
<br />corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An example of a suitable
<br />cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for silage, sugaz beets, small
<br />grain, or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining (fig. 6), and installing pipelines may be needed for
<br />proper water applications.
<br />All methods ofvrigation aze suitable, but furrow irrigation is the mast cotttmon. Barnyard
<br />manure and commercial fertilizer are needed for top yields.
<br />In nonurigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Most of the
<br />acreage is planted to winter wheat and is summer fallowed in alternate years to allow
<br />moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is too low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
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