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-. <br />.s <br />~• If this unit is used for irrigated crops, sprinkler irrigation is the <br />' most suitable method of applying water. Water should be applied in amounts <br />sufficient to wet the root zone but in amounts small enough to minimize the <br />leaching of plant nutrients. Maintaining crop residue on or near the surface <br />reduces runoff, reduces soil blowing, and helps to ~~intain soil tilth and <br />organic matter content. Tillage should be kept to a minimum. Application of <br />nitrogen and phosphorus increases production. <br />If this unit is used for irrigated hay and pasture, the main limitation <br />is the hazard of soil blowing before plant Dover is established. All adapted <br />pasture plants can be grown, but bunch-type species planted alone generally <br />are not suitable because of the hazard of erosion. Annual a~,lications of <br />nitrogen arr] phosphorus fertilizer are needed to maintain production of high <br />• quality irrigated pasture. <br />The potential plant eomnunity on this unit is mainly switchgrass, sand <br />bluestem, needleandthread, and prairie sand reed. If the range is overgrazed, <br />the proportion of preferred forage plants decreases and the proportion of <br />less preferred forage plants increases. Zherefore, livestock grazing should <br />be managed so that the desired balance of preferred species is maintained in <br />the plant connunity. <br />Management practices suitable for use on the soil in this unit are proper <br />range use, deferred grazing, and rotation grazing. Palatability of forage <br />plants varies with the season. Livestock grazing should be managed to <br />protect the soil fran excessive erosion. Loss of the surface layer results <br />in a severe decrease in productivity and in the potential of the soil to <br />produce plants suitable for grazing. <br />• <br />