30II. SURVEY
<br />filter the leaebate Sewage lagoons require sealing.
<br />Lawns, shrubs, sail trees grow well Capability subclass
<br />Its irrigated.
<br />2-Altvan loam, l to 3 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br />well drained ea7 on terraces at elevations of 4500 to 4,900
<br />feet It formed in old alluvium deposited by the major
<br />rivers included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />show evidence of poor drainage. Also included are small,
<br />long and narrow auras of sand and gravel deposits.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Altvan soil is grayish
<br />brown loam about 10 inches buck. The subsoil is brown
<br />and light yellowish brown clay loam and sandy clay loam
<br />about 14 inches thick The substratum is calcareous loamy
<br />sand about 5 incl~ee thick over gravelly sand.
<br />Permeabr7ity and available water ppacity are
<br />moderate. The effective rooting depth is 20 to 40 inches.
<br />Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />This soil ie used almost entirely for irrigated crops. I[
<br />is suited to all trope commonly grown in the area, includ-
<br />ing mrrr, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes,
<br />and onions. An example of a suitable stopping system is 3
<br />to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for silage,
<br />sugar beets, small grain, or beans. Land leveling, ditch
<br />water application. _o ~ -~ ---- - - - - - ~- -r-
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrowv-
<br />rigation orbs most common. Baznyatd manure and rnm-
<br />mercia] fertilizer are needed for top yields.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental pbmCns of trees and
<br />shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well
<br />suited to this soil Cultivation to control competing
<br />vegetation should be continued for as many years as
<br />possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedaz, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-0live, and
<br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skutdcbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrnb, and American plum
<br />This soil can produce habitat elements that are highly
<br />suitable for openland wildlife including pheasant, cotton-
<br />tail, and mouthing dove. Such clops ae wheat, corn, and
<br />alfalfa provide suitable habitat for operiland wildlife,
<br />especially pheasant Tree and shrub plantings and
<br />undisturbed nesting cover would enhance openland wil-
<br />dlife populations.
<br />This Altvan soil has fair to good potential for urban
<br />and recreational development The chief limiting soil fea-
<br />tures for urban development are the shrink-swell poten-
<br />tial of the subsoil as it wets and dries and the rapid
<br />permeability of the sand and gravel substratum. Septic
<br />tank absorption fields function properly, but in places they
<br />substratum does not contain enough fines to properly
<br />filter the leachate. Sewage lagoons require sealing.
<br />Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass
<br />IIe irrigated.
<br />3-Aquolls and Aquenta, gravelly substratum. This
<br />nearly level map unit is on bottom lands and flood plains
<br />of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls,
<br />which have a dazk colored surface layer, make up about
<br />60 percent of the unik Aquenta, which have a lighter
<br />colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent About 5
<br />penent is Aquepts and Bankard sandy loam.
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in
<br />recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the
<br />soils have a mottled, mildly allcaline to moderately al-
<br />kaline loamy or clayey surface layer and underlying
<br />material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel
<br />within 48 inches. In places they have a gleyed layer in the
<br />underlying material
<br />Most of the acreage is subject to flooding. The water
<br />table is at or near the surface eazly in spring and recedes
<br />to as deep as 48 inches late in fall in some years.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat
<br />Some small areas have been reclaimed by major drainage
<br />and leveling and are used for irrigated crops.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by alkali
<br />sacaton, switchgrass, sad western wheatgtass Saltgrass,
<br />sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent
<br />Potential production ranges from 3,000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 2000 pounds in unfavorable years. Aa
<br />range condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali
<br />santon, and western wheatgtass decrease sad saltgrass,
<br />wage, ana roan mcsease.
<br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking
<br />half sad leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br />ing is difficult and costly because numerous tillage p~ac-
<br />ticea are requited to eliminate the saltgrass sod.
<br />Switchgtass, western wheatgrass, alkali sara[oq tall
<br />wheatgraes, and tall fescue are suitable for seeding. They
<br />can be seeded into a clean, firm seedbed. Seedbed
<br />preparation usually requires more than 1 year to
<br />eliminate the saltgtass sod. A grass drill should be used.
<br />Seeding early in spring has proven most successful
<br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit
<br />The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover,
<br />as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland,
<br />where wildlife obtain much of their food and fmd protec-
<br />tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
<br />openland wildlife.
<br />Opetiland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for
<br />cover and nesting. Deer fmd excellent cover in some
<br />areas.
<br />These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from
<br />Fue and fenced to prevent encroachment and overuse by
<br />livestock. They should not be drained.
<br />These soils have good potential as a source of sand and
<br />veL Capability subclass VIw; Salt Meadow range Bite.
<br />-Aquolls and Aquepts, flooded. This nearly level
<br />p unit is in depressions in smooth plains and along the
<br />bottoms of natural drainageways throughout the survey
<br />aura Aquolls, which have a dark colored surface layer,
<br />make up about 55 percent of the unit Aquepts, which
<br />have a lighter colored surface layer, make up about ZS
<br />percent About 20 percent is soils that are well drained
<br />and soils that have sandstone or shale within 48 inches of
<br />the surface.
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