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<br />SOIL SURVEY
<br />from grass and weeds are the principal hazards in
<br />establishing tree and shrub plantings. Summer fallowing a
<br />year in advance in nonirrigated areas and continued cul-
<br />tivation for weed control are needed to insure establish-
<br />ment and survival of plantings. Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be needed. Trees that are best suited and have good
<br />survival aze Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redeedaz,
<br />ponderosa pine, Russian-olive, and haekberry. The shrubs
<br />best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, Siberian peashrnb,
<br />and American plum.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil The
<br />cropland azeas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species ran
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture.
<br />This soil is poorly suited to urban and recreational
<br />development because of the susceptibility to flooding.
<br />Capability subclass IIw irrigated.
<br />26-Haverson loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, weU drained soil on low terraces and flood plains at
<br />elevations of 4,500 to 4,800 feet. It formed in stratified
<br />calcareous alluvium. Included in mapping are small areas
<br />of soils that have fine sandy loam and sandy loam under-
<br />lying material and small areas of soils that have sand and
<br />gravel within a depth of 40 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Haverson soil is
<br />grayish brown loam about 9 inches thick. The underlying
<br />material to a depth of 60 inches is pale brown loam
<br />stratified with thin lenses of loamy sand and clay loam-
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water cepaeity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />Surface runoff is slow to medium, and the erasion hazard
<br />is low.
<br />In irrigated areas this soil is suited to all crops com-
<br />monly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets,
<br />beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An exam-
<br />ple of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa
<br />followed by corn, corn for silage, sugaz beets, small grain,
<br />or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing
<br />pipelines may be needed for proper water applications.
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
<br />rigation is the most common Barnyard manure and com-
<br />mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields
<br />In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat,
<br />bazley, and sorghum. Most of Lhe acreage is planted to
<br />winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 28 bushels
<br />per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in siternate years
<br />to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is
<br />too low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum til-
<br />lage are needed to rnntrol soil blowing and water erosion
<br />Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by
<br />western wheatgrass. Blue grams, switchgrass, sand
<br />reedgrass, big bluestem, slender wheatgrass, indiangrass,
<br />and green ncedlegrass are also present. Potential produc-
<br />lion ranges from 1,600 pounds per acre in favorable years
<br />to 1,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition
<br />deteriorates, the tall grasses decrease, blue grams and
<br />buffalograss increase, and forage production drops. Un-
<br />desirable weeds and annuals invade the site and erosion
<br />can occur as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produo-
<br />tion Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Western wheatgrags, switchgrass, sand reedgrass,
<br />sideoats grams, pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate
<br />wheatgrass, and blue grams are suitable for seeding. The
<br />grass selected should meet the seasonal requirements of
<br />livestock. It can be seeded into a firm prepared seedbed.
<br />A grass drill should be used. Seeding eazly in spring has
<br />proven most successful
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are well
<br />suited to this soil Flooding and moisture competition
<br />from grass and weeds are the principal hazards in
<br />establishing tree and shrub plantings Summer fallowing a
<br />yeaz in advance in nonirrigated areas and continued cul-
<br />tivation for weed control are needed to insure establish-
<br />ment and survival of plantings Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be needed Trees that are best suited and have good
<br />survival are Roclq. Mountain juniper, eastern redeedaz,
<br />ponderosa pine, Russian-olive, and hackberry. The shrubs
<br />best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, Siberian peashrnb,
<br />and American plum.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nestmg cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
<br />attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />This soil is poorly suited to urban and recreational
<br />development because of the susceptibility to flooding.
<br />Capability subclass IIe imgated, IVe nonirrigated;
<br />Loamy Plains range site-
<br />27-Heldt silty clay, I to 3 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, moderately well drained soil on phuns at elevations
<br />of 4,950 to 5,050 feet. It formed in alluvial sediment
<br />derived from shale. Included in mapping are small areas
<br />of soils that have a clay loam or silt loam subsoil and sub-
<br />stratum.
<br />Typically the surface layer is light brownish gray and
<br />light yellowish brown silty clay about 7 inches thick. The
<br />subsoil is light brownish gray silty clay about 27 inches
<br />thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is silty clay.
<br />Permeability is slow. Available water capacity is high.
<br />The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more- Surface
<br />runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is moderate.
<br />In irrigated areas this soil is suited to crops commonly
<br />grown in the area, such as corn, sugaz beets, beans, alfal-
<br />fa, and small grain. The high clay content generally
<br />restricts some crops.
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