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~SOTL SURVEY
<br />filter the leachate. Sewage lagoons require sealing.
<br />Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass
<br />Its irrigated.
<br />2-Altvan loam, 1 td 3 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br />well drained soil on terraces at elevations of 4,500 to 4,900
<br />-feet. It formed in old alluvium deposited by the majdr
<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 areas of sand and gravel deposits.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Altvan soil is grayish
<br />brown loam about 10 inches thick. 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 inches thick aver gravelly sand.
<br />Permeability and available water capacity 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 is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. It
<br />is suited to all crops commonly grown in the area, includ=..
<br />ing corn; sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes,
<br />and onions. An example of a suitable cropping 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 />lining, and installing pipelines may be needed for proper
<br />water application.
<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 />-Windbreaks and environmental plantins 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:bust suited and
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />_, hacklierry. The shrubs best, suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<br />This soil can produce habitat elements that are highly
<br />suitable for openland wildlife including pheasant, cotton-
<br />tail, and mourning dove: Such crops as wheat,.corn, and
<br />.alfalfa provide -suitable habitat for openland 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 potett-
<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 the
<br />substratum does not contain enough £mes 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 Aquents, 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 unit. Aquents, which have a lighter
<br />colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent. About 5
<br />percent is Aquepts and Barkard 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 alkaline to moderately al-
<br />kaline loamy or clayey surface layer and underlying
<br />material and are underLiin by sand or, sand and grave]
<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 ]ate 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, and' western wheatgrass. saltgrass,
<br />sedge, rash, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent.
<br />Potential production ranges from~3,000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable year&.to 2,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali
<br />sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and saltgrass,
<br />sedge, and rush increase.
<br />Management of: vegetation should lie based on taking
<br />half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br />ing is difficult and costly because numerous tillage prac-
<br />tices are recjnired to elimv~ate the saltgrass sod.
<br />Switchgrass, western . wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tali
<br />wheatgrass, 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 saltgrass 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 £md protec-
<br />tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
<br />openland wildlife.
<br />Openland wildlife, .especially pheasant, use this unit for
<br />cover and nesting. Deer £md excellent cover in some
<br />areas. ~ - . ~-
<br />These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from
<br />fire 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 />gravel. Capabilitysubdass VIw; Salt Meadow range site.
<br />.map unit is in depressions in ,smooth plains and along. the
<br />bottoms of natural drainageways throughout the survey
<br />area. Aquolls, which have a dark colored surface layer,
<br />make up about 55 percent of the unit. P.quepts, which
<br />have a lighter colored surface layer; make up about 25
<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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