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<br />48
<br />SOIL SURVEY
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grama, blue grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested
<br />wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected
<br />should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can
<br />be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be
<br />drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in
<br />spring has proven most successful.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are fairly well
<br />suited to this soil. Blowing sand and low available water
<br />capacity are the principal hazards in establishing trees
<br />and shrubs. This soil is so loose that trees should be
<br />planted in shallow furrows and vegetation maintained
<br />between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed
<br />to insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have
<br />good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedar, ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. The shrubs
<br />best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian
<br />peashrub.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. Ran-
<br />geland wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can
<br />be attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and
<br />trees grow well The primary limiting soil feature is the
<br />rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a
<br />hazard of ground water contamination from sewage
<br />lagoons. In places recreational development is limited by
<br />the susceptibility to soil blowing. Capability subclass Vie
<br />irrigated, Vie nonirrigated; Sandy Plains range site.
<br />75=Vona sandy loam; 0 to'1 percent slopes This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on high terraces at elevations of
<br />4,650 to 4,950 feet. It formed in alluvial deposits. Included
<br />in mapping are some leveled areas and small areas of
<br />soils that have a loamy substratum.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish
<br />brown sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is
<br />brown fine sandy loam about 20 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum to a depth of 60 inches is sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion
<br />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 (fig. 7), small grain,
<br />potatoes, and onions. An example of a suitable cropping
<br />system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for
<br />silage, sugar beets, small grain, or beans. The rapidly
<br />permeable substratum slightly restricts some crops.
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
<br />rigation is the most common. Proper irrigation manage-
<br />ment is essential. Barnyard manure and commercial fertil-
<br />izer are needed for top yields.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br />suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br />establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul-
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be necessary at the time of planting and during the
<br />dry periods. Trees that are best suited and have good
<br />survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar,
<br />ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and hackber-
<br />ry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and
<br />Siberian peashrub.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil.
<br />Ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and many non-
<br />game species can be attracted by establishing areas for
<br />nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed
<br />nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans
<br />for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive
<br />agriculture.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. The
<br />only limiting feature is the rapid permeability in the sub-
<br />stratum, which causes a hazard of ground water con-
<br />tamination from sewage lagoons. Capability subclass Its
<br />irrigated.
<br />76-Vona sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on plains and high terraces at
<br />elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 feet. It formed in eolian and
<br />alluvial deposits. Included in mapping are some leveled
<br />areas. Also included are small areas of soils that have a
<br />loamy substratum and areas of soils that are noncalcare-
<br />ous to a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish
<br />brown sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is
<br />brown fine sandy loam about 18 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum to a depth of 60 inches is sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion
<br />hazard 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, and onions. An example of a
<br />suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa fol-
<br />lowed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain, or
<br />beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing pipelines
<br />are 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 />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br />suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br />establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul-
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be necessary at the time of planting and during dry
<br />periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival
<br />are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa
<br />pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and hackberry. The
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