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46
<br />SOIL SURVEY
<br />Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is
<br />moderate. A water table is at or near the surface in
<br />spring and about 36 inches below the surface: in fall. Sur-
<br />face runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />This unit is used for rangeland and wildlife habitat.. The
<br />potential native vegetation on the Valent soil is
<br />dominated by sand reedgrass, sand bluestem, blue and
<br />hairy grama, little bluestem, needleandth read, and
<br />sideoats grams. Potential production ranges from 1,800
<br />pounds per acre in favorable years to 1,400 pounds in un-
<br />favorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the sand
<br />bluestem, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama, and little
<br />bluestem decrease; sandhill muhly and blowout grass in-
<br />crease, and forage production drops. "Blowouts" occur as
<br />range condition becomes poorer.
<br />The native vegetation on the Loup soil is dominated by
<br />switchgrass, little bluestem, sand reedgrass, and western
<br />wheatgrass. Indiangrass, sand bluestem, prairie cordgrass,
<br />slender wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, saltgrass, sedge, and
<br />rush are also present. Potential production ranges from
<br />4,000 pounds per acre in favorable years to 3,000 pounds
<br />in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the
<br />switchgrass, sand bluestem, indiangrass, little bluestem,
<br />and prairie cordgrass decrease, and saltgrass, blue grama,
<br />sand dropseed, sedge, and rush increase. Undesirable
<br />weeds and annuals invade the site as range condition
<br />becomes poorer.
<br />Seeding with an interseeder is advisable if the range is
<br />in poor condition. Sand reedgrass, sand bluestem, sideoats
<br />grama, switchgrass, little bluestem, indiangrass, and blue
<br />grama are suitable for seeding. Seeding early in spring
<br />has proven most successful. Grazing should be light to
<br />prevent range deterioration.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this unit. On
<br />the Valent soil, rangeland wildlife, for example, the
<br />pronghorn antelope, can he attracted by developing
<br />livestock watering facilities, managing livestock grazing,
<br />and reseeding where; needed.
<br />The Loup soil, which is typically wet and produces an
<br />abundance of wetland vegetation, attracts wetland wil-
<br />dlife species, such as mallard, teal, geese, and miscellane-
<br />ous shorebirds. Primary management of this soil for wet-
<br />land wildlife includes managing livestock grazing, fencing
<br />to control livestock, protecting from fire, and preventing
<br />drainage. Natural wetland vegetation should be allowed
<br />to develop. Capability subclass Vie irrigated, Vie nonir-
<br />rigated; Valent soil in Choppy Sand Meadow range site,
<br />Loup soil in Sandy Meadow range site.
<br />72---Vona loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on plains and
<br />high terraces at elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 feet. It
<br />formed in eolian or alluvial deposits. Included in mapping
<br />are some leveled areas. Also included are small areas of
<br />soils that have a loamy substratum and some areas of
<br />soils that are nonealeareous to a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface, layer of this Vona soil is grayish
<br />brown. The upper ti inches is loamy sand and the lower 6
<br />inches is fine sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light
<br />yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 16 inches thick.
<br />The substratum 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 nznoff is slow, and the erosion
<br />hazard is low.
<br />In irrigated areas this soil is suited to the crops com-
<br />monly grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or
<br />close grown crops should be grown at least 50 percent of
<br />the time. Contour ditches and corrugations can be used in
<br />irrigating close grown crops and pasture. Furrows, con-
<br />tour furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for row
<br />crops. Sprinkler irrigation is also desirable. Keeping til-
<br />lage to a minimum and utilizing crop residue help to con-
<br />trol erosion. Maintaining fertility is important. Crops
<br />respond to applications of phosphorus and nitrogen.
<br />In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat,
<br />barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to
<br />winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 20 bushels
<br />per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years
<br />to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is
<br />too low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til-
<br />lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion.
<br />Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br />dominated by sand bhtestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />grama_ Need leandthread, switchgrass, sideoatns grama,
<br />and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential
<br />production ranges from 2,200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />and switchgrass decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed,
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site 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 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
<br />should be drilled into a clean, firm sorghum stubble or a
<br />prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has proven
<br />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. The soil is so loose that trees should be
<br />planted in shallow furrows and vegetation maintained
<br />between the rows. Supplemental irrigation is needed to
<br />insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have good
<br />survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redeedar,
<br />ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. The shrubs best, suited
<br />are skunkbush sumac, lilac., and Siberian peashrub.
<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
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