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TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM <br />To: Bill Lyle <br />Date: October 19, 2007 <br />Page 2 <br />irrigation circle was conducted in accordance to the standards of the Soil Survey Staff <br />(1993). <br />Soil samples were collected using a stainless-steel hand trowel which was decontaminated <br />using a plastic brush, Alconox® detergent, and distilled water. The soils were placed into <br />large Ziploc® bags and then transported to the Colorado State University Soil Testing <br />Laboratory (Fort Collins, CO) where they were chemically analyzed using standard soil <br />testing methods (Sparks, 1996). The soil samples were analyzed to characterize <br />commonly-measured salinity parameters and the concentrations of water-soluble cations <br />and anions. The specific soil testing methods used were chosen based on their sensitivity <br />in detecting potential changes in plant-available constituents in the soil. <br />2.1 Morphological Description of the Soils <br />The morphological properties of the Salazar Ranch soils are similar to those characterized <br />as the Costilla Soil Series by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Costilla <br />Series is classified as mixed, frigid, Typic Torripsamment. Representative soil profile <br />descriptions from the Salazar Ranch North and South Irrigation Circles are provided in <br />Figures 2 and 3. The soils generally contain loam to sandy loam surface textures and were <br />developed, from coarse-textured alluvium consisting of unconsolidated sands and gravels. <br />The surface horizons are dark indicating high organic matter contents, while the subsurface <br />horizons are light-colored with visible carbonate that increases with depth. The thickness <br />of the A and B horizons is variable depending on local relief. <br />2.2 Baseline Soil Salinity Parameters <br />The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are routinely <br />used to assess the soluble salt content of soils. Salinity measurements from the Salazar <br />Ranch soils (Table 2-1) are consistent with an and region soil containing free carbonates <br />(e.g., CaC03). The carbonate content (expressed as % CaC03 equivalent) ranged from <br />P: Wmjects1211-Nmmonr(S=Lws)LSanLuisiFam-Shalom _Pa chLSoils &A=ar Characjer uonjw1 doc