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Topsoil Preparation Procedures <br />13.1 Irrigated Cropland (Prime farmland) Topsoil Preparation Procedures <br />Topsoil replacement operations may be carried out during most of the year, the exception being <br />those periods when wet conditions would preclude handling of the topsoil materials. <br />1- Ripping - Prior to replacement of topsoil, the graded spoil (Bench 1 material) will be ripped to <br />reduce compaction. This will be done to a depth of 2 feet. This will be done by dozer with <br />rippers or a chisel plow. Where the Bench 1 material is used as suitable subsoil, on the east <br />side of the Morgan property, ripping will occur to a depth of 4 feet and cross ripping will be <br />employed. The 4 feet of ripping with cross ripping will also be used in any area of irrigated <br />Cropland where heavy traffic has also occurred. Upon placement of the Lift B subsoil, this <br />material will also be ripped after placement to a depth of 24-30 inches, depending on the depth <br />of the soil placement. <br />2 - Land leveling - WFC uses a blade of 16' to 24' width pulled behind a farm tractor to level the <br />topsoil surface and allow a smoother surface for seeding. <br />3 -Rock picking - WFC will use a mechanical device such as a Vermeer rock picker that is <br />pulled behind a tractor that rakes up large rocks over approximately 2.5 inches in diameter. <br />Rocks up to approximately 24" diameter can be picked up by the device, although there should <br />be no rocks of this size in the topsoil. The rocks are removed from the field. <br />4 - Fertility testing - This test is conducted within 3 months of topsoil placement. Three soil <br />samples will be obtained from the top 2 feet of soil in the field to be tested. The field is basically <br />defined as that area that has recently been topsoiled. Samples will be taken and analyzed by a <br />lab using the standard soil test for pH, salts, organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, and <br />phosphorous. The lab will be informed that the desired crop is alfalfa and that the desired 1 st cut <br />production is 2.00 tons per acre. <br />5 - Disking and chisel plowing - Prior to final seedbed preparation, soil conditioning and weed <br />control tillage will be carried out through the use of chisel plowing and/or disking. Chisel