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growing season (SCS 1985). Observations during 1987 indicate that the trend is to graze <br />early, continuously during the growing season, and late for a number of the operators. <br />Many factors contribute to the composition, utility and appearance of the irrigated pasture type. <br />Soils vary from moderately deep foams to shallow foams and with a number of rock outcrops <br />(see Section 2.04.9, Soils Resource Information). The deeper soils could be placed in hay <br />production, however the various operators' management objectives dictate a use of these <br />lands for irrigated pasture. At the other extreme, are the areas of shallow soils. These lands <br />normally occur as the remnant sagebrush type or as disturbed areas associated with <br />farmsteads or facilities. In these cases, the operator has chosen to apply irrigation water on <br />seeded pasture species even though the site potential is low. In some cases, the sites are so <br />shallow, that tillage and seeding are not feasible and continued application of irrigation water <br />has allowed for volunteering of species normally found in the irrigated pasture type. These <br />shallow, sites have a lower production potential than the deeper sites, but it is much higher <br />than if left in the dry remnant sagebrush state. Within the irrigated pasture type are small <br />localized areas that receive only limited amounts of supplemental irrigation water because of <br />the natural topography or land form. These areas are too small to stratify out from the type. <br />Land leveling or shaping to overcome these problems has not been done to any great extent <br />within the study area. Ground water seeps and boggy areas from irrigation runoff and irrigation <br />recharged ground water systems contribute to areas of higher production or occur as small <br />inclusions of the Swale /drainage vegetation type. <br />The overall composition and species diversity of the site is indicative of the generally poor <br />condition of the irrigated pasture type. Both Kentucky bluegrass and buckhorn plantain <br />dominate the composition of the stand and have frequencies of occurrence of about 90 <br />percent (see Table 2.04.10 -5). The considerable presence of quackgrass, field bindweed, and <br />dandelion is also indicative of the deteriorated pasture condition. Most of the operators <br />contacted indicated that a standard pasture mix originally was used to establish most of the <br />pastures. Smooth brome ( Bromopsis inermis ssp. inermis orchardgrass, timothy, white <br />Dutch clover, and red clover occurred in the pasture type and are normally included in <br />standard irrigated pasture mixes. <br />Revised September 2010 (PR 06) 2.04.10 -33 <br />