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Considering landform and soils, the cropland areas in the western portion of the study area are <br />more conducive to cropping activities. The cropland areas in the central portion of the study <br />area contain areas with shallow soils or boggy ground which restrict yields and equipment <br />operation. The central portion of the study area containing cropland is also in the western <br />portion of the permit area. Soils in the cropland portion of the permit area are dominated by <br />the Progresso complex (Unit 30C). Soils within this complex are generally shallow, have a <br />poor capability class, and require a high level of management inputs. The low potential of the <br />cropland in the permit area is partially reflected in their present poor condition. Cropping may <br />be periodically carried out in other portions of the study area outside of the above areas, <br />however this lasts only one to two years as a rotation during renovation of hayland or <br />pastureland. <br />Crops normally grown in the Nucla area include corn for silage and small grains such as oats, <br />winter wheat, and barley. During the 1987 growing season, only one field (located in the <br />southwest corner of the study area) was planted to a crop. This field was planted to winter <br />wheat for grain, but was pastured in the fall /winter after the grain had established and stooled <br />out. Prior to the grain maturing during the summer of 1987, a short term management <br />decision by the operator resulted in the entire stand being grazed by sheep instead of <br />harvested for grain. All other fields within the study area were left fallow during the 1987 <br />cropping season. The two fields in the western portion of the study area that were not in <br />winter wheat during 1987, were tilled late in the year during 1987 as a fallow /weed clean -up <br />operation (see Attachment 2.04.10 -8 Figures 4 -7 and 4 -8, (formerly Peabody 10 -4). Note: <br />photos taken prior to fallow operation). The two cropland areas in the central portion of the <br />study area (western edge of the permit area) were not tilled after harvest the previous year and <br />were allowed to volunteer barley and a host of annual and perennial weedy species. All <br />cropland areas contain many weedy species. These species are noted in Attachment 2.04.10- <br />5, formerly Peabody Appendix 10 -1 "Species List ". <br />Since no cropland was placed in production or harvested during 1987, no specific yield data is <br />available for the study area. An estimate of the capability of the major soils in the study area <br />may be gained by review of the soils map unit descriptions and soils interpretation sheets <br />(SCS Form 5's) contained in Section 2.04.9, Soils Resource Information. For the Barx series <br />(map unit 70B), the more extensive of the two series cropped, the following values might be <br />Revised September 2010 (PR 06) 2.04.10 -50 <br />