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24
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<br />suited to irrigation, and good yields can be expected with
<br />proper management.
<br />The main concerns in managing irrigated cropland are
<br />contrqlling soil blowing, which can result in large losses
<br />of the organic matter in the soil, and maintaining soil
<br />fertility.\Soil blowing can be controlled by leaving crop
<br />residue lying on the surface or as standing stubble when
<br />crops are not grown. Crops can be seeded directly into
<br />the crop residue, which serves as a protective mulch
<br />that can prevent damage to young crops by soil blowing.
<br />Grasses and legumes grown in rotation about one -fourth
<br />of the time help to restore the organic matter lost
<br />through soil bowing. Decomposition of organic matter in
<br />the soil has a stabilizing effect that helps the soil resist
<br />soil blowing.
<br />This soil is best suited to sprinkler irrigation. Frequent
<br />light applications •f water, particularly early in the
<br />growing season, m ke the most efficient use of water.
<br />Fertilizers that add 'trogen and phosphorus to the soil,
<br />applied at rates dete fined by soil tests, normally
<br />increase the yield of i igated crops.
<br />The main concerns i managing nonirrigated cropland
<br />are controlling soil blow g and conserving moisture. This
<br />soil is best suited to grai sorghum; however, small
<br />grains can also be grown. To help maintain the organic
<br />matter content and soil str cture, an alfalfa -grass or
<br />grass mixture should be gro n for 2 or 3 years and then
<br />alternated with annual crops. Crop residue can be left on
<br />the soil to reduce the hazard f soil blowing. Light
<br />applications of nitrogen fertiliz normally increase crop
<br />yields and the amount of crop r: sidue produced. Crops
<br />should be planted at right angles to the prevailing wind,
<br />and the newly planted field shout be left in a ridged
<br />condition. Ridges equivalent to tho e left by a deep
<br />furrow drill are most effective.
<br />The potential native vegetation is • s minantly sand
<br />bluestem, needleandthread, prairie sa , Breed,
<br />switchgrass, little bluestem, and blue g - ma. If the range
<br />is overgrazed, these grasses decrease i number, and
<br />sand sagebrush, sand dropseed, and wil buckwheat
<br />increase. Undesirable weeds and annual • ants invade
<br />and increase as the range condition deters • rates.
<br />Badly depleted range can be improved b interseeding
<br />with a mixture 'selected from sand bluestem, •ideoats
<br />grama, switchgrass, and indiangrass. Sand sa ' ebrush
<br />management helps to increase production on •vergrazed
<br />range.
<br />Wildlife habitat, especially for openland and ra • eland
<br />wildlife, is an important secondary use for this soi
<br />Habitat favorable for ring- necked pheasant, mourns
<br />dove, and many nongame species can be develope on
<br />cropland by establishing nesting and escape cover.
<br />Undisturbed nesting cover is vital for pheasants and
<br />should be planned for, especially in areas of intensive
<br />agriculture. Rangeland wildlife, for example, the
<br />pronghorn antelope, can be encouraged by developing
<br />livestock watering facilities, by properly grazing livestock,
<br />and by range seeding, where needed. Sand cherry,
<br />9
<br />Soil survey
<br />Ame ' an plum, cotoneaster, and other species can
<br />provide sod for openland wildlife. The trees and shrubs
<br />recomme , ed for use in windbreaks can provide cover.
<br />This soil g- •erally is suited to windbreaks and
<br />environmental • ntings. Soil blowing is the principal
<br />limitation to estab ing trees and shrubs. This limitation
<br />can be overcome by ► Itivating only in the tree row and
<br />by leaving a strip of veg ation between the rows.
<br />Supplemental irrigation is = cessary at the time of
<br />planting and during dry perios The trees that are best
<br />adapted and that have a good c . nce of survival are
<br />Rocky Mountain juniper, ponderos • fine, Siberian elm,
<br />Russian - olive, and hackberry; the shr is are skunkbush
<br />sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashrub.
<br />This soil is well suited to use as sites for eptic tank
<br />filter fields and houses. However, foundation . stings
<br />need to be wide enough to provide a safety mar• ' of
<br />support for the weight of buildings.
<br />Capability subclass Ille, nonirrigated and irrigated.
<br />19— Haxtun sandy loam. This is a deep, well drained,
<br />loamy soil in upland swales and sandhill valleys
<br />throughout most of the survey area. This soil formed in
<br />mixed eolian and alluvial material overlying a buried soil.
<br />The areas are irregular in shape and range to 300 acres
<br />in size. The surface layer ranges from sandy loam to
<br />loam; the areas where this soil has a loam surface layer
<br />are in the northern part of the county.
<br />Included in mapping and making up as much as 10
<br />percent of this map unit are small areas of Ascalon
<br />sandy loam. This soil is in irregularly shaped areas on
<br />slightly convex slopes and is lighter in color than the
<br />Haxtun soil.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown sandy
<br />loam about 7 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil
<br />is grayish brown sandy clay loam about 13 inches thick.
<br />The lower part is a buried subsoil of very dark brown
<br />clay loam about 13 inches thick. The substratum, to a
<br />depth of 60 inches or more, is light brownish gray clay
<br />loam. It is calcareous below a depth of 54 inches.
<br />Permeability is moderate. The available water capacity
<br />is high. The effective rooting depth is more than 60
<br />inches. Surface runoff is slow. Water erosion is a slight
<br />hazard, and soil blowing is a severe hazard.
<br />More than 90 percent of the acreage of this map unit
<br />is cropland. On nonirrigated cropland, winter wheat is
<br />grown in a crop - fallow system. In some areas, this soil is
<br />used to grow corn and sugar beets.
<br />The main concerns in managing irrigated cropland are
<br />controlling soil blowing and maintaining fertility. Soil
<br />blowing can be controlled by leaving crop residue on the
<br />surface when crops are not grown.
<br />This soil is suited to sprinkler irrigation. Surface
<br />irrigation is feasible with some land leveling. High crop
<br />yields can be expected if irrigation is efficient; however,
<br />they can result in nutrient deficiencies. Soil tests should
<br />be consulted to determine the amount of fertilizer
<br />needed. Liberal applications of nitrogen and phosphorus
<br />
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