Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt:...mainly little bluestem, sand dropseed, black grama, and plains bristlegrass. The present vegetation in most areas is mainly sand dropseed, black grama, and sand sagebrush. lf the rangeland is overgrazed, the proportion of preferred forage plants decreases and the proportion of less preferred forage plants increases. Therefore, livestock grazing should be managed so that the desired balance of preferred species is maintained in the plant community. Shinnery oak readily invades the Faskin soil. ln areas where shinnery oak is dominant, livestock should be removed when the shinnery oak is in late bud or early leaf stage because of its toxicity during this period. The average annual production of air-dry vegetation on this soil ranges from 3,000 pounds per acre in favorable years to 1,500 pounds in unfavorable years. Areas of this unit that are heavily infested with undesirable plants can be improved by chemical or mechanical treatment. Loss of the surface layer results in a severe decrease in productivity and in the potential of the soils in this unit to produce forage. Deferment from grazing during the growing season is needed to maintain or improve the vigor and reproduction of desirable forage plants such as little bluestem. SPA--Stromal-Pyote fine sands, gently undulating. This map unit is on high terraces in the eastern part of the survey area. Slope is 0 to 2 percent. Areas are irregular in shape and are 100 to 1,000 acres in size. The native vegetation is mainly grasses and shrubs. Elevation is 4,000 to 4,100 feet. The average annual precipitation is 13 to 14 inches, the average annual air temperature is 59 to 61 degrees F, and the average frost-free period is 195 to 205 days. This unit is 50 percent Stromal fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, and 40 perce...