Soil Survey Laboratory Data And Descriptions For Some Soils Of Utah

Soils were mapped on the 22,533 ha Desert Experimental Range, Utah, to determine the kind, extent, and distribution of major soils and soil groups, the type of vegetation associated with each soil group, and the correlation between herbage production and soil groups. The results indicated that Desert Experimental Range soils are primarily Haplocalcids, Torriothents, and Torrifluvents. They occur within the Temperate Desert and Temperate Steppe climatic types. Annual herbage production averages 250 kg per ha per year. High production years yield twice the average, often with many annual herbs, while low production years yield less than half the average. Species composition differs greatly on dissimilar soils and over time, but total production is similar for Haplocalcids, Torriothents, and Torrifluvents.