NEEDS FOR CONSERVATION TREATMENT 



Conservation needs were estimated in acreages having conservation problems 

 and needing treatjnent. 



The problems for cropland and other land are related primarily to the con- 

 servation of the soil resourcei therefore, land-capability units, singly 

 or in groups, were the basis for these estimates- The problems on pasture, 

 range, irrigated native, and forest and woodland are related to the conser- 

 vation of the plant cover as well as to the conservation of the soil re- 

 source; therefore, the estimates for these land uses were based on the 

 actual condition of the vegetative cover and were made with no direct ref- 

 erence to land-capability units. 



The acreage needing treatment for each land use takes into account the 

 treatment needed for acreage coming into such land use from other uses by 

 1975. For example, the acreage of pasture or range needing establishment 

 or reestablishment (Table 3) includes the acreage coming from other uses 

 into pasture and range. 



The Inventory shows that nearly 7o7 million acres of cropland will need 

 appropriate treatment by 1975. Cropland was divided into the following 

 groupings on the basis of problems that limit uses 



No problems that limit use — This is Class I land without conservation pro- 

 blems except those related to the restoration and maintenance of fertility 

 and tilth which may be solved by the methods generally recommended and used 

 in the community. In Montana there are about 305,200 acres of such land. 



Water or wind erosion has occurred or is likely to occur under expected 

 use on about 5 million acres of cropland and will therefore require some 

 kind of treatment. 



Excess water caused by a high water table or by temporary flooding that 

 prevents or limits use of conservation farming systems was estimated to 

 affect about 157,000 acres. 



IfafaYorable soil conditions such as salinity, alkalinity, acidity, low 

 fertility, stoniness, shallowness to rock or some other condition that 

 limits root development, or low moisture-holding capacity are estimated 

 to occur en about 2,329,600 acres. 



Adverse climatic conditions affect about 60,500 acres as indicated by ex- 

 tremes, in either precipitation or temperature or both. 



Tables 4- and 4A show the cropland acreages in each group for each problem 

 that needs conservation treatment. 



In Montana there is very little land where none of the conditions are 

 serious enough to impose limits or hazards. Most of the land has one 

 or more of the problems any one of which may be dominant. 



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