APPENDIX D 



Class VIII 



Soils and landforms in class VIII have limitations that may pre- 

 clude their use for commercial plant production. Land use is generally 

 restricted to recreation, wildlife, water supply or aesthetic purposes. 



Soils and landforms in class VIII cannot be expected to return sig- 

 nificant benefits to management for crops, grasses or trees, although 

 benefits from wildlife use, watershed protection or recreation are 

 possible. 



Limitations that cannot be corrected may result from the effects 

 of one or more of the following: (1) extremely severe erosion or erosion 

 hazard, (2) marsh land, and (3) rock outcrop or shale outcrop. 



Shale or rock outcrop, sandy beaches, river wash, mine tailings and 

 other nearly barren lands are included in class VIII. It may be necessary 

 to provide protection and management for plant growth to soils and land- 

 forms in class VIH in order to protect other valuable resources. 



CAPABILITY SUBCLASSES 



Subclasses are groups of capability units within classes that have 

 the same kinds of dominant limitations for agricultural use as a result 

 of soil and climate. Some soils are subject to erosion if they are not 

 protected, while others are naturally wet and must be drained if crops 

 are to be grown. Some soils are shallow or droughty or have other soil 

 deficiencies. Still other soils occur in areas where climate limits 

 their use. The four kinds of limitations recognized in Montana at the 

 subclass level are: risks of erosion, designated by the symbol (e); 

 wetness, drainage or overflow (w) ; and root zone limitations (s); climate, 

 short growing season and low annual rainfall (c). The class and subclass 

 provide the map user information about both the degree and kind of 

 limitation. Subclasses are not recognized in capability class I. 



Subclass (e) erosion is made up of soils where the susceptibility 

 to erosion is the dominant problem or hazard in their use. Erosion 

 susceptibility and past erosion damage are the major soil factors for 

 placing soils in this subclass. 



Subclass (w) excess water is made up of soils where excess water is 

 the dominant hazard or limitation in their use. Poor soil drainage, wet- 

 ness, high water table and overflow are the criteria for determining 

 which soils belong in this subclass. 



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