20 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. 



MOHAVE SANDY LOAir. 



The Mohave sandy loam consists of a pale-red to reddish-brown, 

 friable, calcareous, light-textured sandy loam, about 1*2 or 14 inches 

 deep, underlain by a calcareous, light reddish brown or pinkish-gray 

 compact sandy loam or loam. The surface soil is open in structure, 

 and, containing little organic matter, has little power to retain 

 moisture. Considerable quantities of coarse sand and fine gravel and 

 grit are normally present. Coarse angular gravel occurs in the soil 

 where it adjoins the Pinal gravelly sandy loam or other stony types. 

 The subsoil, while calcareous and compact, is not advanced in 

 cementation to the stage of a true hardpan. In most places a water- 

 bearing stratum of rounded gravel underlies the t3^pe at a depth of 

 25 to 35 feet or more, and it is from this stratum that water for irri- 

 gation is usually obtained. 



Small areas of a sandy variation are included in this type, and it 

 may include some areas having the texture of a sand. In the sandier 

 areas the soil is usually deeper and more open in structure, and the 

 subsoil carries some fine angular gravel. 



The Mohave sandy loam is an extensive and important soil. It is 

 mapped in all parts of the area, but the largest bodies occur in the 

 eastern and southern parts. Many of the soil areas are elongated and 

 roughly parallel. They may extend along drainage courses, or 

 bound large flat areas. Some are small, isolated areas of sandier 

 material, which have been modified by wind action and may locally 

 have a veneer of wind-laid material. The soil boundaries in most 

 cases are definite and in many cases sharp. 



The surface of the type is generally smooth and well suited to irri- 

 gation and agriculture, but some of the smaller, sandv areas are 

 marked by small hillocks and are difficult to handle. Leveling is 

 necessary to j^repare much of the type for irrigation. 



This soil usually lies slightly higher than the surrounding or adja- 

 cent types, and drainage is toward the latter. It is well drained 

 and is seldom affected by alkali, which occurs only along marginal 

 areas. 



The greater part of this type still supports the native vegetation 

 of creosote bush and varieties of cacti or other desert plants. Small 

 areas are irrigated and farmed, alfalfa being the principal crop. 

 (PI. I, fig. 2.) Where sufficient water is available the yields are 

 good, but all crops require irrigation. Some grain is produced, but 

 the yields are often poor. Kafir, milo, and truck crops are grown 

 locally, and their acreage is being extended. A small acreage is 

 devoted to peaches, apricots, and figs. Egyptian cotton is not grown 

 on the type in this area, but it is produced on similar or identical 

 soils outside the survey. The seed farm of the Indian Agency near 

 Sacaton is located on this type of soil. 



