Soil Survey of Bosque County, Texas Page: 32
vii, 102 p., 56 fold. p. of plates : ill., maps ; 29 cm.View a full description of this book.
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SOIL SURVEY
A range site is a distinctive kind of rangeland that
produces a characteristic natural plant community that
differs from natural plant communities on other range
sites in kind, amount, and proportion of range plants.
The relationship between soils and vegetation was es-
tablished during this survey; thus, range sites generally
can be determined directly from the soil map. Soil prop-
erties that affect moisture supply and plant nutrients
have the greatest influence on the productivity of range
plants. Soil reaction, salt content, and a seasonal high
water table are also important.
Total production is the amount of vegetation that can
be expected to grow annually on well managed range-
land that is supporting the potential natural plant commu-
nity. It includes all vegetation, whether or not it is palat-
able to grazing animals. It includes the current year's
growth of leaves, twigs, and fruits of woody plants. It
does not include the increase in stem diameter of trees
and shrubs. It is expressed in pounds per acre of air-dry
vegetation for favorable, normal, and unfavorable years.
In a favorable year, the amount and distribution of pre-
cipitation and the temperatures make growing conditions
substantially better than average. In a normal year, grow-
ing conditions are about average. In an unfavorable year,
growing conditions are well below average, generally be-
cause of low available soil moisture.
Dry weight is the total annual yield per acre reduced to
a common percent of air dry moisture.
Characteristic vegetation-the grasses, forbs, and
shrubs that make up most of the potential natural plant
community on each soil-is listed by common name.
Under composition, the expected percentage of the total
annual production is given for each species making up
the characteristic vegetation. The amount that can be
used as forage depends on the kinds of grazing animals
and on the grazing season.
Range management requires a knowledge of the kinds
of soil and of the potential natural plant community. It
also requires an evaluation of the present range condi-
tion. Range condition is determined by comparing the
present plant community with the potential natural plant
community on a particular range site. The more closely
the existing community resembles the potential commu-
nity, the better the range condition. Range condition is
an ecological rating only. It does not have a specific
meaning that pertains to the present plant community in
a given use.
The objective in range management is to control graz-
ing so that the plants growing on a site are about the
same in kind and amount as the potential natural plant
community for that site. Such management generally re-
sults in the optimum production of vegetation, conserva-
tion of water, and control of erosion. Sometimes, howev-
er, a range condition somewhat below the potential
meets grazing needs, provides wildlife habitat, and pro-
tects soil and water resources.
In the northwestern and northeastern parts of the
county most of the soils have a loamy or sandy surfacelayer. These soils support tall and mid grasses, and
potential productivity is high because of the deep rooting
depth. In the rest of the county the soils are very shallow
to deep and are loamy and clayey. These soils also
support tall and mid grasses with potential determined
mainly by soil depth.
The major management concern on most of the ran-
geland is the productivity and vigor of the desirable
forage plants. Managing the time of grazing, and stock-
ing properly which permits re-establishment and growth
of the plant community, are essential. Brush manage-
ment and grass seeding are also needed.
When range management is based on soil survey in-
formation and range inventories, the potential is excel-
lent for increasing the amount of forage from rangeland
in the county.
Recreation
About 85 percent of the survey area has a medium to
high potential for recreational development.
Meridian State Park, Lake Whitney, Clifton, Meridian,
Valley Mills, the Bosque and Brazos Rivers and numer-
ous large creeks provide many suitable areas for recrea-
tion.
The soils of the survey area are rated in table 9 ac-
cording to limitations that affect their suitability for recre-
ation. The ratings are based on restrictive soil features,
such as wetness, slope, and texture of the surface layer.
Suitability to flooding is considered. Not considered in
the ratings, but important in evaluating a site, are the
location and accessibility of the area, the size and shape
of the area and its scenic quality, vegetation, access to
water, potential water impoundment sites, and access to
public sewerlines. The capacity of the soil to absorb
septic tank effluent and the ability of the soil to support
vegetation are also important. Soils subject to flooding
are limited for recreation use by the duration and intensi-
ty of flooding and the season when flooding occurs. In
planning recreation facilities, onsite assessment of the
height, duration, intensity, and frequency of flooding is
essential.
In table 9, the degree of soil limitation is expressed as
slight, moderate, or severe. Slight means that soil prop-
erties are generally favorable and that limitations are
minor and easily overcome. Moderate means that limita-
tions can be overcome or alleviated by planning, design,
or special maintenance. Severe means that soil proper-
ties are unfavorable and that limitations can be offset
only by costly soil reclamation, special design, intensive
maintenance, limited use, or by a combination of these
measures.
The information in table 9 can be supplemented by
other information in this survey, for example, interpreta-
tions for septic tank absorption fields in table 12 and
interpretations for dwellings without basements and for
local roads and streets in table 11.
Camp areas require site preparation such as shaping
and leveling the tent and parking areas, stabilizing roads32
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General Soil Map, Bosque County, Texas (Map)
Map displays soil types along with creeks, towns, schools, churches, power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, roads, and railroads. Includes legend and symbols. Scale 1:316,800.
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Stringer, Billy R. Soil Survey of Bosque County, Texas, book, 1980; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth130202/m1/42/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.