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Mountain soils in the Rockies are poorly developed, being extremely thin and young and too deficient in nutrients for most types of agriculture. High-valley soils are sometimes suitable for irrigation, depending on texture, steepness of slopes, length of snow cover, and the presence of trace elements (e.g., selenium) that limit suitability for crop cultivation. Rangeland grazing is a more common pursuit. Soils of the Colorado Plateau also are generally shallow and stony, and they contain a high percentage of salts. In some locales, they can be made fertile if sufficient water is available to flush excess salts. Along the great ...(100 of 4123 words)