14
<br />SOIL SURVEY
<br />irregular in shape, and they range from 5 to nearly 700
<br />acres in size. The smaller areas extend southeastward.
<br />Included with this soil in snapping were small areas of
<br />Ascalon sandy loam that generally are gently sloping.
<br />Also included were areas of gently sloping Valentine fine
<br />sand and Julesburg loamy sand. Small areas of sloping
<br />Haxtun soil, less than 5 acres in size, also occur on convex
<br />hills or ridges.
<br />This nearly level Haxtun soil absorbs water rapidlyy and
<br />has moderate available water holding capacity. Soil blow-
<br />ing is likely unless the soil is protected, but there is little
<br />or no runoff.
<br />This soil is suitable for dryfarming, irrigation farming,
<br />or range. In the dryfarmed fields, stubble -mulch tillage,
<br />use of crop residue, and wind striperopping are helpful in
<br />controlling soil blowing. Because the surface layer is low
<br />in organic- matter content and available nitrogen, addi-
<br />tions of fertilizer are required. In years of normal precipi-
<br />tation, crops respond well if nitrogen fertilizer is added.
<br />Sprinkler irrigation generally works best on this sanely
<br />soil because it requires light, frequent irrigations for good
<br />results.
<br />Grasses grow well on this soil if the surface is moist and
<br />well covered with litter that forms a mulch before seeding.
<br />Grasses should be well established before they are grazed.
<br />Then, proper range use can be obtained if fences, water,
<br />and salt are well distributed and grasses are grazed by the
<br />right number of livestock at the proper season. Capability
<br />units IIIe -3 (dryland) and IIIe —G (irrigated) ; Sandy
<br />Plains range site; windbreak suitability group 2.
<br />Haxtun loamy sand, 3 to 5 percent slopes (HtQ occurs
<br />in areas that are mostly in the northwestern part of Phil-
<br />lips County. This soil is similar to Haxtun loamy sand, 0
<br />to 3 percent sloes, but it is more sloping and occupies nar-
<br />row ridges or side slopes that trend southeastward.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping were small areas of
<br />Ascalon and Julesburg soils that are moderately sloping.
<br />A few limestone outcrops are in the northwestern part of
<br />the county. These spots are shown on the soil map by
<br />symbol.
<br />This Haxtun soil is suitable for grazing and for limited
<br />cultivation. Small grain, corn, and sorghums are suitable
<br />crops; almost all of the acreage is cultivated.
<br />Soil blowing is the main hazard. In the dryfarmed fields,
<br />stubble -mulch tillage or use of crop residue and wind
<br />striperopping generally are helpful in controlling erosion.
<br />Close - growing crops hold the topsoil in place better than
<br />row crops. In irrigated fields sprinkler irrigation is
<br />probably best, but the water should be applied at frequent
<br />intervals. Because the sandy surface layer is low in
<br />organic - matter content, crops respond well to nitrogen
<br />fertilizer in moist years.
<br />Areas that remain in grass should be protected from
<br />overgrazing because the surface layer eventually erodes
<br />after plant cover is lost. Eroded areas can be easily re-
<br />seeded if the soil is moist and has a good cover of litter.
<br />Then, deferred grazing is required until the grasses are
<br />well established. A way to aid in obtaining proper range
<br />use is by spacing fences, watering points, and salt so that
<br />the range is more evenly grazed. Grazing should be al-
<br />lowed only during the proper season so that the grasses
<br />recover and make seed. Capability units IVe -3 (dryland)
<br />and IVe -5 ( irrigated) ; Sandy Plains range site; wind-
<br />break suitability group 2.
<br />Haxtun sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes (HxB) oc-
<br />cupies areas in the north - central, northwestern, and south-
<br />eastern parts of the county. Except for having a sandy
<br />loam surface layer, the profile of this soil is similar to the
<br />one described as typical for the series.
<br />Included with this soil, where sandy lands and hard -
<br />lands merge, were small areas of Rago and Puma soils.
<br />This Haxtun soil is suited to grass or to dryfarmed
<br />and irrigated crops. The practice of following small
<br />grain or sorghums with summer fallow provides a
<br />suitable cropping sequence. Row crops grow well if the
<br />soil is irrigated. The surface layer is rapidly permeable,
<br />and the clay loam subsoil stores water well. The surface
<br />layer, however, is low in organic - matter content, and this
<br />soil responds well to additions of nitrogen fertilizer in
<br />years when precipitation is normal.
<br />Almost all the acreage is cultivated. In dryfarmed fields
<br />working crop residue into the soil, stubble -mulch tillage,
<br />and wind striperopping generally protect against soil
<br />blowing. In irrigated fields working crop residue into the
<br />soil and leveling that allows the water to spread uniformly
<br />are helpful in controlling erosion and maintaining fertil-
<br />ity. Careful management of irrigation water is required.
<br />Irrigated pasture or hay plants grow well in this soil.
<br />Grazing rangeland at the right season for a specified
<br />period insures an adequate grass cover for controlling ero-
<br />sion. A good way to force cattle to graze the entire range
<br />more evenly is by fencing separate areas and by providing
<br />well - placed watering points and salt blocks. Capability
<br />units IIe -1 (dryland) and IIe-3 (irrigated) ; Sandy
<br />Plains range site; windbreak suitability group 1.
<br />Julesburg Series
<br />The Julesburg series consists of deep, nearly level or
<br />gently sloping, sandy soils that are well drained. These
<br />soils are chiefly in the northwestern and southeastern parts
<br />of the county. They normally occupy flats or narrow,
<br />ridgelike areas that trend to the southeast. They are be-
<br />tween or adjacent to areas of Valentine or Haxtun soils.
<br />In a typical profile Julesburg soils have a loamy sand
<br />plow layer about 11 inches thick. It is grayish brown in the
<br />upper part and dark grayish brown in the lower part. The
<br />plow layer is free of lime and easily worked.
<br />The subsoil is about 17 inches thick. It consists of dark
<br />grayish - brown sandy loam in the upper part and pale -
<br />brown loamy sand in the lower part. The subsoil is soft
<br />when dry and very friable when moist.
<br />The underlying material is pale -brown loamy sand. It
<br />has been reworked locally by wind and water and, in some
<br />places, is slightly limy below a depth of I feet.
<br />Because surface drainage channels are lacking or poorly
<br />established, these soils have very little runoff. Internal
<br />drainage is rapid, available water holding capacity is low,
<br />and fertility is moderate.
<br />The native vegetation is mainly sandreed, needle -and-
<br />thread, and grama grasses. Cacti, yucca, and sages also
<br />grow well, especially where the soils have been overgrazed.
<br />About 50 percent of the acreage is farmed, mainly to win-
<br />ter wheat. The rest is used for pasture and hay. In addi-
<br />tion to winter wheat, some corn, sorghums, dryfarmed
<br />alfalfa, and sweetclover are also grown.
<br />
|