|
Rio Blanco County Area, Colorado
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Forelle loam,
<br />Havre loam, Kobar silty clay loam, and Zoltay loam. Also
<br />included are small areas of soils that are similar to this
<br />Patent soil but are more than 15 percent rock fragments
<br />and that have a sandy loam surface layer. Included
<br />areas make up about 15 percent of the total acreage.
<br />The percentage varies from one area to another.
<br />Permeability of this Patent soil is moderate. Available
<br />water capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of
<br />water erosion is moderate.
<br />This unit is used mainly as irrigated and nonirrigated
<br />cropland and for livestock grazing. It is also used for
<br />urban development and wildlife habitat. Hay and pasture
<br />are the main irrigated crops, and wheat is the main
<br />nonirrigated crop.
<br />This unit is well suited to hay and pasture. The main
<br />limitations are an inadequate supply of irrigation water
<br />and slope. For good establishment of hay and pasture,
<br />prepare a seedbed, drill in the seed, and use
<br />supplemental irrigation. Nonleguminous crops respond to
<br />nitrogen and phosphorus, and leguminous crops respond
<br />to phosphorus. Proper stocking rates, pasture rotation,
<br />and restricted grazing during wet periods help to keep
<br />the pasture in good condition and to protect the soil from
<br />erosion.
<br />If this unit is used for nonirrigated small grain crops,
<br />the main limitations are slope and low precipitation in
<br />summer. Because precipitation is not sufficient for
<br />annual cropping, a cropping system that includes small
<br />grain and summer fallow is most suitable. Maintaining
<br />crop residue on or near the surface reduces runoff,
<br />reduces soil blowing, and helps to maintain soil tilth and
<br />organic matter content.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />bluebunch wheatgrass, western wheatgrass,
<br />needleandthread, big sagebrush, Sandberg bluegrass,
<br />and Douglas rabbitbrush. The average annual production
<br />of air-dry vegetation is about 800 pounds per acre.
<br />If the range is overgrazed, the proportion of preferred
<br />forage plants decreases and the proportion of less
<br />preferred forage plants increases. Therefore, livestock
<br />grazing should be managed so that the desired balance
<br />of preferred species is maintained in the plant
<br />community.
<br />Management practices suitable for use on this unit are
<br />proper range use, deferred grazing, rotation grazing, and
<br />brush management. Grazing should be delayed until the
<br />soil is firm and the more desirable forage plants have
<br />achieved sufficient growth to withstand grazing pressure.
<br />Range seeding is also suitable if the range is in poor
<br />condition. For successful seeding, prepare a seedbed
<br />and drill in the seed. The plants selected for seeding
<br />should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock or
<br />wildlife, or both.
<br />If this unit is used for urban development, the main
<br />limitation is the potential for shrinking and swelling. If
<br />55
<br />buildings are constructed on the unit, properly designing
<br />foundations and footings and diverting runoff away from
<br />buildings help to prevent structural damage because of
<br />shrinking and swelling. Structures to divert runoff are
<br />also needed if roads are constructed. Buildings and
<br />roads should be designed to offset the limited ability of
<br />the soil in this unit to support a load. Access roads
<br />should be designed to provide adequate cut -slope grade,
<br />and drains are needed to control surface runoff and
<br />keep soil losses to a minimum.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass Ille. It is in
<br />Rolling Loam range site.
<br />62—Patent loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes. This deep,
<br />well drained soil is on fans and toe slopes. It formed in
<br />alluvium, colluvium, and a thin mantle of eolian material.
<br />Areas are irregular in shape and are 20 to 150 acres in
<br />size. The native vegetation is mainly low shrubs and
<br />grasses. Elevation is 5,800 to 6,800 feet. The average
<br />annual precipitation is 15 to 17 inches, the average
<br />annual air temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F, and the
<br />average frost -free period is 85 to 105 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 3 inches
<br />thick. The next layer is brown loam 7 inches thick. The
<br />upper 14 inches of the underlying material is very pale
<br />brown loam, and the lower part to a depth of 60 inches
<br />or more is very pale brown very fine sandy loam. The
<br />soil is calcareous throughout, and it contains varying
<br />amounts of gypsum.
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Dollard silty
<br />clay loam, Forelle loam, Kobar silty clay loam, and Zoltay
<br />clay loam. Also included are small areas of soils that are
<br />similar to this Patent soil but are more than 15 percent
<br />rock fragments and soils that have a sandy loam surface
<br />layer. Included areas make up about 15 percent of the
<br />total acreage. The percentage varies from one area to
<br />another.
<br />Permeability of this Patent soil is moderate. Available
<br />water capacity is moderate. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of
<br />water erosion is high.
<br />This unit is used mainly for livestock grazing,
<br />nonirrigated cropland, and wildlife habitat. It is also used
<br />for urban development.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />bluebunch wheatgrass, western wheatgrass,
<br />needleandthread, big sagebrush, Sandberg bluegrass,
<br />Douglas rabbitbrush, and serviceberry. The average
<br />annual production of air-dry vegetation is about 750
<br />pounds per acre.
<br />If the range is overgrazed, the proportion of preferred
<br />forage plants decreases and the proportion of less
<br />preferred forage plants increases. Therefore, livestock
<br />grazing should be managed so that the desired balance
<br />of preferred species is maintained in the plant
<br />community.
<br />
|