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<br />Management practices suitable for use on this unit are
<br />proper range use, deferred grazing, and rotation grazing.
<br />Grazing should be delayed until the soil is firm and the
<br />more desirable forage plants have achieved sufficient
<br />growth to withstand grazing pressure. Brush
<br />management and seeding are also suitable practices
<br />where slopes are less than 15 percent. The main
<br />limitations for seeding are slope and low precipitation in
<br />summer. For successful seeding, prepare a seedbed and
<br />drill in the seed. The plants selected for seeding should
<br />meet the seasonal requirements of livestock or wildlife,
<br />or both.
<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. Crusting of the surface and
<br />compaction of the soil can be reduced by returning crop
<br />residue to the soil and by using minimum tillage.
<br />If this unit is used for urban development, the main
<br />limitations are slope and the potential for shrinking and
<br />swelling. If buildings are constructed on the unit, properly
<br />designing foundations and footings and diverting runoff
<br />away from buildings help to prevent structural damage
<br />because of shrinking and swelling. Structures to divert
<br />runoff are also needed if roads are constructed.
<br />Buildings and roads should be designed to offset the
<br />limited ability of the soil in this unit to support a load.
<br />Access roads should be designed to provide adequate
<br />cut -slope grade, and drains are needed to control
<br />surface runoff and keep soil losses to a minimum.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass IVe. It is in
<br />Rolling Loam range site.
<br />63—Patent loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes. This
<br />deep, well drained soil is on 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 160 acres in
<br />size. The native vegetation is mainly low shrubs,
<br />grasses, and a few pinyon and juniper trees. Elevation is
<br />5,800 to 6,800 feet. The average annual precipitation is
<br />15 to 17 inches, the average annual air temperature is
<br />42 to 45 degrees F, and the average frost -free period is
<br />85 to 105 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is brown loam 5 inches
<br />thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60 inches or
<br />more is very pale brown, stratified loam and very fine
<br />sandy loam and is as much as 15 percent rock
<br />fragments. The soil is calcareous throughout, and it
<br />contains varying 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 have a sandy loam or
<br />Soil survey
<br />cobbly loam surface layer. Included areas make up
<br />about 15 percent of the total acreage. The percentage
<br />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 rapid, and the hazard of water
<br />erosion is high.
<br />This unit is used for livestock grazing and wildlife
<br />habitat.
<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 650
<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. Management practices suitable for use on
<br />this unit are proper range use, deferred grazing, rotation
<br />grazing, and brush management. Grazing should be
<br />delayed until the soil is firm and the more desirable
<br />forage plants have achieved sufficient growth to
<br />withstand grazing pressure.
<br />The suitability of this unit for rangeland seeding is very
<br />poor. The main limitations are steepness of slope and
<br />low precipitation in summer.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass Vle,
<br />nonirrigated. It is in Rolling Loam range site.
<br />64—Piceance fine sandy loam, 5 to 15 percent
<br />slopes. This moderately deep, well drained soil is on
<br />uplands and broad ridgetops. It formed in eolian material
<br />and colluvium derived dominantly from sandstone. Areas
<br />are elongated and are 20 to 600 acres. The native
<br />vegetation is mainly low shrubs, grasses, and a few
<br />pinyon trees. Elevation is 6,300 to 7,500 feet. The
<br />average annual precipitation is 15 to 18 inches, the
<br />average annual air temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F,
<br />and the average frost -free period is 80 to 105 days.
<br />Typically, the surface' layer is brown fine sandy loam 4
<br />inches thick. The upper 5 inches of the subsoil is brown
<br />loam, and the lower 13 inches is light yellowish brown
<br />loam. The substratum is very pale brown channery loam
<br />8 inches thick. Hard sandstone is at a depth of 30
<br />inches. Depth to sandstone ranges from 20 to 40 inches.
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Forelle loam,
<br />Redcreek sandy loam, Rentsac channery loam, and
<br />Yamac loam. Also included are small areas of Rock
<br />outcrop and soils that are similar to this Piceance soil
<br />but are shallow to bedrock. Included areas make up
<br />about 15 percent of the total acreage. The percentage
<br />varies from one area to another.
<br />Permeability of this Piceance soil is moderate.
<br />Available water capacity is moderately low. Effective
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