|
Washington County, Colorado
<br />75—Wages-Ascalon loams, 2 to 5 percent slopes.
<br />This map unit is in undulating areas of dissected alluvial
<br />terraces on plains. Areas are irregular in shape and are
<br />10 to 200 acres.
<br />This unit is 50 percent Wages loam and 30 percent
<br />Ascalon loam. The components of this are so intricately
<br />intermingled that It was not practical to map them
<br />separately at the scale used
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Platner soils
<br />and severely wind eroded Wages soils on knolls and
<br />ridges in cultivated areas. Included areas make up about
<br />20 percent of the total acreage_
<br />The Wages soil is deep and well drained. It formed in
<br />alluvium. Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown
<br />loam 4 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is
<br />mainly brown clay loam 10 inches thick, and the lower
<br />part is very pale brown loam 26 inches thick. The
<br />substratum to a depth of 60 inches or more is very pale
<br />brown loam. In some areas of similar included soils, the
<br />surface layer is fine sandy loam.
<br />Permeability of the Wages 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. The hazard of soil blowing is
<br />moderate.
<br />The Ascalon soil Is deep and well drained. It formed in
<br />wind -worked alluvium. Typically, the surface layer is
<br />grayish brown loam 5 inches thick_ The upper part of the
<br />subsoil is grayish brown sandy clay loam 17 inches thick,
<br />and the lower part is very pale brown sandy loam 9
<br />inches thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches or
<br />more is pink sandy clay loam. In some areas of similar
<br />included soils, the surface layer is fine sandy loam.
<br />Permeability of the Ascalon 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. The hazard of soil blowing is
<br />moderate.
<br />This unit is used mainly for nonirrigated and irrigated
<br />crops. It is also used as rangeland.
<br />If this unit is Used for nonirrigated crops, the main
<br />limitations are low precipitation and the hazard of soil
<br />blowing. Because precipitation is not sufficient for annual
<br />cropping, a cropping system that includes planting small
<br />grain and fallowing in summer Is most suitable.
<br />Soil blowing is reduced by returning crop residue to
<br />the soil, practicing minimum tillage, and interplanting
<br />crops in alternate strips at right angle to the prevailing
<br />wind. All tillage should be on the contour or across the
<br />slope. Areas that have smooth slopes can be terraced
<br />and then farmed on the contour. Returning all crop
<br />residue to the soil and using a cropping system that
<br />includes grasses, legumes, or grass -legume mixtures
<br />help to maintain fertility and tilth.
<br />Irrigation is needed for maximum production. Sprinkler
<br />irrigation is suited to this unit, Use of this method permits
<br />the even, controlled application of water, reduces runoff,
<br />57
<br />and minimizes the risk of erosion. Water should be
<br />applied at a rate that Insures optimum production without
<br />increasing deep percolation, runoff, and erosion.
<br />Returning crop residue to the soil and regularly adding
<br />other organic matter improve fertility, reduce crusting,
<br />and increase the water intake rate.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />blue gram&, buffalograss, western whealgrass, green
<br />needlegrass, and sedges.
<br />If this unit Is used for windbreaks and environmental
<br />plantings, the main limitations are low precipitation and
<br />the hazard of soil blowing. Fallowing in summer,
<br />cultivating for weed control, and selecting adapted plants
<br />are necessary to insure the establishment and survival of
<br />seedlings. Planting on the contour conserves moisture. If
<br />necessary, supplemental irrigation should be provided
<br />when planting and during dry periods. Suitable trees for
<br />planting are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar,
<br />ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian -olive, and
<br />hackber y. Suitable shrubs are skunkbush sumac, lilac.
<br />Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<br />If this unit is used for homesite development, the main
<br />limitation is the hazard of soil blowing. Excavating can
<br />expose material that is highly susceptible to soil blowing.
<br />Revegetating disturbed areas around construction sites
<br />as soon as feasible reduces soil blowing.
<br />If the unit is used for septic tank absorption fields, the
<br />limitation of moderate permeability can be overcome by
<br />Increasing the size of the absorption field. Frost action
<br />potential limits the construction and maintenance of
<br />roads, streets, driveways, and sidewalks.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass Ille, irrigated
<br />and nonirrigated_ It is In the Loamy Plains range site.
<br />76—Wages-Ascalon loams, 5 to 9 percent slopes.
<br />This map unit is in areas of gently rolling plains. Areas
<br />are Irregular in shape and are 20 to 100 acres.
<br />This unit is 50 percent Wages loam and 40 percent
<br />Ascalon loam. The components of this unit are so
<br />intricately intermingled that it was not practical to map
<br />them separately at the scale used.
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Canyon gravelly
<br />loam on steep escarpments along drainageways, Rago
<br />silt loam, and Table Mountain loam on bottoms of draws.
<br />Also included are small areas of severely wind eroded
<br />Wages soils. included areas make up about 10 percent
<br />of the total acreage.
<br />The Wages soil Is deep and well drained. It formed In
<br />alluvium, Typically, the surface layer Is grayish brown
<br />loam 4 inches thick. The subsoil is brown sandy clay
<br />loam 10 inches thick. The upper 21 inches of the
<br />substratum is pinkish white loam, and the lower part to a
<br />depth of 60 inches or more is pink sandy loam. In some
<br />areas of similar included soils, the surface layer is sandy
<br />loam.
<br />Permeability of the Wages soil is moderate. Available
<br />water capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />
|