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Otero Series
<br /> The Otero series consists of gently undulating, light-
<br /> colored, moderately coarse textured, limy soils on up-
<br /> lands.
<br /> The surface layer is light brownish-gray to pale-brown
<br /> sandy loam about 7 inches thick. It tales water readily.
<br /> The underlying material is limy sandy loam. This ma-
<br /> terial appears to linve been deposited by wind.It is readily
<br /> penetrated by plant roots, but it is low.in water-liolding
<br /> capacity. In places there are small lenses of clay and lay-
<br /> i ers of cemented hard nine deep in the substratum.In a few
<br /> areas, clay or shale occurs at a depth of about 2 feet.
<br /> Otero soils are droughty and low in natural fertility,
<br /> but they are free of harinful salts. Runoff is slow because
<br /> the surface layer takes water readil33.
<br /> These soils are too droughty and too erodible to be
<br /> suited to dryfarming, They are used mainly for range.
<br /> The principal native range plants are blue grama, sand
<br /> dropseed, yucca, and sand sage.
<br /> Representative profile in nn area of short-grass rniige,
<br /> about 0.35 mile south and 0.05 mile .vest of the northenst
<br /> corner of sec. 15, T. 22 S., R. 56 IV. (Sample 'No.
<br /> S62-Colo-13-6; Lab. Nos. 63922-6396)
<br /> A1-0 to 3 inches,light brownish-gray (101n 6/2) sandy loam,
<br /> I dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) when moist; weak.
<br /> ( thick, platy structure that breaks to weak, fine,
<br /> crumb; soft when dry, very friable when moist; non-
<br /> calcareous;clear,smooth boundary:
<br /> `i AC-3 to 7 inches, pale-brown (10YR 6/3) sandy Ioam, (lark
<br /> brown (10]R 4/3) when moist; went, coarse, sub-
<br /> angular blocky structure; hard when dry, rery friable
<br /> when moist; noncalcareous; clear, smooth boundary.
<br /> C1-7 to 14 inches, pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy, loam, dark
<br /> brown (10YR 4/3) when moist; weak, medium, sub-
<br /> angular blocky structure; hard%vben dry, very friable
<br /> when moist; strongly calcareous; clear, smooth
<br /> boundary.
<br /> C2ca-14 to 27 inches,very.pale brown (10YR 7/3) sandy loam,
<br /> brown (10YR 5/3) %vben moist; weak, medium,angular blocky blocky structure;bard when dry,very friable
<br /> when moist; strongly calcareous; fen- scattered con-
<br /> cretions, threads, and streaks of soft lime; clear,
<br /> smooth boundary.
<br /> C3ca-27 to 60 inches, light yellowish-brown (10YR 6/4)
<br /> coarse sandy loam,yellowish brown (10TR 5/4) when
<br /> moist; massive; sligbtly hard when dry, very friable
<br /> when moist; strongly calcareous; few scattered con-
<br /> cretions, threads, and streaks of soft lime.
<br /> The Al horizon ranges from sandy foam to loamy sand in
<br /> texture and from 2 to 30 inches in thickness.The Cl horizon Is
<br /> from 5 to 10 inches thick. Ordinarily, it Is sandy loam, but in
<br /> some places it is sandy clay loam. In souie nrens both the sm-
<br /> face layer and the underlying layer are 5 to 10 percent gravel,
<br /> by volume.
<br /> Otero soils are associated with Vona and C(iscajo soils.They
<br /> lack:the subsoil development of Vona soils and are less gravelly
<br /> than Cascajo soils.They resemble Olenberg soils but are more
<br /> sloping and less stratified.
<br /> Otero sandy loam, 1 to 5 percent slopes {OrB).—This
<br /> soil occurs throughout the county in areas ranging up to
<br /> 500 acres in size.
<br /> This soil is used for range.It is somewhat clronglity and,
<br /> if not protected, is susceptible to erosion. Regilatlon of
<br /> ggrazing helps to keep the range in good condition and is
<br /> tie most effective means of controlling -wind erosion.
<br /> lfechanical practices are of little value. Stock water gen-
<br /> erally is obtained from wells or from ponds on adjoining
<br /> clayey soils. (Nonirrignted capability unit VIe-3; Sanely
<br /> Plains range site) - -
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