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<br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
<br />attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and
<br />trees grow well. The chief limiting soil feature is the
<br />rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a
<br />hazazd of ground water contamination from sewage
<br />lagoons. In places recreational development is limited by
<br />the susceptibility to soil blowing. Capability subclass IIIe
<br />imgated, IVe nonirrigated: Sandy Plains range site.
<br />73-Vona loamy sand, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on plains and
<br />high terraces at elevations of 4,600 to 5200 feel It
<br />formed in eolian or alluvial deposits. Included in mapping
<br />are some leveled areas. Also included are small areas of
<br />soils that have a loamy substratum and some areas of
<br />soils that are noncalcareous to a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish
<br />brown. The upper 6 inches is loamy sand and the lower 5
<br />inches is fine sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light
<br />yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 14 inches thick.
<br />The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion
<br />hazard is low.
<br />This soil is suited to limited cropping. Intensive
<br />cropping is hazardous because of soil blowing. The
<br />cropping system should be limited to such close grown
<br />crops as alfalfa, wheat, and barley. The soil is also suited
<br />to irrigated pasture. A suitable cropping system is 3 to 4
<br />years of alfalfa followed by 2 years of corn and small
<br />grain and alfalfa seeded with a nurse crop.
<br />Closely spaced contour ditches or sprinklers can be
<br />used in irrigating close grown crops. Contour furrows or
<br />spinklers should be used for new crops. Application of
<br />barnyard manure and commercial fertilizer helps to main-
<br />tain good production.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br />dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />grams Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grams,
<br />and western wheatgrass aze also prominent Potential
<br />production ranges from 2200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />and switchgrass decrease and blue grams, sand dropseed,
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grams, blue grams, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested
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<br />wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass seleMed
<br />should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can
<br />be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be
<br />drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding eazly in
<br />spring has proven most successful.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are fairly well
<br />suited to this soil Blowing sand and low available water
<br />capacity are the principal hazards in establishing trees
<br />and shrubs. The soil is so loose that trees should be
<br />planted in shallow furrows and vegetation maintained
<br />between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed
<br />to insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have
<br />good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, western
<br />redcedaz, ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. The shrubs
<br />best suited aze skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian
<br />peashrnb.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
<br />attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and
<br />trees grow well. The primary limiting soil feature is the
<br />rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a
<br />hazard of ground water contamination from sewage
<br />lagoons. In places recreational development is limited by
<br />the susceptibility to soil blowing. Capability subclass IVe
<br />irrigated, VIe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains range site.
<br />74-Vona loamy sand, S to 9 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on plains at
<br />elevations of 4,600 to 5200 feet. It formed in eolian
<br />deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />have a loamy substratum and areas of soils that are non-
<br />calcareous to a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer is grayish brown. The upper
<br />6 inches is loamy sand and the lower 4 inches is fine
<br />sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light yellowish
<br />brown fine sandy loam about 12 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum to a depth of 60 inches is loamy sand.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion
<br />hazard is low.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br />dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />grams. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grams,
<br />and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential
<br />production ranges from 2200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />and switchgrass decrease and blue grams, sand dropseed,
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site as range condition becomes poorer.
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