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SOILS DESCRIPTION
<br />~ ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
<br />The Heldt series consists of well-drained, nearly level to
<br />moderately sloping soils on terraces. These soils formed in clayey
<br />alluvial material.
<br />In a representative profile, the surface layer is light brownish-
<br />gray clay about 5 inches thick. It is noncalcareous. The subsoil is
<br />light brownish-gray clay about 27 inches thick. It is. noncalcareous
<br />in the upper 9 inches and slightly calcareous in the lower part.
<br />Also, a few spots and streaks of salt are visible in the lower part.
<br />The underlying material, below a depth of 32 inches, is light-gray and
<br />light brownish-gray silty clay loam in the upper part and very pale
<br />~ brown sandy clay loam and sandy loam in the lower part. It extends to
<br />a depth of 60 inches and is slightly calcareous.
<br />Heldt soils absorb water rapidly when dry because of the large
<br />cracks, but as the soil swells, water absorption becomes very slow.
<br />' The available water capacity is high. Permeability is slow, and the
<br />entire soil is suitable for plant roots.
<br />~ Representative profile of Heldt clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes, in a
<br />cultivated field, 0.3 mile north and 40 feet east of the southwest
<br />corner of section 36, T. 2 S., R. 61 W.:
<br />Ap--O to 5 inches, light brownish-gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay, dark grayish
<br />brown (2.5Y 4/2) when moist, blocky or thick platy structure
<br />~ parting to moderate, medium and fine, granular structure;
<br />hard, firm; noncalcarous; moderately alkaline; clear, smooth
<br />boundary.
<br />B21--5 to 14 inches, light brownish-gray 12.5Y 6/2> clay, dark grayish
<br />brown (2.SY 4/2) when moist, weak, coarse, prismatic and
<br />subangular pressure faces or slickensides; cracks are mor=_
<br />~ than 1 centimeter wide; very hard, very firm, noncalcareous;
<br />moderately alkaline; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />B22--14 to 22 inches, light brownish-gray 12.5Y 6/2> clay, dark
<br />grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2> when mdist; weak, coarse, prismatic
<br />and subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm;
<br />pressure faces or slickensides; calcareous; moderately
<br />~ alkaline; gradual, smooth boundary.
<br />B3--22 to 32 inches, light brownish-gray (2..SY 6/2) clay, dark grayish
<br />brown (2.SY 4/2) when moist; weak, medium, subangular
<br />blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; pressure faces
<br />or slickensides; salt spots and streaks; calcareous;
<br />moderately alkaline; gradual, smooth boundary.
<br />~ C--32 to 40 inches, light-gray (2.5Y 7/2I and light brownish-gray
<br />(2.SY 6/2) silty clay loam, light brownish gray (2.SY 6/2)
<br />and grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) when moist; very weak, medium,
<br />subangular blocky structure; hard, firm; calcareous;
<br />moderately alkaline; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />IIC2--40 to 60 inches, very pale brown (lOYR 7/3) sandy clay loam,
<br />~ brown (lOYR 5/3) when moist, stratified with very pale brown
<br />(lOYR 8/3 or 7/3) sandy loam, brown and pale brown (lOYR
<br />6/3) when moist; massive; hard, friable; calcareous;
<br />moderately alkaline.
<br />The A horizon ranges from 3 to 7 inches in thickness, from gray
<br />to light brownish gray in color, and from clay to clay loam in
<br />~ texture. The B horizon ranges from 16 to 30 inches in thickness.
<br />SOIL SURVEY OF ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO; USDA, Soil Conservation Service
<br />in cooperation with Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station,
<br />October 1974.
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