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<br />tiuedano County Area, Colorado
<br />the Penrose soil. Also included are small areas of deep
<br />htanvel loam on foot slopes and moderately deep Razor
<br />clay Iozm near shale outcroppings.
<br />The Penrose soil is shallow and well drained. It formed
<br />in residuum and colluvium derived dominantly from
<br />limestone. Typically, the surface layer is pale brown
<br />channery loam about 2 inches thick. Belov+ this is
<br />channery loam about 13 inches thick. Fractured
<br />limestone is at a depth of 15 inches. The soil is
<br />moderately alkaline throughout.
<br />Permeability of the Penrose soil is moderate. Available
<br />water capacity is very low. Effective rooting depth is 10
<br />to 20 inches. Runoff is medium to rapid, and the hazard
<br />of water erosion is moderate to very high.
<br />Rock outcrop consists of nearly barren ledges of
<br />limestone interbedded with shale.
<br />This unit is used as rangeland.
<br />The potential plant community on the Penrose soil is
<br />mainly pinyon and juniper and an understory of sideoats
<br />grama, blue grama, New Mexico needlegrass, and little
<br />bluestem. Other grasses that characterize the unit are
<br />frankenia and Bigelow sagebrush. The potential
<br />production of the native understory vegetation in normal
<br />years is about 500 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre.
<br />If the condition of the range deteriorates, galleta,
<br />threeavm, cushion plants, pinyon, and juniper increase.
<br />Livestock grazing should be managed to protect the soil
<br />from excessive erosion.
<br />Woodland products such as firewood, fenceposts, and
<br />pinyon nuts are available on the Penrose soil in this unit.
<br />Removing standing dead trees and opening the canopy
<br />generally enhance reproduction and promote the growth
<br />of grass and younger trees. Leaving high juniper stumps
<br />with several small live branches promotes the growth of
<br />a fencepost crop.
<br />This unit is poorly suited to homesite development.
<br />The main limitations are shallow depth to bedrock in the
<br />Penrose soil, areas of Rock outcrop, and steepness of
<br />slope.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass Vlle,
<br />nonirrigated. It is in Limestone Breaks range site.
<br />67-Potts sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes. This
<br />deep, v+ell drained soil is on uplands. It formed in eolian
<br />material and alluvium derived dominantly Irom
<br />sandstone. The native vegetation is mainly grass.
<br />Elevation is 6,900 to 7,500 feet. The average annual
<br />precipitation is 11 to 14 inches, the average annual air
<br />temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F, and the average
<br />frost-free period is 100 to 125 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is pinkish gray sandy loam
<br />about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is mainly clay loam
<br />about 22 inches thick. The upper 8 inches of the
<br />substratum is loam. The lover part to a depth of 60
<br />inches or more is sandy loam. The soil is mildly alkaline
<br />to a depth of 14 inches, moderately alkaline to a depth
<br />of 35 inches, and strongly alkaline belov+ that depth.
<br />Included in this unit is about 15 percent Neville tine
<br />sandy loam in steeper areas of the unit.
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<br />Permeability of this Potts soil is moderate. Available
<br />v+ater capacity is high. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Runoff is medium, 2nd the hazard of
<br />water erosion is slight to high.
<br />ivlost areas of this unit are used 2s rangeland. A fev+
<br />areas are used for irrigated hay and pasture.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />v+estern wheatgrass, blue grama, and sideoats grama.
<br />Other grasses that characterize the unit are
<br />needleanthread and prairie junegrass. The average
<br />annual production of air-dry vegetation is about 900
<br />pounds per acre. If the condition of the range
<br />deteriorates, sleepygrass, threeawn, snakeweed, and
<br />pricklypear increase. Range seeding is suitable if the
<br />range is in poor condition.
<br />If adequate irrigation water is available, this unit is
<br />suited to irrigated hay and pasture. Irrigation v+ater can
<br />be applied by corrugations and by flooding from contour
<br />ditches. For the efficient application and removal of
<br />irrigation water, leveling is needed in sloping areas.
<br />Seedbed preparation should be on the contour or
<br />across the slope where practical. Proper grazing
<br />practices, v+eed control, and fertilizer are needed to
<br />insure maximum quality of forage. If properly managed,
<br />this unit can produce 3 tons of irrigated alfalfa hay per
<br />acre.
<br />This unit is v+ell suited to windbreaks and
<br />environmental plantings. Supplemental irrigation may be
<br />needed when planting and during dry periods. Among
<br />the trees that are suitable for planting are ponderosa
<br />pine and Rocky Mountain juniper. Among the shrubs are
<br />caragana and lilac.
<br />This unit is well suited to homesite development.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclasses IVe, irrigated,
<br />and Vle, nonirrigated. It is in Loamy Foothills range site.
<br />68-Razor clay loam, 1 to 12 percent slopes. This
<br />moderately deep, well drained soil is on hills and
<br />uplands. It formed in residuum and colluvium derived
<br />dominantly from shale. The native vegetation is mainly
<br />grass. Elevation is 5,500 to 6,600 feet. The average
<br />annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches, the average
<br />annual air temperature is 49 to 54 degrees F, and the
<br />average frost-free period is 125 to 160 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is yellowish brown clay
<br />loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is mainly clay
<br />about 20 inches thick. The substratum is silty clay loam
<br />9 inches thick. Soft shale is at a depth of 32 inches. The
<br />soil is moderately alkaline throughout.
<br />Included in this unit is about 20 percent deep
<br />Manzanola clay loam in drainageways and on foot
<br />slopes. Also included are small areas of shallov+ Midway
<br />clay on ridges.
<br />Permeability of this Razor soil is slow. Available water
<br />capacity is low. Effective rooting depth is 20 to 40
<br />inches. Runoff is medium to rapid, 2nd the hazard of
<br />water erosion is moderate to very high.
<br />This unit is used as rangeland.
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