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<br />Huerlano County Area, Colorado
<br />inches or more. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of
<br />vrater erosion is moderate to high.
<br />The Kim soil is deep and well drained. It formed in
<br />eolian fine sand and silt. Typically, the surface layer is
<br />light brovrnish gray loam B inches thick. The underlying
<br />material to a depth of 60 inches or more is loam. The
<br />soil is mildly alkaline to a depth of 6 inches and
<br />moderately alkaline below that depth.
<br />Permeability of the Kim 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 high to very high.
<br />Most areas of this unit are used as rangeland. A few
<br />areas are used for irrigated hay and pasture.
<br />The potential plant Community on this unit is mainly
<br />blue grams. Other grasses that characterize the unit are
<br />western vrheatgrass and sideoats grams. The average
<br />annual production of air-dry vegetation is about 800
<br />pounds per acre. If the condition of the range
<br />deteriorates, blue grams, threoawn, and sand dropseed
<br />increase. Range seeding is suitable if the range is in
<br />poor condition.
<br />If this unit is used for irrigated hay and pasture, the
<br />main limitation is slope. Irrigation vrater can be applied
<br />by corrugations or by flooding from contour ditches.
<br />Leveling helps to insure the uniform application of water.
<br />It properly managed, this unit can produce 4 tons of
<br />irrigated alfalfa hay per acre.
<br />This unit is well suited to windbreaks and
<br />environmental plantings. The hazard of soil blowing can
<br />be reduced by cultivating only in the tree rows and by
<br />leaving a strip of vegetation between the rows.
<br />Supplemental irrigation may be needed when planting
<br />and during dry periods. Among the trees that are suitable
<br />for planting are Rocky Mountain juniper, ponderosa pine,
<br />and Russian-olive. Among the shrubs are plum and lilac.
<br />This unit is suited to homesite development.
<br />Revegetating disturbed areas around construction sites
<br />as soon as passible helps to control soil blowing. Shrink-
<br />swell potential of the Wiley soil is easily overcome by
<br />placing footings of buildings below the subsoil layer.
<br />Permeability is somewhat restrictive for Septic tank
<br />absorption fields. This limitation can be overcome by
<br />increasing the size of the absorption field.
<br />This map unit i5 in capability subclasses IVe, irrigated,
<br />and Vla, nonirrigated. It is in Loamy Plains range site.
<br />92-Willovrman gravelly Sandy loam, 3 l0 8 percent
<br />slopes. This deep, well drained soil is on terraces and
<br />fans. It formed in cobbly and gravelly alluvium. The
<br />native vegetation is mainly grass. Elevation is 6,500 to
<br />7,600 feet. The average annual precipitation is 16 to 20
<br />inches, the average annual air temperature is 48 to 52
<br />degrees F, and the average frost-free period is 100 to
<br />130 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is brown gravelly sandy
<br />loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is very cobbly
<br />sandy clay loam about 7 inches thick. The upper 6
<br />63
<br />inches of the substratum is very cobbly sandy loam, the
<br />next 23 inches is very gravelly loamy sand, and the
<br />lower part to a depth of 60 ruches or more is very
<br />gravelly sand. The soil is mildly alkaline to a depth of 15
<br />inches. Below this depth, it is moderately alkaline and
<br />has large accumulations of calcium carbonate.
<br />Included in this unit is about 15 percent nests of
<br />cobbles on the surface. Also included is about 10
<br />percent Noden loam in swales and small depressional
<br />areas. The Noden soil has few rock fragments.
<br />Permeability of this Willoman soil is moderate.
<br />Available water capacity is low. Effective rooting depth is
<br />60 inches or more. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of
<br />water erosion is moderate to high.
<br />Most areas of this unit are used as rangeland. A few
<br />areas are used for irrigated hay and pasture.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />sideoats grams, little bluestem, and blue grams. Other
<br />grasses that characterize the unit are prairie junegrass
<br />and needleandthread. The average annual production of
<br />air-dry vegetation is about 1,300 pounds per acre. If the
<br />condition of the range deteriorates, sleepygrass,
<br />threeavrn, yucca, and pricklypear increase. Range
<br />seeding is suitable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Seeding using mechanical equipment is feasible in areas
<br />where the surface is not cobbly.
<br />It this unit is used for irrigated hay and pasture, the
<br />main limitation is the cobbles in the subsoil and, in some
<br />areas, at the surface. Seeding should be feasible in most
<br />areas, but the cobbles can make plowing difficult.
<br />Shallow-rooted crops are best adapted because the
<br />substratum is droughty.
<br />I«igation water can be applied by corrugations,
<br />flooding from contour ditches, and sprinklers. To avoid
<br />overirrigating and leaching of plant nutrients, applications
<br />of irrigation water should be adjusted to the available
<br />water capacity, the water intake rate, and the crop
<br />needs. Because subsurface cobbles can be exposed,
<br />onsite investigation may be needed before leveling. If
<br />properly managed, this unit can produce 3 tons of
<br />irrigated grass hay per acre.
<br />This unit is poorly suited to windbreaks and
<br />environmental plantings. It is limited mainly by the
<br />droughtiness of the substratum.
<br />This unit is well sui(ed to homesite development. The
<br />large amount of rock fragments in the soil makes
<br />excavation difficult.
<br />This map unit is in capability subclass V1e, irrigated
<br />and nonirrigated. It is in Sandy Foothills range site.
<br />93-Willowman gravelly sandy loam, 15 to 30
<br />percent slopes. This deep, well drained soil is on
<br />terraces and side slopes. It formed in cobbly and
<br />gravelly alluvium. The native vegetation is mainly grass.
<br />Elevation is 6,500 to 7,600 feet. The average annual
<br />precipitation is 16 to 20 inches, the average annual air
<br />temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F, and the average
<br />frost-free period is 100 to 130 days.
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