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9 WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN P* 9
<br /> These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in If summer fallowed in altemate years, this soil is well
<br /> recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the suited to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Winter
<br /> soils have a mottled, mildly to moderately alkaline loamy wheat is the principal crop.The predicted average yield is
<br /> or clayey surface layer and underlying material that ex. 33 bushels per acre. If the crop is winterkilled, spring
<br /> tends to a depth of 60 inches or more. In places they have wheat can be seeded. Generally precipitation is too low
<br /> a gleyed layer in the underlying material. for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br /> Most of the acreage is subject to excessive runoff. The Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til-
<br /> water table is at or near the surface in spring and during lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion.
<br /> the peak of the irrigation season. Tcrr�acing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br /> These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br /> Some small areas are irrigated pasture. dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br /> The potential native vegetation is dominated by grama. Need leandthread, switchgrass, sideoats; grama,
<br /> switeligrass, prairie cordgrass, saItgrass, alkali sacaton, and Western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential
<br /> big bluestem, indiangrass, western wheatgrass, slender production ranges from 2,200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br /> wheatgrass, sedge, and rush. Cattails and bullrush grow ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br /> in the swampy spots associated with these range sites. condition deteriorates, the Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br /> Potential production ranges from 4,000 pounds per acre i.n and switclig"rass; decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed,
<br /> favorable years to 3,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br /> range condition deteriorates, the tall and mi'd grasses the site as range condition becomes poomr.
<br /> decrease, production drops, and salitgrass, sedge, and rush Management of vegetation should be based on taking
<br /> increase.The farming and irrigation in adjacent areas has half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br /> increased the amount of salts on much of the acreage. ing is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand
<br /> Management of vegetation on this soil should be based bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats grama,
<br /> on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- blue grams, pubescent wheatg�s, and crested wheat-
<br /> tion. SwitchgTass, big bluestem, indiangrass, western grass am suitable for seeding. The grass selected should
<br /> wheatgrass, pubescent wheatg�s, intermediate wheat- meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be
<br /> seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be
<br /> grass, tall wheatgrass, and tall fescue am suitable for drilled into a rim prepared seedbed. Seeding early in
<br /> seeding. The plants selected should met the seasonal spring has proven most successful.
<br /> requirements of livestock. For successful seeding, a firm Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br /> prepared seedbed is needed. A grass drill should be used. suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br /> Seeding early in spring has proven most successful. Til-
<br /> lage is needed to eliminate the undesirable ve establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul-
<br /> getation. tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br /> Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit. vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation
<br /> The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover may be needed at the time of planting and during dry
<br /> as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland, periods.Trees that am best suited and have good sui-vival
<br /> where wildlife obtain much of their food and find protec- am Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa
<br /> tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wedand and pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and backberry. The
<br /> operiland wildlife. shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi-
<br /> Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this.unit for an peashrub.
<br /> cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in Borne Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br /> areas. These valuable wildlife areas should be protected cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br /> from fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br /> overuse by livestock. They should not be drained. Cap2- be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br /> bility subclass VIw; Aquolls in Salt Meadow range site, cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br /> Aquepts in Wet Meadow range site. tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br /> 5—Ascalon sandy loam. I to 3 percent slopes. This is nuent. Rangeland wildlife, for example, the prongborn an-
<br /> a deep, well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,600 tefope, can be attracted by developing livestock watering
<br /> to 5,200 feet. It formed in alluvium. Included in mapping facilities, managing livestock grazing, and reseeding
<br /> are small areas of rock outcrop. where needed.
<br /> Typically the surface layer is brown sandy loam about Few areas of this Ascalon soil am in major growth and
<br /> 10 inches thick. The subsoil is pale brown and yellowish urbanized centers. The shrink-swell potential of the sub-
<br /> rown sandy clay 102m about 15 inches thick. The sub- soil as it wets and dries is the most limiting soil feature
<br /> stratum to a depth of 60 inches is calcareous fine sandy that must be considered in planning home8ites and can-
<br /> loam. structing roads. Capability subclass IIIe nonirrigated;
<br /> Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is Sandy Plains range site.
<br /> high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or mom. 6—Ascalon sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is
<br /> Surface runoff is slow,and the erosion hazard is low. a deep, well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,600
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