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<br />PUEBLO AREA, COLORADO
<br />gray soft shale that extends to a depth of 60 inches
<br />or more.
<br />Permeability is slow, and the available avatar
<br />capacity is low. These soils are moderately alkaline.
<br />Their root zone extends to a depth of 20 to 40 inches.
<br />They are used almost exclusively for grazing.
<br />Representative profile of Razor clay loam, in grass,
<br />about 0.2 mile west and 0.2 mile south of the northeast
<br />corner of sec. 9, T. 19 S., R. 65 W.
<br />A-0 to 4 inches, light olive-brown (2.5Y 6/4) clay loam,
<br />olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) when moist; weak, fine, granu-
<br />lar structure; loose, firm; sticky and plastic; calcar-
<br />eous; moderately alkaline; abrupt, smooth boundary.
<br />B2--4 to 15 inches, grayish-brown (2.5Y 512) silty clay,
<br />dark grayish brown (2.6Y 4/2) when moist; weak,
<br />medium, subangular blocky structure; extremely hard,
<br />firm; sticky and very plastic; calcareous; moderately
<br />alkaline; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />Clcs-15 to 30 inches, light brownish-gray (2.6Y 6/2) clay,
<br />olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) when moist; weak, fine, sub-
<br />angular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm; sticky and
<br />plastic; calcareous; small soft masses of crystalline
<br />gypsum; moderately alkaline; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />C2-30 to 60 inches, light brownish-gray (2.5Y 6/2) weath-
<br />ered shale, olive brown (2.6Y 4/4) when moist.
<br />The A horizon is clay loam or clay 2 to 4 inches thick.
<br />The B2 horizon is clay to silty clay loam that has moderate
<br />or weak structure. The Ccs horizon is at a depth of 16 to
<br />27 inches. Depth to shale ranges from 20 to 90 inches.
<br />Ra-Razor clay loam. This soil is in the north-central
<br />part of the survey area. The slope ranges from 1 to
<br />5 percent but is mostly less than 3 percent. The areas
<br />are irregularly shaped and cover as much as 1,000
<br />acres. This soil has the profile described as representa-
<br />tive of the series.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are areas of
<br />Heldt soils and shallow clay over clay shale. These
<br />areas make up about 25 percent of the acreage.
<br />Runoff is medium, and the hazard of erosion is
<br />moderate.
<br />This soil is better suited to grazing than to other
<br />uses. It has potential for wildlife use if the habitat can
<br />be improved. The native vegetation is mainly blue
<br />grams, galleta, and alkali sacaton. Capability unit
<br />VIe-2, nonirrigated; Alkaline Plains range site.
<br />Reg-Razor clay, eroded. This soil is in the north-
<br />central part of the survey si•ea. The slope ranges from
<br />1 to 6 percent but is mostly less than 3 percent. The
<br />areas are irregularly shaped and cover as much as
<br />1,000 acres. This soil has a profile similar to the one
<br />described as representative of the series, but erosion
<br />has removed most of the surface layer on about two-
<br />thirds of the acreage. Also, runoff avatar has eroded
<br />the soil surface, and rills and small gullies have
<br />formed.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are areas of
<br />shallow clay over clay shale. These al•eas make up about
<br />20 pel•cent of the acreage. They are on knolls and small
<br />pointed buttes.
<br />Runoff is medium, and the hazard of erosion is
<br />moderate.
<br />This soil is better suited to grazing than to other
<br />uses. It has potential for wildlife use if the habitat can
<br />be improved. The main native grass is alkali sacaton.
<br />Capability unit VIe-2, nonirrigated; Alkaline Plains
<br />range site.
<br />Rocky Ford Series
<br />31
<br />The Rocky Ford series consists of deep, well-drained
<br />soils. These soils formed on terraces in silty alluvium.
<br />The slope is 0 to 3 percent, and elevation is 4,300 to
<br />5,000 feet. The average annual precipitation is 12
<br />inches. The average annual temperature is b3° F, and
<br />the frost-free season is 145 to 175 days.
<br />In a representative profile the surface layer is
<br />grayish-brown silty clay loam about 12 inches thick.
<br />The underlying material is pale-brown silt loam that
<br />extends to a depth of 60 inches or more.
<br />Permeability is moderate, and the available water
<br />capacity is high. These soils are moderately alkaline.
<br />Their root zone extends to a depth of more than 60
<br />inches. They are used for irrigated crops and hay.
<br />Representative profile of Rocky Ford silty clay loam,
<br />0 to 1 percent slopes, in irrigated cropland, 0.1 mile
<br />east of the west quarter corner of sec. 8, T. 21 S., R.
<br />62 W.
<br />Ap-0 to 12 inches, grayish-brown (lOYR 6/2) silty clay
<br />loam, dark grayish brown (lOYR 4/2) when moist;
<br />weak, coarse, subengular blocky structure parting to
<br />moderate, medium to fine, granular; herd, friable;
<br />slightly sticky and slightly plastic; calcareous; mod-
<br />erately alkaline; abrupt, smooth boundary.
<br />Clca-12 to 42 inches, pale-brown (lOYR 6/3) silt loam,
<br />brown (lOYR 6/3) when moist; weak, medium, eub-
<br />angular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable;
<br />slightly sticky and plastic; calcareous; few small,
<br />rounded masses of segregated lime; moderately alka-
<br />line; gradual, smooth boundary.
<br />C2-42 to 60 inches, pale-brown (lOYR 5/3) silt loam,
<br />brown (lOYR 6/3) when moist; weak, medium, sub-
<br />angular blocky structure; hard, very friable; slightly
<br />sticky and slightly plastic; calcareous; moderately
<br />alkaline.
<br />The A horizon is clay loam or silty clay loam 10 to 16
<br />inches thick. The C2 horizon is mostly silty clay loam or
<br />silt loam, but in places it is stratified loamy very fine send,
<br />fine sandy loam, silt loam, and silty clay loam.
<br />RfA-Rocky Ford silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent
<br />slopes. This soil is on high terraces along the Arkansas
<br />River. The areas are elongated and cover as much as
<br />1,200 acres. This soil has the profile described as
<br />representative of the series.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
<br />of Otero clay loam.
<br />Runoff is slow, and the hazard of erosion is slight.
<br />This soil is well suited to irrigated crops, corn,
<br />sorghum, small grain, alfalfa, vegetables, and pasture.
<br />Capability unit I, irrigated; range site not assigned.
<br />RfB-Rocky Ford silty clay loam, 1 l0 3 percent
<br />slopes. This soil is on high terraces along the Arkansas
<br />River. The areas are elongated and cover as much as
<br />600 acres. This soil has a profile similar to the one
<br />described as representative of the series.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are areas of
<br />Otero clay loam and Otero sandy loam that make up
<br />10 percent of the acreage.
<br />Runoff is slow, and the hazard of erosion is slight.
<br />This soil is well suited to irrigated crops. Capability
<br />unit IIe-1, irrigated; range site not assigned.
<br />Rg-Rocky Ford silty clay loam, wet. This is a nearly
<br />level soil on low terraces of the Arkansas River. The
<br />areas are irregularly shaped and cover as much as
<br />100 acres. This soil has a profile similar to the one
<br />I-8
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