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<br />LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
<br />ty, depth to sand and gravel, and slope are the principal
<br />concerns in establishing tree and shrub plantings. Special
<br />care consisting of summer fallow' a year in advance of
<br />planting, plantings on the contour, continued cultivation
<br />for weed control, and supplemental water is needed to in-
<br />sure establishment and survival of plantings. Trees best
<br />suited and having good survival are Rocky Mountain ju-
<br />niper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine and Siberian elm.
<br />Shrubs best adapted are skunkbush sumac and Glac.
<br />Rangeland wildlife such as antelope, cottontail and
<br />coyote are best adapted on these soils. Proper livestock
<br />grazing management is necessary if livestock and wildlife
<br />share the range. Livestock watering facilities are also im-
<br />portant and are utilized 6y various wildlife species. The
<br />position of these soils in relationship to croplands makes
<br />them valuable as escape cover areas for openland wildlife,
<br />especially pheasants. The relief, natural springs and na-
<br />tive vegetation provide food and cover. Areas of these
<br />soils provide sites that can be readily developed and
<br />managed for wildlife.
<br />Slope is the primary limiting soil feature where these
<br />soils are used for homesites or other urban developments.
<br />Intensive engineering designs and measures are needed
<br />to minimize the slope limitation. Where the soils are con-
<br />sidered for a sewage lagoon system, special sealing
<br />methods are required to overcome excessive seepage.
<br />Capability subclass VIe nonirrigated.
<br />26-Els loamy sand. This is a deep, somewhat poorly
<br />drained soil on low terraces and bottoms along the South
<br />Platte River. It formed in calcareous, strat~ed sandy al-
<br />luvium underlain by mottled sand and gravel. Average
<br />amnia) precipitation ranges from 13 to 19 inches. Slopes
<br />an .early level.
<br />::,eluded in this unit are small areas of Alda loam and
<br />f'lu~aquentic Haig'. yuolls.
<br />Typically the surface layer is grayish brown loamy sand
<br />about G inches thick. The underlying layer is light
<br />brownish gray loamy fine sand about 77 inches thick over
<br />light gray, calcareous, mottled loamy fine sand that is
<br />stratified with thin lenses of loam and extends to 58
<br />inches. Below a depth of 55 inches is a mixture a`
<br />brownish, mottled coarse sand and gravel.
<br />Permeability is rapid. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Available water capacity is low'. Surface
<br />runoff is slow, the erosion hazard is slight, and the soil
<br />blowing hazard is moderate. A fluctuating water table oc-
<br />cur, below 20 inches during the winter and spring
<br />month. This soil is subject to occasional flooding during
<br />late spring and summer months.
<br />This soil is used forvrigated cropland and grazing. Al-
<br />falfa, corn, and sugar beets are the main crops grown.
<br />In irrigated cropland areas the main concerns of
<br />management are efficient use and distribution of water,
<br />fertility maintenance and protecting the soil from blow-
<br />ing. Sprinkler imgation is best suited, but the size and
<br />position in the landscape of these areas makes the border
<br />or furrow irrigation method the one normally used. Ir-
<br />rigation frequency should be often and length of runs
<br />u
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<br />short for the most efficient application of irrigation
<br />water. Applications of manure and commercial fertilizers
<br />containing nitrogen and phosphorus are needed to main-
<br />tain soil productivity. Leaving crop residues on the sur-
<br />face protects the soil from blowing during periods when
<br />there are no growing crops.
<br />The rangeland vegetation of this soil consists mainly of
<br />tall prairie grasses, including sand bluestem, switchgrass,
<br />prairie cordgrass, little bluestem, sand reedgrass, sedge,
<br />and indiangrass. These produce an abundance of forage
<br />that can be cut for grass and hay. Management of the
<br />grazing is mandatory on these soils in order to maintain
<br />the productive grasses. Proper grazing and planned graz-
<br />ing systems that include deferment periodically during
<br />the growing season are effective in maintaining or im-
<br />proving the rangeland vegetation. Chemical or mechanical
<br />brush management is beneficial where dense stands of
<br />sand sagebrush encroach on this soil. Lands taken out of
<br />cropland or depleted by overgrazing can be seeded to
<br />adapted rangeland grasses. Fencing is essential in
<br />separating these soils from other soils in order to apply
<br />needed treatment and grazing systems.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br />well suited to this soil. The somewhat poorly drained con-
<br />dition and abundant competing vegetation are the prin-
<br />cipal concerns in establishing tree and shrub plantings.
<br />Special care consisting of summer fallow, continued cul-
<br />tivation for weed control, and selection of adapted plants
<br />is needed to insure establishment and survival of
<br />plantings. Trees best suited and having good survival are
<br />plains cottonwood, golden willow, Colorado blue spruce,
<br />Rocky Mountain juniper and eastern redcedar. Shrubs
<br />best suited are American plum, purple willow, common
<br />chokecherry and redosier dogwood.
<br />This is an important soil for wildlife because of its in-
<br />tensive use for cropland and its association with the
<br />South Platte River. Under imgation, it is an important
<br />food producer for waterfowl, pheasants and deer. All util-
<br />ize crop residues which occur as aftermath following har-
<br />vest. Wildlife values can be enhanced by developments of
<br />tree and shrub plantings and undisturbed nestmg cover of
<br />grasses and legumes. In the presence of a water supph',
<br />waterfowl could be attracted to the area he developmrr.t
<br />of shallow water areas. , / l p
<br />Where areas are used for homesites or ot6~•vtirTri~l
<br />developments, the primary limiting soil featuresLr~~ a
<br />water table at a depth of 20 to 40 inches and occasu na!
<br />flooding. Special sewage systems must be anticipated.
<br />Septic tank absorption fields will not function properly
<br />because of the high water table. Homesites and other
<br />urban development construction will require compensat-
<br />ing measures and designs to overcome the water table
<br />condition and flood hazard. Special road designs are also
<br />needed that will take into account the frost action poten-
<br />tial of the soil. Capability subclass IVw nonirrigated, IVw
<br />irrigated.
<br />27-Epping loam, 3 to 9 percent slopes. This is a shal-
<br />low, well drained soil on uplands in the northwestern part
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