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Penrose-Minnequa complex, 2 to 1~rcent <br />s. This map unit is on ~ glands. The nat <br />vegetation !s mainly grass, pinyon, ar; 1 juniper. Elevation <br />is 5,500 to 6,200 feet. The average annual precipitation <br />is 11 to 14 inches, the average annual air temperature is <br />50 to 54 degrees F, and the average frost-free period is <br />135 to 165 days. <br />This unit is about 50 percent Penrose channery loam <br />and about 35 percent Minnequa loam. The Penrose soil <br />is in areas near Rock outcrop, and the Minnequa soil is <br />on longer slopes further from Rock outcrop. The <br />components of this unit are so intricately intermingled <br />that it was not practical to map them separately at the <br />scale used. <br />Included in this unit is about 10 percent Rock outcrop <br />of limestone and shale along sharp scope breaks. Also <br />included are small areas of Manvel loam in <br />drainageways and depressional areas. <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 7 inches thick. Below this is <br />channery loam about 7 inches thick. Fractured limestone <br />is at a depth of 14 inches. The soil is moderately alkaline <br />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 slight to very high. <br />The Minnequa soil is moderately deep and well <br />drained. It formed in residuum and IocaAy transported <br />sediment derived dominantly from interbedded limestone <br />and shale. Typically, the surface layer is light brownish <br />gray loam about 6 inches thick. Below this is silt loam <br />about 27 inches thick. Fractured limestone is at a depth <br />of 33 inches. The soil is moderately alkaline throughout. <br />Permeability of the Minnequa soil is moderate. <br />Available water capacity is low. Effective rooting depth is <br />20 to 40 inches. Runoff is medium to rapid, and the <br />hazard of water erosion is moderate to high. <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, and New Mexico needlegrass. Other <br />grasses that characterize the unit are little bluestem, <br />frankenia, and Bigelow sagebrush, The potential <br />production of the native understory vegetation in normal <br />years is about 600 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre. <br />If the condition of the range deteriorates, cushion plants, <br />threeawn, pinyon, and juniper increase. <br />The stands of pinyon and juniper are quite sparse, but <br />they are adequate as a source of wood products such as <br />firewood, fenceposts, and pinyon nuts. <br />The potential plant community on the Minnequa soil is <br />mainly blue grama. Other grasses that characterize the <br />unit afe sideoats grama and western wheatgrass. The <br />average annual production of air-dry vegetation is about <br />800 pounds per acre. Ii the condition of the range <br />deteriorates, threeawn, pricklypear, sand dropseed, and <br />snakeweed increase. The main limitations for seeding <br />are the areas of the shallow Penrose soil. <br />If this unit is used for homesite development, the main <br />limitation is shallow depth to bedrock over much of the <br />area. Areas some distance from Rock outcrop that do <br />not suppe~t pinyon and juniper are moderately deep over <br />limestone. In many areas the upper 3 or 4 feet of <br />bedrock can be ripped with a light backhoe. <br />This mep unit is in capability subclass Vle, <br />nonirrigated. About 60 percent of the unit is in Limestone <br />Breaks range site, and 40 percent is in Loamy Plains <br />range site. <br />