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<br />
<br />W F,LD COUNTY, COLORADO, SUU'1'IIF.ItN PAIt7'
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that foITlled in
<br />recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the
<br />soils have a mottled, mildly Lo moderately alkaline loamy
<br />or cL~yey surface layer and underlying material that ex-
<br />tends to a depth of GO inches or more. [n places they have
<br />a gleyed layer in the underlying material.
<br />Most oC the acreage is subject to excessive runoff The
<br />water table is at or near the surface in spring and during
<br />the peak of the irrigation season.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat.
<br />Some small areas are irrigated pasture.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by
<br />sw•itchgrass, prairie cordgrass, saltgrass, alkali sacaton,
<br />big bluestem, indiangrass, western wheatgrass, slender
<br />wheatgrass, sedge, and rush. Cattails and bullrush grow
<br />in the swampy spots associated with these range sites.
<br />Potential production ranges from 4,000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 3,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, the tall and mid grasses
<br />decrease, production drops, and saltgrass, sedge, and rush
<br />increase. The farming and irrigation in adjacent areas has
<br />increased the amount of salts on much of the acreage.
<br />Dfanagement of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion Switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, western
<br />wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate wheat-
<br />grass, tall wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for
<br />seeding. The plants selected should met the seasonal
<br />requirements of livestock For successful seeding, a firm
<br />prepared seedbed is needed. A grass drill should be used.
<br />Seeding early in spring has proven most successful, Til-
<br />lage is needed to eliminate the undesirable vegetation.
<br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit
<br />The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover
<br />as well as same food. The nearby irrigated cropland,
<br />where wildlife obtain much of their food and find protec-
<br />tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
<br />openland wildlile.
<br />Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for
<br />cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in some
<br />areas. These valuable wildlife areas should be protected
<br />from fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and
<br />overuse by livestock. They should not be drained. Capa-
<br />bility subclass VIw; Aquolls in Salt Meadow range site,
<br />Aquepts in Wet Me dow range site.
<br />s- ealon sa y loam, 1 L $ percent sl es. This is
<br />a de , well d ed soil on lands at elev ions of 4,G00
<br />to ,200 Ceet formed in luvium. Incl ed in mappi
<br />• c small ar as of rock o rop.
<br />Typical) the surfac ayor is brow sandy loam out
<br />10 inch thick. The ubsoil is pal town and y oN•ish
<br />brown sandy clay am about i5 Inches thick. he sub-
<br />stra m to a dap of GO inche is calcareous Inc samly
<br />~1'ernlcabilit is moderate Available w• er capacity
<br />high. The active rood depth is Gfl Inches or my
<br />Surfacer off is slow, a d the erosion xrsrd is Inw./
<br />If sw cr fallowc
<br />suited o winter
<br />w•hc~ is the prin pa
<br />33 Ilshcls per acre.
<br />seat can b secdcl
<br />a• benefci use oC 1
<br />also
<br />to
<br />years, t SOII 15 N'Cl}~
<br />and s gllum. Winic~r
<br />crop. T e predict average yi is
<br />IC t crop is mterkillcd, (ring
<br />G craliy pr ipitation is oo low
<br />izcr.
<br />g, striper ping, and nimum til-
<br />itrol soil owing and stet erosion.
<br />needo o control w er erosion.
<br />e ve Cation on t Is range sit is
<br />lue em, sand r Qrass, and lue
<br />Mama. Ne leandthre switch s, sideoats rams,
<br />and west wheat s are als prominent. otential
<br />producti ranges f om 2,200 po nds per acre n favora-
<br />ble ye s to 1,800 ands in u avorable yea As range
<br />cond' ion deteri ates, the sa bluestem, s d rcedgrass,
<br />an switchgra decrease a d blue gram• sand dropsee ,
<br />d sand sa increase. oust weeds d grasses inv de
<br />he site as ange Condit n becomes p ter.
<br />Marta ment of ve Cation shout be based o aking
<br />half a leaving hat of the total oust product n. Seed-
<br />ing ' desirable i the range i in poor con 'ian. Sand
<br />bl stem, sand eedgrass, s tchgrass, sid oats grams,
<br />e grams, bescent wh tgrass, and ested whey
<br />grass are s ' ble for sec ng. The gras selected sh d
<br />meet the easonal req ' ements of Ii stock. It c be
<br />seeded ' to a clean, F sorghum ubble, or it an be
<br />drilled Into a fuxn repared see .Seeding arty in
<br />spri has proven ost successfu
<br />Indbreaks a environmen plantings
<br />iced to this oil. Soil blow" g, the prin
<br />establishing ees and sh s, can be c trc
<br />tivating o in the tree ow and by eavin
<br />vegetatio between t rows. Sup ement:
<br />may needed at t time of pl ling and
<br />peri .Trees that a best suit and have g
<br />are ocky Moun juniper, a ern redceda
<br />p' e, Siberian m, Russian ive, and h
<br />rubs bests ' ed are skun ash sumac, 1' ac
<br />e generally
<br />1 hazard in
<br />led by c -
<br />a stri oC
<br />I irri anon
<br />dur' g dry
<br />survival
<br />ponderosa
<br />berry. The
<br />and Siberi-
<br />an peasnruo
<br />Wildlife ' an imports t secondary a of this soil. he
<br />cropland teas provid favorable ha tat for ring- eked
<br />pheasa t and moo g dove. Man nongame spa es can
<br />be a racted by es blishing are for nesting a d escape
<br />co.• r. For phea nts, undistur nesting cov is cssen-
<br />t I and shoal a included i plans for ha t develop
<br />cot. Range nd wildlife, f example, th ronghorn a
<br />telope, can a attracted b developing li estock water: If
<br />facilities, managing li stock grazi and re.+e InF
<br />where 'eded.
<br />areas of
<br />u rb~ ized centers. 'he shri
<br />s as it wets a d dries is
<br />at muss bo nsidcred in
<br />s[tvcting ro• s. Capabilil
<br />Sandy Plai range site.
<br />G-Asc on sandy In
<br />a deep, ell drained s on
<br />1 soil ar in major th am
<br />nk-sw• I potential the sub
<br />the ost limitin+.oil fcatun
<br />sorting home tes and co
<br />y subclass II nuni trigs d
<br />:S to .'~ per enl slopes. his i
<br />uplands t elevation: of 4,611
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