|
<br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings of trees and
<br />shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well
<br />suited to this soil. Cultivation to control competing
<br />vegetation should be continued for as many years as
<br />possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />Siberian peashrub, lilac, and American plum.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed Heating cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas bf intensive agriculture.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Increased population growth in the survey
<br />area has resulted in increased homesite construction. The
<br />chief limiting feature for urban development and road
<br />construction is the limited capacity of the soil to support
<br />a load. Septic tank absorption fields function properly, but
<br />community sewage systems should be provided if the
<br />population density increases. Because of the permeability
<br />of the substratum, sewage lagoons must be sealed.
<br />Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability class I ir-
<br />32-Kim loam 1 to 3 ercent slo es. This is a deep,
<br />well rams soil on smooth plains and alluvial fans at
<br />elevations of 4,900 to 5,260 feet. It formed in mixed eoGan
<br />deposit and parent sediment from a wide variety of
<br />bedrock. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />have loamy sand underlying material.
<br />Typically the surface layer is brown and pale brown
<br />loam about 12 inches thick. The upper 28 inches of the un-
<br />derlying material is pale brown loam. The lower part to a
<br />depth of 60 inches is pale brown fine sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazazd is low.
<br />In irrigated areas this soil ie suited to all crops com-
<br />monly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets,
<br />beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An exam-
<br />ple of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa
<br />followed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain,
<br />or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining (fig. 6), and installing
<br />pipelines may be needed for proper water applications.
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
<br />rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and com-
<br />mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields.
<br />Iu~nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat,
<br />barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to
<br />winter wheat and is summer followed in alternate year
<br />to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation i
<br />too low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum til
<br />loge are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion
<br />Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />23
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by blue
<br />grams. Several mid grasses, such as western wheatgrass
<br />and needleandthread, are also present. Potential produc-
<br />tion ranges from 1,600 pounds per acre in favorable years
<br />to 1,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition
<br />deteriorates, the mid grasses decrease; blue grams, buf-
<br />falograss, snakeweed, yucca, and fringed sage increase;
<br />and forage production drops. Undesirable weeds and an-
<br />nuals invade the site as range condition 6eeomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Sideoats grams, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, blue
<br />grams, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are
<br />suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet the
<br />seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into
<br />a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled into a
<br />firm prepared seedbed. Seeding eazly in spring has
<br />proven most successful.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings of trees and
<br />shrubs commonly grown in the area aze generally well
<br />suited to this sdil. Cultivation to control competing
<br />vegetation should be continued for as many years as
<br />possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />hackberry- The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing azeas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in azeas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
<br />attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Increased ~popukition growth in the survey
<br />area has resulted in increased homesite construction. The
<br />chief limiting soil feature for urban development and road
<br />construction is the limited capacity of this soil to support
<br />a load. Septic tank absorption fields function properly, but
<br />community sewage systems should be provided if the
<br />population density increases. Because of the permeability
<br />of the substratum, sewage lagoons must be sealed.
<br />Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability subclass
<br />IIe irrigated, IVs nonirrigated; Loamy Plains range site.
<br />33-Kim loam, 3 to 5 percen s open. ~s ~s a e ,
<br />well drained soil on plains and alluvial fans at elevations
<br />of 9,900 to 5,250 feet. It formed in mixed eolian deposits
<br />and parent sediment from a wide variety of bedrock.In-
<br />a eluded in mapping are small areas of soils that have
<br />s loamy sand underlying material.
<br />Typically the surface layer is brown and pale brown
<br />- loam about 10 inches thick. The upper 28 inches of the un-
<br />derlying material is pale brown loam. The lower part to a
<br />depth of 60 inches is pale brown fine sandy loam.
<br />
|