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Soil: Apishapa silty clay <br />Map Unit: Ap <br />General Description: This is a deep, somewhat poorly drained soil that formed on flood plains in <br />the more clayey alluvium. The soil has slow permeability, but high available water capacity. <br />Alkalinity is moderate. Plants generally root deeply. <br />Related Soils: Glenberg fine sandy loam; Haverson fine sandy loam. They make up about 10% <br />of the area occupied by the Apishapa silty clay. <br />Range Site: Salt Meadow <br />General Characteristics -The seasonally high water table affects the kind and amount <br />of vegetation produced on these soils. In good condition, production can be about 2,500 <br />]bs. of air-dry herbage per acre during good years and about 1,8001bs. in other yeazs. <br />About 90% of the forage is suitable for cattle. <br />Major Plant Species -The potential plant community: 30% alkali sacaton, 20% <br />switchgrass, 15% western wheatgrass, 10% saltgrass, 5% alkaligrass, 5% sedges, 5% <br />rushes, 5% alkali bluegrass, and 5% perennial forbs. <br />After heavy grazing the composition changes to blue grama, saltgrass, sedges, <br />and rushes with the switchgrass, alkaligrass, and alkali sacaton decreasing or even dying <br />out. Extreme grazing results in annual forbs (weeds), marsh muhly, and perennial forbs. <br />Wildlife Habitat Suitability: <br />Suitability of soil for elements of wildlife habitat - <br />Irrigated Nonirrigated <br />Grain and seed crops: Fair Poor <br />Grasses and legumes: Good Poor <br />Wild herbaceous plants: ------ -------- <br />Hardwood trees: ------ -------- <br />Coniferous plants: ------ -------- <br />Shrubs: ------ Fair <br />Wetland plants: ------ Poor <br />Shallow water areas: ------ Good <br />Suitability of soil for kinds of wildlife - <br />Openland: ------ Poor <br />Woodland: ------ ------- <br />Wetland: ------ Fair <br />Rangeland: ------ Fair <br />