2006-10-24_REVISION - M1992051 - Laserfiche WebLink

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108-Shingle loam, 3 to 20 percent slopes. This shallow, well drained soil is on plains and foot slopes. Ii formed in residuum derived dominantly from interbedded sandstone and shale. The native vegetation is mainly grasses. Elevation is 5,100 to 5,600 feet. The average annual precipitation is 11 to 13 inches, the average annual air temperature is 51 to 53 degrees F, and the average frost-free period is 140 to 170 days. The surface layer is typically light gray loam about 6 inches thick. The substratum is clay loam about 7 inches thick. Weathered shale is at a depth of about 13 inches. The soil is moderately alkaline. It has a high content of gypsum crystals in a few areas. In some areas about 20 percent of the surface is covered by small, channery sandstone fragments. In a few areas the surface layer is gravelly loam. Included with this soil in mapping are Midway soils in the lower areas. These soils make up about 5 percent of the unit. They are more clayey than the Shingle soil. They are green-gray in color. Also included are areas of the moderately deep Minnequa soils in swales and on foot slopes, These soils have a surface Payer of silt loam. They make up about 5 percent of the unit. Small areas of shale outcrop are on the steeper breaks. Permeability is moderate in the Shingle soil. Available water capacity is very low. Effective rooting depth is 4 to 20 inches. Runoff is slow to very rapid, and the hazard of water erosion is slight to very high. This soil is used as rangeland. The potential plant community is mainly alkali sacaton, blue grama, western wheatgrass, and sideoats grama. The average annual production of air-dry vegetation is about 550 pounds per acre. If the condition of the range deteriorates, blue grama, fourwing saltbush, frank bush, and red threeawn increase. Range seeding is suitable if the range is in poor condition. Grazing management should include measures that protect the soil from excessive erosion. If this soil is used for homesite development, the main limitations are the depth to shale and a moderate shrink-swell potential. Although the upper part of the bedrock can generally be excavated with a light backhoe, the soil is poorly suited to dwellings with basements and to use as a site for septic tank absorption fields. The capability classification is Vle, nonirrigated. The soil is in the Shaiy Plains ,Y46 range site.