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<br />• SOIL SIIBVEY '
<br />B2tr1 to lb inches, clay loam; reddish brown (bYR 5/3)
<br />when dry, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) when moist;
<br />moderate, one, prismatic structure breaking to mod-
<br />erate, tine, subnngular blocky; hard when dry, fri-
<br />able when moist; thin, patchy clay 81ms on faces
<br />of soil aggregates; some quartzitic gravel; aoncal-
<br />careous; pH T.4; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />Baca-15 to 18 Inches, gravelly loam; light reddish bron•n
<br />(5YR 0/3) when dry, reddish brown (5YR 5/3)
<br />when moist; weak, medium, subangular blocky
<br />structure; sllgl~tly hard when dry, very friable when
<br />moist; few, thin, patchy clay films; weak accumula-
<br />tion of secondary rnlcium carbonate occurring as
<br />croncre[ions and ns rnatings on gravel fragments
<br />nod sand; calcareous; pH &.?; clear, wavy boundary.
<br />IICca-iS to 40 inches }, loose, calcareous, coarse sand,
<br />gravel, and cobblestones; fragments in uppermost 12
<br />inches thickly coated with secondary calcium car-
<br />bonate.
<br />In this Area most ~"ernal soils have a slightly thicker
<br />and finer textured surface layer than is typical of the
<br />series, because plowing has mixed the topmost 7 to 10
<br />inches. These soils are moderately uniform. The main
<br />variation is in the depth to sand and gavel, which ranges
<br />from 15 to -10 inclies. Tlie amount of secondary calcium
<br />carbonate caries from place to place, but. the uppermost
<br />12 inches of the sand and gravel generally has a strong
<br />concentration and is n-ealay cemented in places.
<br />Vernal soils have a li_hter coloi•ecl silrface layer than
<br />Uncompahgre soils, whic~i they commonly adjoin. Their
<br />subsoil and substratum, unlike those of the Uncompahgre
<br />soils, are well drained and umnottled and have distinct
<br />accumulations of silicate clay. In soma places Vernal
<br />soils occur kith \Voodrow soils, which, in contrast, are
<br />calcareous throughout and lack a distinct accumulation
<br />of silicate clav and a substratum of clean sand and
<br />gravel. Vei~lal soils resemble .Mesa soils but have lower
<br />u-nter-holding capacit}•.
<br />In their natural state, Vernal soils support a good
<br />cover of .galleta, Indian ricegrass, blue grama, and cactus.
<br />If irrigated, they tali be used for tilled crops. Because
<br />of the substrntnm of co:use sand and gravel, these soils
<br />have a somewhat lower water-holding capacity than
<br />other soils in the valley of the Uncompahe -e Ricer.
<br />Vernal clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes (VeAI.-This
<br />soil is on terraces. It lias a profile similar to rife one
<br />described as typical of rife Vernal series. Most areas
<br />are south and west of the town of Montrose.
<br />Tliis soil supports a good cover of galleta, Indian rice-
<br />~i•ass, blue grama, and cactus. It can Ue.usecl success-
<br />fully for tiled crops. It requires frequent ii•i•igation
<br />because coarse gravel in the substratum traits the water-
<br />holding capacit}•. (capability unit VIe-1 nonirrigatecl;
<br />IIIs-2 irrigated)
<br />Vernal clay loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes (Neel.-This
<br />soil is at the edge of terraces. It lias a profile similar
<br />to the one described as typical of rife Vernal series. Tlie
<br />largest areas are south and west of the town of Montrose.
<br />Tliis soil supports a good cover of galleta, Indian rice-
<br />grass, blue grama, and cactus. If irrigated, it can be
<br />used successfully for tilled crops, but it is somewhat
<br />more difficult to irrigate than Vernal clay loam, 0 to 2
<br />percent slopes. Because of rife coarse d avel substratum,
<br />' the water-storage capacity is moderately ]olv, and fre-
<br />quent irrigation is required. (Capability unit VIe-1
<br />nonirrigated; IIIe-1 irrigated)
<br />
<br />Vernal gravelly clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
<br />IVgA).-This soil occurs ns elongated areas on terraces
<br />parallel to river channels. It has a rofile similar to
<br />the one described as typical of the Vernal series, but
<br />rife surface layer and subsoil are 15 to 30 percent gravel
<br />and cobblestones. Most of rife acreage is south and west
<br />of rife town of Montrose.
<br />Tllis soil supports a good cover of galleta, Indian
<br />rivet ass, blue grama, and cactus. If irrigated, it can
<br />be used for tilled crops, but the ~i•nvel makes tillage
<br />difficult turd is ]lard on farm mac~iinery. Tliis soil is
<br />not likely to erode if well managed. (Capability unit
<br />VIe-1 nonirrigatecl; IIIs-2 irrid red)
<br />Vernal gravelly clay loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes
<br />(VgB~.-Tiffs soil is on alluvial terraces. It has a profile
<br />similar to the one described as typical of the Vernal
<br />series, but the surface layer and subsoil are 15 to 30 per-
<br />cent gravel and cobblestones. Most areas of this soil
<br />are south and west of the town of Montrose.
<br />This soil supports a good cover of galleta, Indian
<br />ricegrass, blue grama, and cactus. Some is tilled and
<br />irrigated, but spreading water evenly is difficult be-
<br />cause of the slope. 1Fhere irri_ation is successfill, crops
<br />can be gown. The gravel in the surface layer makes
<br />tillage crifficult and is hard on farm machinery. This
<br />soil is not lil:ely to erode if well managed. (Capability
<br />unit VIe-1 nonirrigated; IIIe-1 irritated)
<br />Wet Alluvial Land
<br />1Vet alluvia] ]and (Wal Varies widelyy in texture, degree
<br />of mottling, and gleying. It is Rooded frequently, and
<br />the water table is at. or near the surface most of the tear.
<br />Drainage is poor. This ]and type occurs as fairly small
<br />areas along old oxbow channels of the Gunnison River
<br />curl the Uncompahgre River.
<br />This land type is not suitable for tillage. It supports
<br />a cover of ticater-tolerant grass, willow, and scattered
<br />cot.touwood. (Capability unit VIIw-1 nonirrigated)
<br />Woodrow Series
<br />The soils of the 1Voodrow series are deep, well drained,
<br />and moderately fine testnred. They are grassland soils
<br />that formed on alluvial fans in uniform, ca]cm•eous al-
<br />luvium derived from mixed sedimentary roc]: and Pleisto-
<br />cene deposits. Soils of this series are moderately extensive
<br />in this Area and occur principally in the Sharano Valley.
<br />jVoodroo• soils have n light brownish-gt:ay or dark
<br />grayish-brown, friable, ginnulnr surface layer 4 to G
<br />inches thick. They have a Urown or darl:-brown subsoil
<br />of clay loan that has weak, subangular blocky structure.
<br />The substratum, ivliicli begins 20 to 30 inclies below rife
<br />surface, is brown or dark-brown, calcareous clay loam.
<br />Li some places the substrntnm has weak accumulations
<br />of secondary calcium carbonate. The depth to bedrock
<br />generally is 60 inches or more.
<br />These soils are only moderately susceptible to erosion.
<br />Tlie organic-matter content is moderate, and the struc-
<br />ture is moderately stable.
<br />Typical profile of Woodrow clay loam, one-fourth
<br />mile east of the southwest corner of the SE1/4 of sec. 4,
<br />T. 48 N., R. 10 W. (Montrose County)
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