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<br />and switchgrass decrease and blue grams, sand dropseed,
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking haL` and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion, Seeding is desu-able if the range is in poor condition.
<br />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grams, blue grams, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested
<br />wheatgisss are suitable for seeding. The grass selected
<br />should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock It can
<br />be seeded into a clean, £um stubble, or it can be drilled
<br />into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has
<br />proven most successful
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings aze generally
<br />suited to this soil Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br />establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul-
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be needed at the time of planting and during dry
<br />periods Trees that are best suited and have good survival
<br />are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedaz, ponderosa
<br />pine, Siberian elm, Russian-0live, and hackberry. The
<br />shrubs best suited aze skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi-
<br />an peashrnb.
<br />WHdlife is an important secondary use of this soil.
<br />Ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and many non-
<br />game species can be attracted by establishing areas for
<br />nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed
<br />nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans
<br />for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive
<br />agriculture.
<br />Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area
<br />has resulted in urbanization of much of this Otero soil
<br />This soil has excellent potential for urban and recrea-
<br />tional development. The only limiting feature is the
<br />moderately rapid permeability in the substratum, which
<br />muses a hazard of ground water contamination from
<br />sewage lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well
<br />Capability subclass IIIe irrigated, IVe nonimgated;
<br />Sandy Plains range site.
<br />52-Otero sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soa on plains at elevations of 4,700 to
<br />5,250 feet It formed in mixed outwash and eolian
<br />deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />have loam and clay loam underlying material Also in-
<br />cluded aze small areas of soils that have sandstone and
<br />shale within a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Otero soil is brown
<br />sandy loam about 10 inches thick The underlying material
<br />to a depth of 60 inches is pale brown calcareous fine
<br />sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is
<br />moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or
<br />more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is
<br />low.
<br />This soil is used almost entu•ely far irrigated crops. It
<br />is suited to the crops commonly grown in the area.
<br />Perennial grasses and alfalfa or close growing crops
<br />W COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART •
<br />35
<br />should be grown at least 50 percent of the time. Contour
<br />ditches and corrugations can be used in irrigating close
<br />grown crops and pasture. Furrows, contour furrows, and
<br />cross slope furrows are suitable for row crops. Sprinkler
<br />irrigation is also desirable. Keeping tillage to a minimum
<br />and utilizing crop residue help to control erosion. Main-
<br />taining fertility is important. Crops respond to .applica-
<br />tions of phosphorus and nitrogen.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this site is
<br />dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />grams. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grams,
<br />and western wheatgrass are also prominent Potential
<br />production ranges from 2200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />and switchgrass decrease, and blue grams, sand dropseed,
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site as range condition becomes 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 />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grams, blue grams, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested
<br />wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected
<br />should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock It can
<br />be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be
<br />drilled into a £um prepared seedbed. Seeding early in
<br />spring has proven most successful.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br />suited to this soil Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br />establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul-
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation
<br />may be needed at the time of planting and during dry
<br />periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival
<br />are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedaz, ponderosa
<br />pine, Siberian elm, Russianolive, and hackberry. The
<br />shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi-
<br />an peashrub.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil
<br />Ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and many non-
<br />game species can be attracted by establishing areas for
<br />nesting and esrape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed
<br />nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans
<br />for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive
<br />agriculture.
<br />Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area
<br />has resulted in urbanization of much of this Otero so~1
<br />The soil has excellent potential for urban and recreational
<br />development The only limiting feature is the moderately
<br />rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a
<br />hazard of ground water contamination from sewage
<br />lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well Capability
<br />subclass I[Ie imgated, VIe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains
<br />range site.
<br />53-Otero sandy loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on plains at elevations of 4,700 to
<br />5250 feet. It formed in mixed outwash and eolian
<br />
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