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<br />Washington County, Colorado
<br />10 percent of the total acreage. The percentage varies
<br />from one area to another.
<br />Permeability of this Paoli soil is moderately rapid.
<br />Available water capacity is moderate. Effective rooting
<br />depth is 60 inches or more. Runoff is slow, and the
<br />hazard of water erosion is slight. The hazard of soil
<br />blowing is severe. This soil is subject to rare periods of
<br />very brief flooding in spring and early in summer.
<br />This unit is used for irrigated and nonirrigated crops
<br />and for grazing.
<br />If this unit is used for irrigated crops, the main
<br />concerns of management are the hazard of soil blowing
<br />and maintaining soil fertility. Funow, border, corrugation,
<br />and sprinkler irrigation systems are suited to this unit.
<br />Water should be applied in amounts sufficient to wet the
<br />root zone but small enough to minimize the leaching of
<br />plant nutrients. If furrow irrigation is used, water should
<br />be applied at frequent intervals and rugs should be
<br />short In sloping areas, leveling is necessary to efficiently
<br />apply and remove water.
<br />Applying nitrogen and phosphorus increases
<br />production. Maintaining crop residue on or near the
<br />surface reduces runoff and soil blowing and helps to
<br />maintain soil filth and the organic matter content. Tillage
<br />should be kept to a minimum.
<br />If this unit is used for nonirrigated crops, the main
<br />limitations are the hazard of soil blowing and low
<br />precipitation. Because precipitation is not sufficient Tor
<br />annual cropping, a cropping system that includes
<br />planting small grain and fallowing in summer is most
<br />suitable. Soil blowing is reduced by interplanting crops in
<br />alternate strips at right angle to the prevailing wind,
<br />returning crop residue to the soil, and practicing
<br />minimum tillage. Light applications of nitrogen generally
<br />increase the production of crop residue, which reduces
<br />soil blowing and traps snow.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />sand bluestem, western wheatgrass, prairie sandreed,
<br />switchgrass, and blue grama.
<br />If the range vegetation is seriously deteriorated,
<br />seeding is necessary. The seed should be placed in a
<br />clean, firm bed of sorghum or millet stubble, and
<br />protection from plant competition should be provided.
<br />If this unit is used for windbreaks and environmental
<br />plantings, the main limitations are the hazard of soil
<br />blowing and low precipitation. Soil blowing is reduced by
<br />cultivating only in the tree rows and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. If necessary, supplemental
<br />inigalion should be provided when planting and during
<br />dry periods. Among the trees that are suitable for
<br />planting are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar,
<br />ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />hackberry. Suitable shrubs are skunkbush sumac, lilac,
<br />and Siberian peashrub.
<br />Ii this unit is used for homesite development, the main
<br />limitations are the hazards of flooding and soil blowing.
<br />Dikes and channels that have outlets for floodwater can
<br />45
<br />be used to protect buildings and onsite sewage disposal
<br />systems from flooding. Revegetating disturbed areas
<br />around construction sites as soon as feasible reduces
<br />soil blowing.
<br />Frost action potential limits the construction and
<br />maintenance of roads, streets, driveways, and sidewalks.
<br />Roads and streets should be designed to offset the low
<br />strength of the soil.
<br />This map unit is'in capability subclasses Ile, irrigated,
<br />and Ille, nonirrigated. It is in the Overflow range site.-
<br />54-Platner fine sandy loam. This deep, well drained
<br />soil is on smooth plains. It formed in alluvium. Slope is 0
<br />to 3 percent. Areas are irregular in shape and are 40 to
<br />600 acres.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown fine sandy
<br />loam 9 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is
<br />grayish brown clay loam 12 inches thick, the next 10
<br />inches is light brownish gray clay loam, and the lower
<br />part to a depth of 60 inches or more is very pale brown,
<br />stratified sandy loam and gravelly sand.
<br />Included in this unit are small areas of Ascalon fine
<br />sandy loam, Keith very tine sandy loam, and Wages
<br />loam on low knolls and ridges. Included areas make up
<br />about 20 percent of the total acreage.
<br />Permeability of this Platner soil is slow. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. Effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Runoff is slow, and the hazard of water
<br />erosion is slight. The hazard of soil blowing is moderate.
<br />This unit is used mainly for nonirrigated and irrigated
<br />crops. It is also used for grazing.
<br />If this unit is used for nonirrigated crops, the main
<br />limitations are low precipitation and the hazard of soil
<br />blowing. Because precipitation is not sufficient for annual
<br />cropping, a cropping system that includes planting small
<br />grain and fallowing in summer is most suitable. Soil
<br />blowing is reduced by returning crop residue to the soil,
<br />practicing minimum tillage, and interplanting crops in
<br />alternate strips at right angle to the prevailing wind. All
<br />tillage should be on the contour or across the slope.
<br />Areas that have smooth slopes can be terraced and
<br />then farmed on the contour.
<br />If this unit is used for irrigated crops, the main
<br />limitations are slow permeability and the hazard of soil
<br />blowing. Sprinkler irrigation is suited to this unit. Use of
<br />this method permits the even, controlled application oi`
<br />water, reduces runoff, and minimizes the risk of erosion.
<br />Water should be applied at a slow rate over a long
<br />period to insure that the root zone is properly wetted.
<br />Maintaining crop residue on or near the surtace
<br />reduces runoff and soil blowing and helps to maintain
<br />soil filth and the organic matter content. Excessive
<br />cultivation can cause a tillage pan to form. This pan can
<br />be broken by subsoiling when the soil is dry.
<br />The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
<br />blue grama, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, green
<br />needlegrass, and sedges.
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