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WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in
<br />recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the
<br />soils have a mottled, mildly to moderately alkaline loamy
<br />or clayey surface layer and underlying material that ex-
<br />tends to a depth of 60 inches or more. In places they have
<br />a gleyed layer in the underlying material.
<br />ost of the acreage is subject to excessive runoff. The
<br />_.er table is at or near Che surface in spring and during
<br />the peak of the irrigation season.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat.
<br />Some small aeeas are irrigated pasture.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by
<br />switchgrass. prairie cordgrass, saltgrass, alkali sacaton.
<br />big bluestem, indiangrass, western wheatgrass, slender
<br />wheatgrass, sedge, and rush. Cattails and bullrush grow
<br />in the swampy spots associated with these range sites.
<br />Potential production ranges from -3.000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 3,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, the tall and mid grasses
<br />decrease, production drops, and saltgrass, sedge, and rush
<br />increase. The farming and irrigation in adjacent areas has
<br />increased the amount of salts on much of the acreage.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, western
<br />wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate wheat-
<br />grass, tall wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for
<br />seeding. The plants selected should met the seasonal
<br />requirements of livestock For successful seeding, a firm
<br />prepared seedbed is needed. A grass drill should be used.
<br />Seeding early- in spring has proven most successful. Til-
<br />~~ge is needed to eliminate the undesirable vegetation.
<br />Yetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit.
<br />..~e wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover
<br />as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland,
<br />where wildlife obtain much of their food and find protec-
<br />tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
<br />openland wildlife.
<br />Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for
<br />cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in some
<br />areas. These valuable wildlife areas should be protected
<br />from fire and fenced Co prevent encroachment and
<br />overuse by livestock. They should not be drained. Capa-
<br />bility subclass VIw; Aquolls in Sal[ Meadow range site.
<br />Aquep[s in Wet Meadow range site.
<br />~-Ascalon sandy loam, 1 to ~ percent slopes- This is
<br />a deep, well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,600
<br />to 5,200 feet. It formed in alluvium. Included in mapping
<br />are small areas of rock outcrop.
<br />Typically the surface layer is brown sandy loam about
<br />10 inches thick. The subsoil is pale brown and yellowish
<br />brown sandy clay loam about 15 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum to a depth of 60 inches is calcareous fine sandy
<br />loam.
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is loin.
<br />9
<br />If summer fallowed in alternate years, this soil is well
<br />suited to winter wheat, bazley, and sorghum. Winter
<br />wheat is the principal crop. The predicted average yield is
<br />33 bushels pet acre. If [he crop is winterkilled, spring
<br />wheat can be seeded. Generally precipitation is too low
<br />for bene£cial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum til-
<br />lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion.
<br />Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br />dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />grama. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama,
<br />and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential
<br />production ranges from °_ ?00 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,300 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reed grass,
<br />and switchgrass decrease and blue grama. sand dropseed.
<br />and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade
<br />the site as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking
<br />half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br />ing is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Sand
<br />bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats grama,
<br />blue grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested wheat-
<br />grass are suitable for seeding. The grass seiected shouid
<br />meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be
<br />seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be
<br />drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in
<br />spring has proven most successful
<br />Windbreaks and environmental glantings 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 irrigatior,
<br />may be needed at the time of planting and during dn-
<br />periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival
<br />are Rocky 1lountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa
<br />pine. Siberian elm, Russian-olive. and hackberry. The
<br />shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi-
<br />an peashrub.
<br />Wildlife is an important seconda.-y use of tnis soil. The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable i;abita[ for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment. Rangeland wildlife, for example, the pronghorn an-
<br />telope, can 'oe attracted by developing livestock watering
<br />facilities, managing livestock grazing, ant reseeding
<br />where needed.
<br />Few areas of [his Ascalon soil are in major growth and
<br />urbanized centers. The shrink-swell potentiai of the sub-
<br />soil as it wets and dries is the most limiting soil feature
<br />that must be considered in planning homesi[es and con-
<br />structing roads. Capability subciass IIie nonirrigated~.
<br />Sandy Plains range site.
<br />6-Ascalon sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is
<br />a deep, well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4.600
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