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8.4.8 Exfiibit f -Soils Intormation
<br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in
<br />e t alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the s
<br />;~ave a mottled, mildly to moderately alkaline loamy w
<br />or ayey surface layer and underlying material that ex- 3
<br />tends to a depth of 60 inches or more. In places they have f
<br />a gleyed layer in the underlying material.
<br />Most of the acreage is subject to excessive runoff. The
<br />water table is at or near the surface in spring and during T
<br />the peak of the irrigation season.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. d
<br />$ome small areas are irrigated pasture.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by a
<br />switchgrass, prairie eordgrass, saltgrass, alkali sacaton,
<br />big bluestem, indiangrass, western wheatgrass, slender
<br />wheatgrass, sedge, and rush. Cattails and bulrush grow
<br />in the swampy spots associated with these range sites.
<br />Potential.production ranges from 4,000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 3,000 pounds in unfavorable yearssses
<br />range condition deteriorates, the tall and mid gra
<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 tail fescue are suitable for
<br />seeding. The plants selected should met the seasonal
<br />re uirements of livestock. For successful seeding, a firm
<br />red seedbed is needed. A grass drill should be used.
<br />Ong early in spring has proven most successful. Til-
<br />lage is needed.to eliminate the undesirable vegetation.
<br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit.
<br />The 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 to prevent encroachment and
<br />overuse by livestock. They should not be drained. Capa-
<br />bility subclass VIw; Aquolls in Salt Meadow range site,
<br />Aquepts in Wet Meadow range site.
<br />5-Ascalon sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is
<br />a deep, wet] drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,600
<br />to i~,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 />1(I 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 />Permeahility is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />~ce runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />s
<br />If summer fallowed in alternate years, this soil is well
<br />uited to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Weldes
<br />heat is the principal crop. The predicted average y
<br />3 bushels per acre. If the crop is winterkilled, spring
<br />heat can be seeded. Generally precipitation is too low
<br />or beneficial use of fertilizer. in and minimum til-
<br />Stubble mulch farming, stripcropp g,
<br />age are needed to control sail blowing and water erosion.
<br />erracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />The potential native vegetation on this range site is
<br />ominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue
<br />rama. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama,
<br />nd western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential
<br />production ranges from 2,200 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 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 selected should
<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 plantings are generally
<br />suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in
<br />establishing trees and shrubs, can be controllea stri cuof
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving p
<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 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 secondary use of this soil. The
<br />.cropland areas provide favorable habitat 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 be attracted by developing livestock watering
<br />facilities, managing livestock grazing, and reseeding
<br />where needed.
<br />Few areas of this Ascalon soil are in major growth and
<br />urbanized centers. The shrink-swell potential of the sub-
<br />soil as it wets and dries is the most limiting soil feature
<br />that must be considered in planning homesites and con-
<br />structing roads. Capability subclass IIIe nonirrigated;
<br />Sandy Plains range site.
<br />6-Ascalon sandy -oam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is
<br />a deep, well drained soil on uplands at elevations of 4,600
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