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6.4.9 Exhibit I -Soils information
<br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is
<br />IOW.
<br />irrigated areas this soil is suited to the crops com-
<br />grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or
<br />close grown crops should be grown at least 50 percent of
<br />the time. Contour ditches and corrugations can be used in
<br />irrigating close grown crops and pasture. Furrows, con-
<br />tour furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for row
<br />crops. Sprinkler irrigation is also desirable. Keeping til-
<br />lage to a minimum and utilizing crop residue help to con-
<br />trol erosion. Maintaining fertility is important. Crops
<br />respond to applications of phosphorus and nitrogen.
<br />In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat,
<br />barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to
<br />winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 25 bushels
<br />per acre. The soil is summer followed in alternate years
<br />to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is
<br />too low for beneficial 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 />grams. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grams,
<br />and 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 condi-
<br />tion deteriorates, sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and
<br />switchgrass decrease and blue grams, sand dropseed, and
<br />sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade the
<br />as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />anagement 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 fuTn 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 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 />.
<br />33
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be
<br />attracted by developing livestock watering facilities,
<br />managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed.
<br />Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area
<br />has resulted in urbanization of much of this Olney soil.
<br />The soil has good 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 IIIe irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains
<br />range site.
<br />49-Osgood sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br />well drained soil on smooth plains at elevations of 4,680 to
<br />4,900 feet. It Formed in eolian sands. Included in mapping
<br />are small areas of soils that have a subsoil within 20
<br />inches of the surface. Also included are small areas of
<br />soils that have a loam and sandy clay loam subsoil.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Osgood soil is gray-
<br />ish brown sand about 22 inches thick. The subsoil is
<br />brown sandy loam about 12 inches thick. The substratum
<br />to a depth of 60 inches is pale brown loamy sand and
<br />sand.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />inches or more. Surface runoff is very slow, and the ero-
<br />sion hazard is low.
<br />This soil is suited to limited cropping. Intensive
<br />cropping is hazardous because of erosion. The cropping ,
<br />system should be ]imitad to such close grown crops as al-
<br />falfa, wheat, and barley. This soil also is suited to ir-
<br />rigated pasture. A suitable cropping system is 3 to 4
<br />years of• alfalfa followed by 2, years of corn and small
<br />grain and alfalfa seeded with a nurse crop.
<br />Closely spaced contour ditches or sprinklers can be
<br />used in irrigating close grown crops. Contour furrows or
<br />sprinklers should be used for new crops. Applications of
<br />nitrogen and phosphorus help in maintaining good produc-
<br />tion.
<br />The potential vegetation on this soil is dominated by
<br />sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grams, needleandthread, little bluestem, and blue grams.
<br />Potential production ranges from 2,500 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem,
<br />switchgrass, sand reedgrass, sideoats grams, and little
<br />bluestem decrease; forage production drops; and sand
<br />sage increases. Undesirable weeds and annuals invade
<br />ani3 "blowout" conditions can occur as range condition
<br />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 cbndition.
<br />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, indiangrass, switchgrass,
<br />sideoats grams, little bicestem, and blue grams are suita-
<br />ble for seeding. Because this soil is susceptible to soil
<br />blo~iing,the grasses should be seeded with an interseeder
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