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B.4.9 Exhibit i -Soils Information
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<br />SO[L SURVEY
<br />deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />have sandstone and shale within a depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer is brown sandy loam about
<br />.10 inches thick. The underlying material to a depth of 60
<br />inches is pale brown calcareous fine 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 to rapid, and the erosion
<br />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 limited 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 imgating 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 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 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 in4ade
<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 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 controlled by cul-
<br />tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of
<br />vegetation between the rows. Supplemental imgation
<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.
<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 primary limiting feature is the
<br />moderately rapid permeability in the substratum, which
<br />causes a hazard of ground water contamination from
<br />sewage lagoons. There are additional costs in site
<br />preparation because of slope. Lawns, shrubs, and trees
<br />grow well. Capability subclass IVe irrigated, VIe nonir-
<br />rigated; Sandy Plains range site.
<br />53-Paoli loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br />well drained soil on terraces a[ elevations of 4,700 to 5,250
<br />feet. IC formed in alluvial deposits. Included in mapping
<br />are small areas of soils that have a loamy sand surface
<br />layer.
<br />Typically the surface layer is grayish brown loam and
<br />fine sandy loam about 25 inches thick. The underlying
<br />material to a depth of 60 inches is light brownish gray
<br />fine sandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />Surface runoff is very slow, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />This soil is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. IL
<br />is suited to all crops commonly grown in the azea, includ-
<br />ing corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes,
<br />and onions. An example of a suitable cropping system is 3
<br />to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for silage,
<br />sugar beets, small grain, or beans. Such characteristics as
<br />the rapidly permeable substratum slightly restrict spore
<br />crops.
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
<br />rigation is the most common. Proper irrigation water
<br />management is essential. Barnyard manure and commer-
<br />cial fertilizer are needed for top yields.
<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 pL;nting 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, especially in areas of intensive agriculture.
<br />In areas protected from flooding, this soil has good
<br />potential for urban and recreational development. The
<br />chief limiting feature is the rapid permeability in the sub-
<br />stratum, which causes a hazard of ground water con-
<br />tamination from sewage lagoons. Road designs should be
<br />modified to compensate for the moderate frost potential.
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