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6.4.9 Exhibit I -Soils Information
<br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi-
<br />m shrub.
<br />life is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br />;ro nd areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />~e attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />:over. 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. 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 />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. The
<br />only limiting feature is the rapid permeability in the sub-
<br />stratum, which causes a hazard of ground water con-
<br />tamination from sewage lagoons. Capability subclass IIe
<br />irrigated; IVe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains range site.
<br />77-Vona sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on plains at elevations of 4,600 to
<br />5,200 feet. It formed in eolian deposits. Included in
<br />mapping are small areas of soils that have a loamy sub-
<br />stratum and areas of soils that are noncalcareous to a
<br />depth of 60 inches.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish
<br />brown sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is
<br />brown fine sandy loam about I5 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum to a depth of 60 inches is Bandy loam.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />c~ty is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60
<br />i or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion
<br />hazard is low.
<br />In fimgated'areas this soil is suited to the crops com-
<br />monly grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or
<br />close grown crops should be grown at (east 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 erasion. 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 28 bushels
<br />per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years
<br />to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is
<br />too low to make beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum tillage are
<br />needed to control soil blowing and water erosion. Terrac-
<br />ing 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 2,200 pounds per acre in favora-
<br />ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range
<br />tion deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />ns
<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 on this soil should be based
<br />an taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Seeding is desirable if range is in poor condition.
<br />Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats
<br />grama, blue grama, 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 generally are
<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 />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 />This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. The
<br />only limiting feature is the rapid permeability in the sub-
<br />stratum, which causes a hazard of ground water con-
<br />tamination from sewage lagoons. Capability subclass II~Ie
<br />irrigated, VIe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains range site.
<br />78-Weld loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes. This is a deep,
<br />well drained soil on smooth plains at elevations of 4,850 to
<br />5,000 feet. It formed in eolian deposits- Included in
<br />mapping are small areas of soils that have a subsoil of
<br />loam and light clay loam. Also included are some leveled
<br />areas.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Weld soil is brown
<br />loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is brown and pale
<br />brown heavy clay loam and light clay about 20 inches
<br />thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is silt loam.
<br />Permeability is slow. Available water capacity is high.
<br />The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface
<br />runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />This soil is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. It
<br />is suited to all crops commonly grown in the area 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,
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