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Custer County Area, Colorado •
<br />needs to be leveled and irrigation water managed to
<br />~btain uniform distribution of water, control erosion, and
<br />prevent large losses of water. Applications of manure
<br />and commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen and
<br />phosphorus help maintain soil fertility. Water erosion can
<br />occur if this soil is unprotected. With good management
<br />this soil is capable of producing about 5 tons of grass
<br />hay per irrigated acre.
<br />The potential native vegetation is mainly Arizona
<br />fescue, mountain muhly, western wheatgrass, and Parry
<br />oatgrass. As the range deteriorates, blue grama,
<br />sleepygrass, fringed sage, slimstem muhly, and - -_ --
<br />rabbitbrush increase. Renovating and using a planned
<br />grazing system, cross fencing, and livestock water
<br />developments help to prevent range deterioration and
<br />promote the production of the more desirable plants. In
<br />renovating, seed should be drilled into a well prepared,
<br />firm, weed-free seedbed. Suitable grasses for seeding
<br />are intermediate wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass,
<br />western wheatgrass, and Arizona fescue.
<br />This soil is well suited to use as homesites. However,
<br />included areas of Venable soil adjacent to streams are
<br />subject to ponding or flooding. This Coutis soil is a good
<br />source of topsoil.
<br />This soil is in capability subclasses Vle, nonirrigated,
<br />and Vc, irrigated.
<br />9-Coutis sandy loam, 5 to 15 percent slopes. This
<br />is a deep, well drained soil along upland drainageways
<br />nd on toot slopes and stream terraces. It formed in
<br />~ixed alluvium. Elevation is 7,800 to 8,800 feet. The
<br />average annual precipitation is 14 to 20 inches, the
<br />average annual air temperature 40 to 44 degrees F, and
<br />the frost-free season is 55 to 75 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is dark brown sandy Loam
<br />11 inches thick. It is underlain by dark brown sandy loam
<br />37 inches thick. The substratum is brown gravelly loam
<br />to a depth of 60 inches or more. The soil is slightly acid
<br />to a depth of 11 inches and neutral below that depth.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are areas of
<br />Norriston extremely cobbly sandy loam on the steeper
<br />terrain and areas of Venable loam on low stream
<br />terraces and in depressions. The Norriston soil makes up
<br />about 15 percent of the map unit, and the Venable soil
<br />makes up 5 percent.
<br />Permeability of this Coutis soil is moderately rapid, and
<br />the available water capacity is moderate. The effective
<br />rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is
<br />medium, and the hazard of erosion is high to very high.
<br />Most of the acreage is used as rangeland and irrigated
<br />hayland. Mi;ttures of brome, orchardgrass, pubescent
<br />wheatgrass, and timothy are commonly grown.
<br />Where this soil is irrigated, the main management
<br />concerns are proper use o1 water, maintenance of soil
<br />fertility, and reduction of soil erosion. Flooding is the
<br />common method of irrigation, but sprinklers and contour
<br />ditches are also Suitable methods. The land needs to be
<br />~veled and irrigation water managed to obtain uniform
<br />. 13
<br />distribution of irrigation water, control erosion, and
<br />prevent large losses of water. Applications of manure
<br />and commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen and
<br />phosphorus help maintain soil fertility. Severe water
<br />erosion can occur if this soil is unprotected (fig. 1). With
<br />good management this soil is capable of producing
<br />about 4.5 tons of grass hay per irrigated acre.
<br />The potential native vegetation is mainly Arizona
<br />fescue, mountain muhly, western wheatgrass, and Parry
<br />oatgrass. As the range detoriorates, blue grama,
<br />sleepygrass, fringed sage, slimstem muhly, and
<br />rabbitbrush increase. Renovating and using a planned
<br />grazing system, cross fencing, and livestock water
<br />developments help to prevent range deterioration and
<br />promote the production of the more desirable plants. In
<br />renovating, seed should be drilled into a welt prepared,
<br />firm, weed-free seedbed. Suitable grasses for seeding
<br />are intermediate wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass,
<br />western wheatgrass, and Arizona fescue.
<br />Slope is the main limitation to use of this soil as
<br />homesites. Designs should be modified for foundations
<br />and septic tank absorption fields in the steeper areas.
<br />This soil is a good source of topsoil.
<br />This soil is in capability subclasses Vle, nonirrigated,
<br />and Vle, irrigated.
<br />10-Feltonia sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes.
<br />This is a deep, well drained soil on terraces and fans
<br />(fig. 2). It formed in alluvium. Elevation is 7,800 to 8,500
<br />feet. The average annual precipitation is 14 to 17 inches,
<br />the average annual air temperature is 40 to 44 degrees
<br />F, and the frost-tree season is 55 to 75 days.
<br />Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown sandy .
<br />loam 8 inches thick. The subsoil is dark grayish brown
<br />gravelly sandy loam 11 inches thick. The substratum is
<br />light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam in tltc upper 13
<br />inches and is white very gravelly sandy loam to a depth
<br />of 60 inches or more. The soil is mildly alkaline to a
<br />depth of 19 inches and is moderately alkaline and
<br />calcareous below that depth.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Coutis
<br />sandy loam along toot slopes and drainageways and
<br />Siiverclitf gravelly sandy foam along terrace edges. The
<br />Coutis soil makes up about 20 percent of the map unit,
<br />and the Silverclitt soil makes up 10 percent.
<br />Permeability of this Feltonia soil is moderate, and the
<br />available water capacity is low. The effective rooting
<br />depth is 60 inches or more. Root growth is somewhat
<br />restricted by high amounts of calcium carbonate at a
<br />depth of more than 32 inches. Surface runoff is medium,
<br />and the hazard of erosion is moderate to high.
<br />Most areas of this soil are used as rangeland.
<br />The potential native vegetation is mainly
<br />ncedleandlhread, western wheatgrass, mountain muhly,
<br />and Arizona fescue. As the range deteriortt;ns, t.:uo
<br />grama, gray horsebrush, rabhithrush, stn. l~y~;r;;; •„
<br />slimstem muhly, and snakewecd mcrca:.~• :::ink
<br />and using a planned grazing system, cro• a !~•~ ;• .. ,'•~
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