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WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Colombo soil is dark
<br />yish brown clay loam about 14 inches thick. The upper
<br />inches of the underlying material is pale brown
<br />stratified clay loam and loam. The lower part to a depth
<br />of 60 inches is very pale brown loam stratified with thin
<br />lenses of fine sand, medium sand, and clay loam.
<br />Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
<br />high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
<br />Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is low.
<br />In irrigated areas this soil is suited to all crops com-
<br />monly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets,
<br />beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An exam-
<br />ple of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa
<br />followed by corn, corn.for silage, sugar beets, small grain,
<br />or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing
<br />pipelines may be needed for proper water application.
<br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
<br />rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and com-
<br />mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields.
<br />In nonirrigated areas this soil is well suited to winter
<br />wheat, barley, and sorghum if it is summer fallowed in al-
<br />ternate years. Winter wheat is the principal crop. The
<br />predicted average yield is 33 bushels per acre. If the crop
<br />is winterkilled, spring wheat can be seeded. Generally
<br />,precipitation is too low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til-
<br />€nge are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion.
<br />Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated - by
<br />-extern wheatgrass. Blue grama, switchgrass, sand
<br />Meedgrass, big bluestem, slender wheatgrass, indiangrass,
<br />green needlegrass are also present. Potential produc-
<br />ranges from 1,000 pounds per acre in favorable years
<br />600 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition
<br />Aeteriorates, the tall grasses decrease, blue grama and
<br />?` uffalograss increase, and forage production drops. Un-
<br />ble weeds and annuals invade the site and erosion
<br />#an occur as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
<br />Wgrama, half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />ing is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
<br />wheatgrass, switchgrass, sand reedgrass,
<br />pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate
<br />Pi,eatgrass, and blue grama are suitable for seeding. The
<br />-s selected should meet the seasonal requirements of
<br />V-:dbn It can be seeded into a firm prepared seedbed.
<br />rill should be used. Seeding early in spring has
<br />ost successful..
<br />eaks and environmental plantings of trees and
<br />mmonly grown in the area are generally well
<br />this soil. Cultivation to control competing
<br />should be continued for as many years as
<br />ollowing planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br />d survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />rian peashrub, and American plum.
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<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 />Where this soil is on flood plains and is susceptible to
<br />flooding, it has poor potential for urban and recreational
<br />development. On the higher terraces, potential is fair.
<br />Dwelling and road designs may need to be modified to
<br />compensate for the limited capacity of this soil to support
<br />a load and to protect it against frost action. Capability
<br />subclass He irrigated, IIIe nonirrigated; Clayey Plains
<br />range site.
<br />21=Dacono c?aploam,'0 to 1percent'sbpes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on terraces at elevations of 4,550
<br />to 4,970 feet. It formed in mixed alluvium. Included in
<br />mapping are small, long and narrow areas of sand and
<br />gravel deposits and some small leveled areas.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Dacono soil is gray-
<br />ish brown clay loam about 12 inches thick. The subsoil is
<br />grayish brown clay loam about 15 inches thick. The sub-
<br />stratum is very gravelly sand.
<br />Permeability is moderately slow. Available water
<br />capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 20 to
<br />40 inches. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard
<br />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,
<br />sugar beets, small grain, or beans. Generally, such charac-
<br />teristics as a high clay content or a rapidly permeable
<br />substratum slightly restrict some 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 of trees and
<br />shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well
<br />suited to this soiL Cultivation to control competing
<br />vegetation should be continued for as many years as
<br />possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian ehn, Russian-olive, and
<br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<br />Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove,
<br />and cottontail are best suited to this soil Wildlife habitat
<br />development, including tree and shrub plantings and
<br />grass plantings to serve as nesting areas, should be suc-
<br />cessful without irrigation during most years. Under ir-
<br />rigation, good wildlife habitat can be established, benefit-
<br />ing, many kinds of openland wildlife.
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