2009-02-26_PERMIT FILE - M2009018 (10)

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WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART Most methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir- rigation is the most common. Proper irrigation water management is essential. Barnyard manure and commer- cial fertilizer are needed for top yields. In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 25 bushels per acre.. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is too low for beneficial use of fertilizer. Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til- lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion. The potential native vegetation is dominated by western wheatgrass and blue grama. Buffalograss is also present. Potential production ranges from 1,000 pounds in favorable years to 600 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, a blue grama-buffalograss sod forms. Undesirable weeds and annuals invade the site as range condition becomes poorer. Management of vegetation on this soil should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- tion. Range pitting can help in reducing runoff. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, sideoats grama, buffalograss, pu- bescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has proven most successful. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally not suited to this soil. Onsite investigation is needed to determine if plantings are feasible. Successful windbreaks require supplemental water. Openland wildlife, such as pheasant., mourning dove, and cottontail, are best suited to this soil. Supplemental water is needed in wildlife habitat development, including the tree and shrub plantings that serve as nesting areas. This soil has poor potential for urban and recreational development. Slow permeability and high shrink swell create problems in dwelling and road construction. Capa- bility subclass Its irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Clayey Plains range site. 28-Reldt silty clay, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a deep, moderately well drained soil on plains at elevations of 4,950 to 5,050 feet. It formed in alluvial sediment derived from shale. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that have a clay loam or silt loam subsoil and sub- stratum. Typically the surface layer is light brownish gray and light yellowish brown silty clay about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is light brownish gray silty clay about 21 inches thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is silty clay. Permeability is slow. Available water capacity is high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is moderate. In irrigated areas this soil is suited to crops commonly grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or close 21 grown crops should be grown at least 56 percent of the time. Contour ditches and corrugations can he used in ir- rigating close grown crops and pasture. Furrows, contour furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for row crops. Keeping tillage to a minimum and utilizing crop residue help to control erosion. Maintaining fertility is im- portant- Crops respond to applications of phosphorus and nitrogen. In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Most of t;he acreage is planted to winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 20 bushels per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is too low for beneficial use of fertilizer. Stubble mulch farming, stripcropping, and mimimum tillage are needed to control soil blowing and water ero- sion- Terracing also may be needed to control water ero- sion. The potential native vegetation is dominated by western wheatgrass and blue grama. Buffalograss is also present. Potential production ranges from 1,000 pounds per acre in favorable years to 600 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, a blue grama-buf- falograss sod forms. Undesirable weeds and annuals in- vade the site as range condition becomes poorer. Management of vegetation on this soil should be based on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- tion. Range pitting can help in reducing runoff. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, sideoats, grama, buffalograss, pu- bescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has proven most successful. Windbreaks and environmental plantings generally are not suited to this soil. Onsite investigation is needed to determine if plantings are feasible. Successful windbreaks require supplemental water. Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove, and cottontail, are best suited to this soil. Supplemental water is needed for wildlife habitat development, includ- ing tree and shrub plantings that serve as nesting areas. This soil has poor potential for urban and recreational development. Slow permeabiity and high shrink swell create problems in dwelling and road construction. Capa- bility subclass IIIe irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Clayey Plains range site. 29-Julesburg sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes. This is a deep, well drained soil on terraces at elevations of 4,700 to 4,800 feet. It formed in alluvium deposited by the South Platte River. Included in mapping are some leveled areas and small areas of soils that have a loamy sub- stratum. Typically the surface layer of this Julesburg soil is brown sandy loam about 1.2 inches thick. The subsoil is brown and pale brown sandy loam about 18 inches thick.