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WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
<br />have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
<br />redeedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
<br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<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 he included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture.
<br />This soil has fair to poor potential for urban develop-
<br />ment. It has moderate to high shrink swell, low strength,
<br />and moderately slow permeability. These features create
<br />problems in dwelling and road construction. Those areas
<br />that have loam or sandy loam in the lower part of the
<br />substratum are suitable for septic tank absorption fields
<br />and foundations. Some areas of this soil are adjacent to
<br />streams and are subject to occasional flooding- The. poten-
<br />tial is fair for such recreational development as camp and
<br />picnic areas and playgrounds. Capability class I irrigated.
<br />42-Nunn clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on terraces and smooth plains at
<br />elevations of 4,550 to 5,150 feet. It formed in mixed allu-
<br />vium and eolian deposits. Included in mapping are small,
<br />long and narrow areas of sand and gravel deposits and
<br />small areas of soils that are subject to occasional flooding-
<br />Some leveled areas are also included.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Nunn soil is grayish
<br />brown clay loam aobut 9 inches thick. The subsoil is light
<br />brownish gray clay loam about 14 inches thick. The upper
<br />part of the substratum is light brownish gray clay loam-
<br />The lower part to a depth of 60 inches is brown sandy
<br />loam.
<br />Permeability is moderately slow. Available water
<br />capacity is high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches
<br />or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion
<br />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. Generally such, characteristics as the high clay
<br />content or the rapidly permeable substratum slightly
<br />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 />In nonirrigated areas most of the acreage is in small
<br />grain and it is summer fallowed in alternate years.
<br />Winter wheat is the principal crop. The predicted average
<br />yield is 33 bushels per acre. If the crop is winterkille(1,
<br />spring wheat can be seeded. Generally precipitation is too
<br />low for beneficial use of fertilizer.
<br />Stubble mulch farming, stripcropping, and minimum til-
<br />lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion.
<br />29
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by
<br />western wheatgrass and blue grama. Buffalograss is also
<br />present- Potential production ranges from 1,000 pounds
<br />her acre in favorable years to 600 pounds in unfavorable
<br />years. As range condition deteriorates, a blue grams-buf-
<br />falograss sod forms. Undesirable weeds and annuals in-
<br />vade the site as range condition becomes poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation of this soil should be based
<br />on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
<br />tion. Range pitting can help in reducing runoff. Seeding is
<br />desirable if the range is in poor condition. Western
<br />wheatgrass, blue grama, sideoats grama, buffalograss, pu-
<br />bescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are suitable
<br />for seeding. The grass selected should meet the seasonal
<br />requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into a clean,
<br />firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled into a firm
<br />prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has proven
<br />most successful.
<br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
<br />well 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 />redeedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive., and
<br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
<br />lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
<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 fair to poor potential for urban develop-
<br />ment. It has moderate to high shrink swell, low strength,
<br />and moderately slow permeability. These features create
<br />problems in dwelling and road construction. Those areas
<br />that. have loam or sandy loam in the lower part of the
<br />substratum are suitable for septic tank absorption fields
<br />and foundations. Some areas of this soil are adjacent to
<br />streams and are subject to occasional flooding. The poten-
<br />tial is fair for such recreational development as camp and
<br />picnic areas and playgrounds. Capability subclass Ile ir-
<br />rigated, 11 le nonirrigated; Clayey Plains range site.
<br />43-Nunn loamy sand, 0 to I percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil on terraces at elevations of 4,700
<br />to 4,900 feet. It formed in alluvium along Box Elder
<br />Creek. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
<br />have a loamy subsoil and small areas of soils that are sub-
<br />ject to rare flooding.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Nunn soil is brown
<br />loamy sand overburden about 9 inches thick- The subsoil
<br />is dark to very dark grayish brown clay loam about 21
<br />inches thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is
<br />loamy very fine sand, loamy sand, or sand-
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