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PHILLIPS COUNTY, COLORADO
<br />The A horizon ranges from 5 to 15 inches in thickness. In
<br />some transitional areas, the A horizon is loamy sand and the
<br />B horizon is clay loam. The B horizon ranges from 10 to 25
<br />inches in thickness. Depth to the calcareous material normally
<br />is 27 inches, but it ranges from 15 to 35 inches.
<br />Ascalon soils lack the clay or clay loam subsoil and the
<br />underlying gravelly material that are common in Platner soils.
<br />The subsoil of the Ascalon soils is more compact and more
<br />clayey than that of Julesburg soils, which do not have the
<br />layer of accumulated lime.
<br />Ascalon sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes (AsB) is
<br />mainly in the southeastern part of the county, but there
<br />are some small areas northeast of Amherst, northeast of
<br />Holyoke, and north of Haxttm. The areas are irregular in
<br />shape, generally range from 10 to 40 acres in size, and
<br />extend southeastward. The profile of this soil is the one
<br />described as typical for the series.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping were some sinall,
<br />eroded spots that appear as white areas. Also included in
<br />the sags, or flat spots, were a few small areas of Haxtun
<br />soils.
<br />Almost all of this soil is cultivated, mainly to winter
<br />wheat, winter barley, and sorghums. Some areas are irri-
<br />gated. Dry farming practices suitable for protecting this
<br />soil against erosion are stubble mulching, wind strip-
<br />croppuig, and emergency tillage. These practices also are
<br />effective in conserving moisture. In irrigated areas, work-
<br />ing manure or crop residue into the soil helps to keep it
<br />fertile and in good tilth. Irrigated areas need to be leveled
<br />so that water spreads uniformly. Irrigated crops respond
<br />well to applications of fertilizer.
<br />A few areas are still in grass and are used for grazing.
<br />In these areas over- aziiishould be avoided because the
<br />soil is susceptible to blowing. Eroded areas can be easily
<br />reseeded. Capability units IIe-1 (dryland) and IIe-3
<br />(irrigated) ; Sandy Plains range site; windbreak suit-
<br />ability group 1.
<br />Ascalon sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes (AsQ oc-
<br />cupies convex ridges that trend to the southeast. This is the
<br />most extensive Ascalon soil in the county. Most of it lies
<br />southeast of Holyoke.
<br />Because this soil takes in water readily, surface runoff
<br />is slow. Soil blowing is the main hazard.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping were a few small
<br />gravelly spots and sppots where limestone crops out. These
<br />areas are shown on the soil map by symbol. Also included
<br />were severely eroded areas in which all the surface layer
<br />and most of the subsoil have been removed by erosion.
<br />These areas are less than half an acre in size.
<br />This soil is suited to cultivated crops or to grass. Almost
<br />all of it is cultivated. Stubble mulching and proper man-
<br />agement of crop residue generally are effective in con-
<br />trolling erosion. Emergency tillage and wind striperopping
<br />also are effective.
<br />IVhere the soil is still in grass, proper range use can be
<br />obtained by fencing the areas and by providing well-
<br />spaced watering points and salt blacks. It is essential to
<br />permit grazing only at the suitable season and by the
<br />proper number of animals. Eroded areas can be easily
<br />reseeded, but grazing should be deferred until the grasses
<br />are established. Capability unit IIIe-2 (dryland) ; Sandy
<br />Plains range site; windbreak suitability group 1.
<br />Ascalon sandy loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes (AsD) oc-
<br />cupies ridges or side slopes that trend southeastward. The
<br />soil areas are primarily in the southeastern part of the
<br />374-140-71-2
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<br />county, though a few areas are north of Haxttm and north-
<br />east of Amherst.
<br />This soil takes in water rapidly and releases it readily
<br />to plants, but its capacity to hold water is moderate. This
<br />soil is susceptible to severe erosion.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping were severely eroded
<br />areas where the original surface layer and subsoil material
<br />are gone. These spots are less than an acre in size and are
<br />white.
<br />This soil is suited to range and to limited cultivation,
<br />preferably of close-growing crops. Stubble-mulch till agge,
<br />wind striperopping, and working crop residue into the
<br />soil are generally effective in controlling erosion. Also,
<br />emergency tillage may be necessary in windy periods to
<br />prevent soil blowing.
<br />Among the grasses that grow well on rangeland are
<br />blue grama, little bluestem, switchgrass, side-oats grama,
<br />and sand bluestem. The rangeland can be reseeded if the
<br />soil is moist and has a good cover of plant litter. Over-
<br />grazing is best avoided by stocking the range at a proper
<br />rate and by placing fences, salt blocks, and watering points
<br />where animals are forced to graze the entire area. Capa-
<br />bility unit IVe-2 (dryland) ; Sandy Plains range site;
<br />windbreak suitability group 1.
<br />Bayard Series
<br />The Bayard series consists of deep sandy loams that
<br />are well drained. These soils formed in a mixture of
<br />material weathered from limestone and deposits of re-
<br />worked sands.
<br />In a typical profile the surface layer is dark grayish-
<br />brown sanely loam about 6 inches thick. The next layer is
<br />about 10 inches thick and consists of dark-brawn sanely
<br />loam that contains some small fragments of caliche.
<br />The underlying material, to a depth of 60 inches, is
<br />strongly calcareous, light brownish-gray sanely loam over-
<br />lying very strongly calcareous, dark-gray sanely loam. This
<br />material contains much visible lime.
<br />The Bayard soils have rapid permeability and slow
<br />runoff. Because these soils are sandy, they have moderate
<br />to low available water holding capacity, and moderate nat-
<br />ural fertility. Bayard soils are susceptible to soil blowing
<br />unless protected.
<br />The native vegetation consists of little bluestem, needle-
<br />and-thread, and side-oats grama. Bayard soils are best
<br />suited to grasses, and most of the acreage is still in grass.
<br />Winter wheat and sorghums are grown in a, few cultivated
<br />areas.
<br />Typical profile of a Bayard sandy loam in native grass
<br />(930 feet north and 135 feet east of the southwest corner
<br />of section 19, T. 9 Vii., R. 47 W.) :
<br />All-0 to 3 inches, dark grayish-brown (10YR 4/2) sandy
<br />loam, very dart: grayish brown (JOYR 3/2) when
<br />moist ; weak, fine, crumb structure ; soft when dry, very
<br />friable when moist ; noncalcareous ; clear, smooth
<br />boundary.
<br />A12-3 to 6 inches, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy
<br />loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) when
<br />moist ; weak, coarse, subangular blocky structure that
<br />breaks to weal., fine, granular; soft when dry, very
<br />friable when moist ; noncalcareous ; clear, smooth
<br />boundary.
<br />AC-6 to 16 inches, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam, dark
<br />brown (10YR 3/3) when moist; weak, coarse, pris-
<br />matic structure that breaks to weak, coarse, subangu-
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