Laserfiche WebLink
water contamination from sewage lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability class I <br />irrigated. . <br />Otero sandy loam, 0 to I percent slopes <br />This is a deep, well drained soil on smooth plains at elevations of 4,700 to 5,250 feet. It formed in <br />mixed outwash and eolian deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soil that have loam and <br />clay loam underlying material. <br />Typically the surface layer is brown sandy loam about 12 inches thick. The underlying material to a <br />depth of 60 inches is pale brown calcareous fine sandy loam. <br />Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 <br />inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low. <br />This soil is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. It is suited to all crops commonly grown in the <br />area, including corn, sugar beets, beans, alfalfa, small grains, potatoes, and onions. An example of <br />a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa followed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, <br />small grains, or beans. Generally, such characteristics as a high clay content or rapidly permeable <br />substratum slightly restrict some crops. <br />All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow irrigation is the most common. Proper irrigation <br />water management is essential. Barnyard manure and commercial fertilizer are needed for top <br />yields. <br />Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the <br />principal hazard in establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cultivating only in the tree <br />row and by leaving a strip of vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed <br />at the time of planting and during dry periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival are <br />Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and <br />hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashrub. <br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. Ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and <br />many nongame species can be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape cover. For <br />pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans for habitat <br />development, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. <br />Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area has resulted in urbanization of much of this <br />Otero soil. This soil has excellent potential for urban and recreational development. The only <br />limiting feature is the moderately rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a hazard of <br />ground water contamination from sewage lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability <br />subclass Its irrigated. <br />Parsons Mine <br />DRMS 112 Reclamation Permit Application <br />Page 17 of I10