HomeMy WebLinkAbout951702.tiff SOIL SURVEY OF WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART
United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service
in cooperation with the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station
3. Weld-Colby
3—Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum. This
Deep, nearly level to moderately sloping, well drained nearly level map unit is on bottom lands and flood plains
barns formed in calcareous eolian deposits of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls,
This nearly level to moderately sloping map unit is on which have a dark colored surface layer, make up about
plains mainly in the southeastern part of the survey area. 60 percent of the unit. Aquents, which have a lighter
One small area is in the west-central part. The unit makes colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent. About 5
up about 10 percent of the total acreage. About 50 per- percent is Aquepts and Bankard sandy loam.
cent is Weld soils, 35 percent is Colby soils, and 15 per- These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in
cent is soils of minor extent. recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the
Weld soils occupy the broad nearly level areas. Colby soils have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately al-
soils occupy the steeper side slopes. Weld soils have a kaline loamy or clayey surface layer and underlying
loam surface layer and a clay and clay loam subsoil. Colby material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel
soils have a loam surface layer and silt loam underlying within 48 inches. In places they have a gleyed layer in the
material. underlying material.
Minor in this unit are the well drained Adena and Kim Most of the acreage is subject to flooding. The water
soils. table is at or near the surface early in spring and recedes
This map unit is used mainly for cropland. About 65 to as deep as 48 inches late in fall in some years.
percent is nonirrigated. Winter wheat is the principal These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat.
crop. If irrigated, the soils are well suited to all commonly Some small areas have been reclaimed by major drainage
grown crops. The potential is fair for development of and leveling and are used for irrigated crops.
openland wildlife habitat. The potential native vegetation is dominated by alkali
sacaton, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass. Saltgrass,
sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent.
Potential production ranges from 3,000 pounds per acre in
favorable years to 2,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As
range condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali
sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and saltgrass,
sedge, and rush increase.
Management of vegetation should be based on taking
half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
ing is difficult and costly because numerous tillage prac-
tices are required to eliminate the saltgrass sod.
Switchgrass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tall
wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for seeding. They
can be seeded into a clean, firm seedbed. Seedbed
preparation usually requires more than 1 year to
eliminate the saltgrass sod. A grass drill should be used.
Seeding early in spring has proven most successful.
Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit.
The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover,
as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland,
where wildlife obtain much of their food and fmd protec-
tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
openland wildlife.
Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for
cover and nesting. Deer fmd excellent cover in some
areas.
These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from
fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and overuse by
livestock. They should not be drained.
These soils have good potential as a source of sand and
gravel. Capability subclass VIw; Salt Meadow range site.
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