HomeMy WebLinkAbout961777.tiff Excerpts from Weld County Soil Survey
4—Aquolls and Auue pls. flooded. This nearly level 17—Colby loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes.This is a deep,
map unit is in depressions in smooth plains and along the well drained soil on upland hills and ridges at elevations
bottoms of natural drainageways throughout the survey of 4,850 to 5,050 feet. It formed in calcareous eolian
area. Aquolls, which have a dark colored surface layer, deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that
make up about 55 percent of the unit, Aquepts. which have fine sandy loam or loam underlying material and
have a lighter colored surface layer, make up about 25 small areas of soils that are shallow to moderately deep
percent. A bout 20 percent is soils that are well drained over shale and sandstone.
and soils that have sandstone or shale within 48 inches of Typically the surface layer of this Colby soil is pale
the surface. brown loam about 7 inches thick.The underlying material
_-- These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in is very pale brown silt loam to a depth of 60 inches.
recent allur ium.de No one pad ra is typical. Commonly the Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity Is
soils have a mottled. mildly Co moderately alkaline loamy high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
or clayey surface layer and underlying material that ex- Surface TThis
runoff ilisis suited
and the limited
copping is high.
tends to a depth of 60 inches or more. In places they have This soil r sus to se cropping. Intensive
a gleyed layer in the underlying material. cropping is hazardous because of erosion. The cropping
al-
Most of the acreage is subject to excessive runoff. The system should be limited to close grown crops,such as water table is at or near the surface in spring and during rigatedfalfa past, and barley. This soil also ism suited Co i 4
the peak of the irrigation season. pasture. A suitable cropping system is 3 to 4
These soils are used for rangeland an wildlife habitat. years of alfalfa followed by 2 years of corn and small
grain and alfalfa seeded with a nurse crap.
Some small areas are irrigated pasture.
The vegetation is dominated by Close grown crops can be irrigated from closely spaced
swithhlra&,potential native curtlgvass, saltgrass. alkali sacuton, contour ditches or sprinklers. Contour furrows or sprin-
big bluestem,prairie
wells, western wheatgrass, slender klers should be used for new crops. Applications of
wheatgrass• sedge. and rush. Cattails and bullrush grow nitrogen and phosphorus help in maintaining good produc-
in the swamtion.
py spots associated with these range sites. The potential native vegetation is dominated by blue
Potential production ranges from 4,000 pounds per acre in grama. Sideoats grams, little bluestem, western wheat-
favorable years to 3,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As grass, and sedge are also prominent. Potential production
range condition deteriorates, the tall and mid grasses ranges from 1,800 pounds per acre in favorable years to
decrease, production drops. and saltgrass.sedge, and rush 1.500 pounds in unfavorable
increase.The farming and irrigation in adjacent areas hasyears.andAs range condition
deteriorates,f the odsiducao drama blue bluestem
increased the amount of salts on much of the acreage. decrease, fora e
Management of vegetation on this soil should be basedR production drops, and grama, bin-
on taking half and leaving crea Undesirable and several perennial farbs and shrubs in-
on
half of the total annual produc- crease. weeds and annuals invade the site as tion. Switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, western range condition becomes poorer.
wheatgrass. pubescent wheatgrass• intermediate wheat- Management should be based on taking half and leaving
grass• tall wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for half of the total annual production. Seeding is desirable if
seeding. The plants selected should met the seasonal the range is in poor condition. Sideoats grama, little
requirements of livestock. For successful seeding, a firm bluestem, western wheatgrass, and pubescent wheatgrass
prepared seedbed is needed. A grass drill should be used. are suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet
Seeding e:u'ly in spring has proven most successful. TO- the seasonal needs of livestock. It can be seeded into a
loge is needed to eliminate the undesirable vegetation. clean, firm sorghum stu bble, or it can be drilled into a
Wetland wildlife. especially waterfowl, utilize this unit. firm prepared seedbed. Plowing and drilling should be on
The wetland plots provide nesting and protective cover the contour to minimize runoff and soil losses. Seeding
as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland, early in spring has proven most successful.
where wildlife obtain much of their food and find protec• Windbreaks and environmental plantings of trees and
tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and shrubs commonly grown in the area are generally well
openland wildlife. suited to this soil. Cultivation to control competing
Openland wildlife. especially pheasant, use this unit for vegetation should be continued for as many years as
cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in some possible following planting.Trees that are best suited and
areas. These valuable wildlife areas should be protected have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
from fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and
overuse by livestock. They should not he drained. Cape- hackle cry. The shrubs best suited are sk unkbush sumac,
hint), subclass Vlw: Aquolls in Salt Meadow range site, lilac, Siberian peashrub,and American plum.
Aquepts in Wet Meadow range site. Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove,
and cottontail, and rangeland wildlife, such as antelope,
cottontail, and coyote, are best suited to this soil. Under
irrigation, good wildlife habitat can be established,
benefiting many kinds of openland wildlife. Forage
production is typically low on rangeland, and grazing
management is needed if livestock and wildlife share the
range. Livestock watering facilities also are utilized by
various wildlife species.
This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
developments. Road design can be modified to compen-
sate far the limited capacity of this soil to support a load.
Capability subclass IVe irrigated, Vie nonirrigated;
Loamy Slopes range site.
961777
Excerpts from Weld County Soil Survey
79—Weld loam. 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is a deep,
well drained soil on smooth plains at elevations of 4,650 to
5,000 feet. It formed in eolian deposits. Included in
mapping are small areas of soils that have a subsoil of
loam and light clay loam. Also included are some leveled
areas.
Typically the surface layer of this Weld soil is brown
loan about $ inches thick. The subsoil is brown and pale
brown heavy clay loam and light clap' about 20 inches
thick.The substratum to a depth of'60 inches is silt loam.
Permeability is slow. Available water capacity is high.
The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more, Surface
runoff is slow,and the erosion hazard is low.
In irrigated areas this soil is suited to all crops corn-
manly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets(fig.
R),beans, alfalfa, small grain,and onions. An example of a
suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa fol-
lowed by corn,corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain,or
beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing pipelines
are needed for proper water applications.
All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir-
rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and com-
mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields.
This soil is well suited to winter wheat, barley, and
sorghum if it is .summer fallowed in alternate years.
Winter wheat is the principal crop. The predicted average
yield is 3A bushels per acre. If the crop is winterkilled.
sluing wheat can he seeded. 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.
Terracing also may be needed to convol water erosion.
The potential native vegetation is dominated by blue
grams. Several mid grasses, such as western wheatgrasa
and needleandthread, are also present, Potential produc-
tion ranges from 1,600 pounds per acre in favorable years
--. to 1,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition
deteriorates, the mid grasses decrease; blue grams, huf-
falograss, snakeweed, yucca, and fringed sage increase;
and forage production drops. Undesirable weeds and an-
nuals 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.Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
Sideoats grama, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, blue
grama, pubescent 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. firma 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
well suited to this soil. Summer fallow a year before
planting and continued cultivation for weed control are
needed to insure establishment and survival of plantings.
Trees that are best suited and have good survival are
Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redeedar, ponderosa
pine. Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and hackborry. The
shrubs hest suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, Siberian
peashrub.and American plum.
Openisnd wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove,
and cottontail, are best suited to this soil. Wildlife habitat
development, including tree and shrub plantings and
grass plantings to serve as nesting areas, should be suc-
cessful without irrigation during most years. Under ir-
rigation,good wildlife habitat can be established, benefit-
ing many kinds of openland wildlife.
This soil has good potential for urban and recreational
development. The chief limiting soil features for urban
development are the shrink-swell potential of the subsoil
as it wets and dries and the limited capacity of the soil to
support a load. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well.Capa-
bility subclass Ile irrigated, IIfe nonirrigated; Loamy
Plains range site.
961777
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