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Home My WebLink About961090.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 1 / l'/ JSY ll�St%b d,:„......„..,:;...„;:r2::".:::-„*:,-.:::!,,,..:,.: �/ I % O . xy// //F � . ,� r / Yob!. / 1, i 'flit' i f< r>y 9q �"g �y , G/ �r%� •? s4./sf X5// / 'S':- rN, 6dk. rr% �£.. Ai f = . c i q•',"...4 .79“':,<.:.:0,;Y:,..:%.,"::(..;:‘•fy Y / /ax • 6 ` Y Ss": '"e',.' ,:(`...%)... . < 9 -:',f,,::'<4,0/.:*?,,:::// ,x;y;/ arr .f 14,171r;%..ill:: �,s, :: �i d ?:.A.1::;........"..:,;',,%;,• r . r / ��d��Y:n�ny/ vfsyN/Y/ f� /' n .1 /R" ' •:".x r //� j /y� r . . 9y" /. // y� :: r ° . • 4 ._: / of r / 5 �ir ;Y -,...../.4....:.:::::: / / :: ', ,gyp, I /' / . < /' f Fw, r. • r. YN13 : Yv Y o00 52 48 rim: �� `S"� `. n ✓ r C � ,---...,,,,, ,,,55, y aIt' /? 3 0 3 �' � /, .e' 5 T jb it i � . : ' I • yy ').W ti3// f Y �y / 1 Nye / Y .4 1 • — r r�q .' S AC ' T ; y i t 961090 Jr— 3—Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum. This "13—Cascajo gravelly sandy loam, 5 to 20 percent nearly level map unit is on bottom lands and flood plains slopes. This is a deep, excessively drained soil on terrace of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls, edges and upland ridges at elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 which have a dark colored surface layer, make up about feet. It formed in very gravelly calcareous alluvium. In- 60 percent of the unit. Aquents, which have a lighter eluded in mapping are small areas of soils that are shal- low or moderately deep over sandstone and shale. colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent. About 5 Typically the surface layer is browngravelly sandy percent is Aquepts and Bankard sandy loam. yP Y y These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in loam about 9 inches thick. The upper part of the underly-' recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the ing material is pale brown and light yellowish brown very soils have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately al-; gravelly sandy loam about 22 inches thick. The lower part kaline loamy or clayey surface layer and underlying j to a depth of 60 inches is light yellowish brown very material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel • gravelly sand. A layer of strong lime accumulation 22 within 48 inches. In places they have a gleyed layer in the. inches thick is below the surface layer. material. Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water underlying capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 Most of the acreage is subject r to flooding. The 'orates' inches or more. Surface runoff is slow to medium, and the table is at or near the surface early in spring and recedes' erosion hazard is low. to as deep as 48 inches late in fall in some years. The potential native w vegetation is dominated by little These soils are av for- rangeland and re rainaat.ge bluestem, sideoats grama, sand reedgrass, blue grama, Someleveling small areas have b fo rrrigated by major drainage hairy grama, switchgrass, and needleandthread. Potential; anT ote and are used v for irrigated d crops.m production ranges from 1,200 pounds per acre in favora-' The potential native vegetation is dominated by alkali ble years to 700 pounds in unfavorable years. As range�, sacaton, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass. Saltgrass,' condition deteriorates, the tall and mid grasses decrease, sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are also prominent.: blue gratha and hairy grama increase, and forage-produc Potential production ranges from 3,000 pounds per acre in tion drops. favorable years to 2,0O0 pounds in unfavorable years. As Management of vegetation should be based on taking range condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali hale or less of the total annual production. Seeding and . sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and saltgrass, mechanical treatment are impractical. Deferred grazing is sedge, and rush increase. a practical measure in improving range condition. Management.of vegetation should be based on taking Windbreaks and environmental plantings are suited to half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed- this soil. Low available water capacity and high calcium ing is difficult and costly because numerous tillage prac- content are the principal hazards in establishing trees and• tices are required to eliminate the saltgrass sod. shrubs. Weed control is needed to insure establishment: Switchgrass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tall and survival of plantings. Supplemental irrigation also. wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for seeding. They may be needed to,insure survival. Trees that are best can be seeded into a clean, firm seedbed. Seedbed suited and have good survival are Rocky Mountain ju-t preparation usually requires more than 1 year to niper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. eliminate the saltgrass sod. A grass drill should be used. The shrubs best adapted are skunkbush sumac and lilac. , Seeding early in spring has proven most successful. Wildlife uses are very limited because this soil lacks 4 Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit, potential for producing necessary habitat elements. ' The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover, Because most of the acreage is rangeland, only rangeland as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland, wildlife, for example, scaled quail and antelope, are typi- where wildlife obtain much of their food and fmd protec- cal. Extreme care is needed in managing livestock grazing tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and in order to provide suitable habitat on this soil. openland wildlife. Steepness is the most limiting soil feature that must be Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for considered in planning homesites and the construction of cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in some roads. Other limiting features are the rapid permeability areas. in the substratum and the resulting hazard of ground These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from water contamination from sewage lagoons. Site prepara- fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and overuse by tion for environmental plantings such as lawns, shrubs, livestock. They should not be drained. and trees is difficult because of the high content of gravel These soils have good potential as a source of sand and and cobbles. Capability subclass VIIs nonirrigated; Gravel gravel. Capability subclass VIw; Salt Meadow range site; breaks range site. 961090 47—Olney fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes: Windbreaks and environmental plantings are'generally This is a deep;well drained soil on plains at elevations of suited to this soil. Soil blowing, the principal hazard in 4,600 to 5,200 feet. It formed in mixed outwash deposits. ;.establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul- Included in mapping are small areas of soils that have a % tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of dark surface layer. Some small leveled areas are also in- j vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation eluded. may be needed at the time of planting and during dry Typically the surface layer of this Olney soil is grayish periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival brown fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa is yellowish brown and very pale brown sandy clay loam pine, SilBerian elm, Russian-olive, and hackberry. The about 14 inches thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 1 shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi- inches is very pale brown, calcareous fine sandy loam. an peashrub. Permeability and available water capacity are Wildlife is an'important secondary use of this soil. The moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can low. be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape In irrigated areas this soil is suited to all crops com- cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen- monly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets, tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop- beans, alfalfa, small grain, potatoes, and onions. An exam- ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range- ple of a suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be followed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain, attracted by developipg livestock watering facilities, or beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed. pipelines may be needed for proper water application. All Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow irrigation is has resulted in urbanization of much of the Olney soil. the most common. Barnyard manure and commercial fer- This soil has good potential for urban and recreational tilizer are needed for top yields. development. The only limiting feature is the moderately In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes -a barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to hazard of ground water contamination from sewage winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 28 bushels lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in alternate years subclass IIe irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is range site. 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 control water erosion. The potential native vegetation on this range site is dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue grama. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama, and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential production ranges from 2,200 pounds per acre in favora- ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range. condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and switchgrass decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed, and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses 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., Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats grams, blue grams, and pubescent wheatgrass are suita- ble for seeding. The grass selected should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock It canbe seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be drilled into a, firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has..' proven most successfuL 961090 52—Otero sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes. T '7 Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. deep, well drained soil on plains at elevations of 4;700';0 ! : Ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and many non- 5,250 feet. It formed in mixed odtwash and eolian game species can be attracted by establishing areas for deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that ; nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, undisturbed have loam and clay loam underlying material. Also in nesting cover is essential and should be included in plans eluded are small areas of soils that have sandstone and for habitat development, especially in areas of intensive shale within a depth of 60 inches. ' agriculture. Typically the surface layer of this Otero soil is brown . Rapid expansion of Greeley and the surrounding area sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The underlying material has resulted in urbanization of much of this Otero soil. to a depth of 60 inches is pale brown calcareous fine The soil has excellent potential for urban and recreational sandy loam. development. The only limiting feature is the moderately Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a ' moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or hazard of ground water contamination from sewage more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is lagoons. Lawns, shrubs, and trees grow well. Capability low. subclass IIIe irrigated, VIe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains This soil is used almost entirely for irrigated crops. It range site. is suited to the crops commonly grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or close growing crops should be-grown-at least 50 percent of the time. Contour, ditches and corrugations can be used in irrigating close. grown cropsand pasture. Furrows, contour furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for row crops. Sprinkler. irrigation-is-also desirable. Keeping tillage to a minimum and utilizing crop residue help to control erosion. Main- taining fertility is important. Crops respond to applica tions of phosphorus and nitrogen. The -potential native vegetation on this site is dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue grama. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama, and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential production ranges from 2,200 pounds per acre in favora- ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and switchgrass decrease, and blue grama, sand dropseed, and sand sage increase. Annual weedsand grasses 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. Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats. grams, 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, firm 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 -suited to this soil. Soil blowing, -the principal hazard in'. establishing trees and shrubs, can be controlled by cul- tivating only in the tree row and by leaving a strip of vegetation between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed at-the time of planting and during dry periods. Trees that are best suited and have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberi- an peashrub. -- 961090 Hello