HomeMy WebLinkAbout970885.tiff 52 SOIL SURVEY
the limited capacity of this soil to support a load. Capa- Management of vegetation on this soil should be based
bility class I irrigated. on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc-
S Wtky-Colby complex, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition.
nearly level map unit is on smooth plains in the western Sideoats grama, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, blue
part of the survey area at elevations of 4,850 to 5,000 grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested wheatgrass are
feet. The Wiley soil makes up about 60 percent of the suitable for seeding. The grass selected should meet the
unit, and the Colby soil about 30 percent. About 10 per- seasonal requirements of livestock. It can be seeded into
cent is Heldt silty clay and Weld loam. a clean, firm sorghum stubble or it can be drilled into a
The Wiley soil is deep and well drained. It formed in firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has
calcareous eolian deposits. Typically the surface layer is proven most successful.
pale brown silt loam about 11 inches thick. The subsoil is Windbreaks and environmental plantings are generally
pale brown silty clay loam about 23 inches thick. The sub- well suited to these soils. Cultivation to control competing
stratum to a depth of 60 inches is very pale brown silty vegetation should be continued for as many years as
clay loam. possible following planting. Trees that are best suited and
Permeability is moderately slow. Available water have good survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern
capacity is high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and
or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hackberry. The shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac,
hazard is moderate. lilac, Siberian peashrub, and American plum.
The Colby soil also is deep and well drained and formed Openland wildlife, such as pheasant, mourning dove,
in calcareous eolian deposits. Typically the surface layer and cottontail are best suited to these soils. Wildlife
is pale brown loam about 7 inches thick. The underlying habitat development, including tree and shrub plantings
material is very pale brown silt loam to a depth of 60 and grass plantings to serve as nesting areas, should be
inches. successful without irrigation during most years. Under ir-
Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is rigation, good wildlife habitat can be established, benefit-
high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. ing many kinds of openland wildlife.
Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is The Wiley soil has only fair potential for urban and
moderate. recreational development. Slow p permeability, moderate
This map unit is used for irrigated and nonirrigated shrink-swell potential, and limited bearing capacity cause
cropland and for rangeland, wildlife habitat, and urban problems in dwelling and road construction. The Colby
development. soil has good potential for urban and recreational develop-
In irrigated areas these soils are suited to all crops ment. Road design can be modified to compensate for the
commonly grown in the area, including corn, sugar beets, limited capacity of this soil to support a load. Capability
beans, alfalfa, small rain, and onions. An example of a subclass IIe irrigated, IVe nonirrigated; Loamy Plains
suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 years of alfalfa fol- range site.
lowed by corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain, or 83—Wiley-Colby complex, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This
beans. Land leveling, ditch lining, and installing pipelines gently sloping map unit is on plains at elevations of 4,850
may be needed for proper water applications. to 5,000 feet. The Wiley soil makes up about 60 percent of
All methods of irrigation are suitable, but furrow ir- the unit, and the Colby soil about 30 percent. About 10
rigation is the most common. Barnyard manure and corn- percent is Heldt silty clay and Weld loam.
mercial fertilizer are needed for top yields. The Wiley soil is deep and well drained. It formed in
In nonirrigated areas these soils are suited to winter calcareous eolian deposits. Typically the surface layer is
wheat, barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is pale brown silt loam about 11 inches thick. The subsoil is
planted to winter wheat. The predicted average yield is pale brown silty clay loam about 23 inches thick. The sub-
28 bushels per acre. The soil is summer fallowed in al- stratum to a depth of 60 inches is very pale brown silty
ternate years to allow moisture accumulation. Generally clay loam.
precipitation is too low for beneficial use of fertilizer. Permeability is moderately slow. Available water
Stubble mulch farming, striperopping, and minimum til- capacity is high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches
lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion. or more. Surface runoff is medium to rapid, and the ero-
Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion. sion hazard is moderate.
The potential native vegetation is dominated by blue The Colby soil also is deep and well drained and formed
grama. Several mid grasses such as western wheatgrass in calcareous eolian deposits. Typically the surface layer
and needleandthread are also present. Potential produc- is pale brown loam about 7 inches thick. The underlying
tion ranges from 1,600 pounds per acre in favorable years material is very pale brown silt loam to a depth of 60
to 1,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As range condition inches.
deteriorates, the mid grasses decrease; blue grama, buf- Permeability is moderate. Available water capacity is
falograss, snakeweed, yucca and fringed sage increase; high. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more.
and forage production drops. Undesirable weeds and an- Surface runoff is medium to rapid, and the erosion hazard
nuals invade the site as range condition becomes poorer. is moderate.
970885
NONTECHNICAL SOILS DESCRIPT' REPORT
trees
Map ; Soil name and description
abol
82 ; Wiley-Colby complex, 1 to 3 percent slopes
This map unit is on smooth plains. This unit consists
of 60 percent Wiley and 30 percent Colby soils. The
Wiley soil is a deep, well drained soil. It formed in
calcareous eolian deposits. The surface is a silt loam.
The subsoil is a silty clay loam. The substratum to a
depth of 60 inches or more is a silty clay loam. This
soil has a moderately slow permeability. The available
water holding capacity is high. Roots penetrate to a
depth of 60 inches or more. Runoff is slow and the
erosion hazard due to wind is high. The Colby soil is
a deep, well drained soil. It formed in calcareous
eolian deposits. The surface is a loam. The underlying
material to a depth of 60 inches or more is a silt
loam. This soil has a moderate permeability. The
available water holding capacity is high. Roots
penetrate to a depth of 60 inches or more. Runoff is
slow and the erosion hazard due to wind is high.
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