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Home My WebLink About20022449.tiff soil survey of Weld County, Colorado Southern Part Y { :1O31 ...,rii United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station 2002-2449 S. lk r ^ Contents Page i r Index to soil map units iv Physical and chemical properties 6; Summary of tables v Soil and water features — k. Foreword viii Classification of the soils._-__ General nature of the county 1 Soil series and morphology Settlement of the county 1 Adena series 6. Natural resources 1 Altvan series 6i Fanning 2 Ascalon series f Climate 2 Bankard series How this survey was made 2 Boel series 6" General soil map for broad land use planning 3 Bresser series 6" 1. Midway-Shingle 3 Cascajo series 5. 2. Ulm-Nunn 3 Colby series S. Weld-Colby 4 Colombo series 6i 4. Wiley-Colby-Weld 4 Dacono series 6. 5. Olney-Kim-Otero 4 Fort Collins series E 6. Otero-Thedalund-Nelson 4 Haverson series 7. Tassel-Thedalund-Terry 4 Heidi series 66 8. Valent-Vona-Osgood 5 Julesburg series 7C 9. Aquolls-Aauents-Bankard 5 Kim series 10. Loup-Boel 5 Loup series 11. Nunn-Haverson 5 Midway series 7C 12. Nunn-Dacono-Altvan 6 Nelson series 13. Julesburg-Bresser 6 Nunn series I. Broad land use considerations 6 Olney series 1 Soil maps for detailed planning 6 Osgood series 72 Soil descriptions 7 Otero series Use and management of the soils 53 Paoli series 2 Crops and pasture 54 Renohill series 2 Yields per acre 55 Shingle series t3 Capability classes and subclasses 55 Tassel series 73 Rangeland 56 Terry series Windbreaks and environmental plantings 57 Thedalund series 1 Engineering 57 Ulm series r4 Building site development 58 Valent series 74 Sanitary facilities 58 Vona series I Construction materials 59 Weld series Water management 60 Wiley series i.: Recreation 60 References 75 Wildlife habitat 61 Glossary Soil properties 62 Illustrations Engineering properties 62 Tables U.1 Issued September 1980 46 SOIL SURVEY Permeability is rapid. Available water capacity is yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 16 inches thick moderate. A water table is at or near the surface in The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is sandy loam. .spring and about 36 inches below the surface in fall. Sur- Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water ice runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is low, capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 This unit is used for rangeland and wildlife habitat. The inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion potential native vegetation on the Valent soil is hazard is low. dominated by sand reedgrass, sand bluestem, blue and In irrigated areas this soil is suited to the crops corn- hairy grams, little bluestem, needleandthread, and monly grown in the area. Perennial grasses and alfalfa or i. sideoats grams- Potential production ranges from 1,800 close grown crops should be grown at least 50 percent of °. pounds per acre in favorable years to 1,400 pounds in un- the time. Contour ditches and corrugations can be used in favorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the sand irrigating close grown crops and pasture. Furrows, con- bluestem, sand reedgrass, sideoats grama, and little tour furrows, and cross slope furrows are suitable for row bluestem decrease; sandhill muhly and blowout grass in- crops. Sprinkler irrigation is also desirable. Keeping til- crease, and forage production drops. "Blowouts" occur as lage to a minimum and ut'1iring crop residue help to con- - range condition becomes poorer. trol erosion. Maintaining fertility is important. Crops The native vegetation on the Loup soil is dominated by respond to applications of phosphorus and nitrogen. switchgrass, little bluestem. sand reedgrass, and western In nonirrigated areas this soil is suited to winter wheat, wheatgrass. India:IT ass. sand bluestem, prairie cordgrass, barley, and sorghum. Most of the acreage is planted to slender wheatgrass. alkali sacaton, saltgrass, sedge, and winter wheat. The predicted average yield is 20 bushels rush are also present. Potential production ranges from per acre. The sod is summer failowed in alternate years 4,000 pounds per acre in favorable years to 3,000 pounds to allow moisture accumulation. Generally precipitation is in unfavorable years. As range condition deteriorates, the too low for beneficial use of fertilizer. switchgrass. sand bluestem, indiangrass, little biuestern, Stubble mulch fanning, striperopping, and minimum til- and prairie cordgrass decrease, and saltgrass, blue grams, lage are needed to control soil blowing and water erosion. sand dropseed, sedge, and rush increase. Undesirable Terracing also may be needed to control water erosion. weeds and annuals invade the site as range condition The potential native- vegetation on this range site is becomes poorer. dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue Seeding with an interseeder is advisable if the range is grama. Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama, in poor condition. Sand reedgrass, sand bluestem, sideoats and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential grama, switchgrass, little bluestem. indiangrass, and blue production ranges from 2.200 pounds per acre in favora- ,;rama are suitable for seeding. Seeding early in spring ble years to 1.500 pounds in unfavorable years. As range pas proven most successful Grazing should be light to condition deteriorates. the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, prevent range deterioration. and switchgrass decrease and blue grams sand dropseed, Wildlife is an important secondary use of this unit. On and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade the Vaient soil. rangeland wildlife, for example, the the site as range condition becomes poorer. pronghorn antelope, can be attracted by developing Management of vegetation on this soil should be based livestock watering facilities, managing livestock grazing, on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- and reseeding where needed. tion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. The Loup soil. which is typically wet and produces an Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass. switchgrass, sideoats abundance of wetland vegetation, attracts wetland wil- grama, blue grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested dlife species, such as mallard, teal, geese, and miscellane- wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected pus shorebirds. Primary management of this soil for wet- should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It land wildlife includes managing livestock grazing, fencing should be drilled into a clean, firm sorghum stubble or a to control Lvestock, protecting from fire, and preventing prepared seedbed. Seeding early in spring has proven drainage. Natural wetland vegetation should be allowed most successful. to develop. Capability subclass VIe irrigated. VIe nonir- Windbreaks and environmental plantings are fairly well rigated: Valent soil in Choppy Sand Meadow range site, suited to this soil. Blowing sand and low available water Loup-snit ;n S nriy Meadow nee site. capacity are the principal hav1 rds in establishing trees i72—Vona loamy sand. 0 to 3 percent slopes) This is a and shrubs. The soil is so loose that trees should be deep, somewhat excessively grained soil on plains and planted in shallow furrows and vegetation maintained high terraces at elevations of 4,600 to 5,200 feet. It between the rows. Supplemental irrigation is needed to formed in eolian or alluvial deposits. Included in mapping insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have good are some leveled areas. Also included are small areas of survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern redcedar, soils that have a loamy substratum and some areas of ponderosa pine, and Siberian elm. The shrubs best suited soils that are noncalcareous to a depth of 60 inches. are skunkbush sumac, lilac, and Siberian peashrub. Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The brown. The upper 6 inches is loamy sand and the lower 6 cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked ---inches is fine sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can . I- •,- WELD COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHERN PART 47 A be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape wheatgrass are suitable for seeding. The grass selected I. cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen- should meet the seasonal requirements of livestock. It can a. tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop- be seeded into a clean, firm sorghum stubble, or it can be merit. especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range- drilled into a firm prepared seedbed. Seeding early in land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be spring has proven most successful. attracted by developing livestock watering facilities, Windbreaks and environmental plantings are fairly well managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed. suited to this soil. Blowing sand and low available water This soil has good potential for urban and recreational capacity are the principal hazards in establishing trees development. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and and shrubs. The soil is so loose that trees should be trees grow well. The chief limiting soil feature is the planted in shallow furrows and vegetation maintained rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a between the rows. Supplemental irrigation may be needed hazard of ground water contamination from sewage to insure survival. Trees that are best suited and have lagoons. In places recreational development is limited by good survival are Rocky Mountain untai julrn.er, we stern the susceptibility to soil blowing. Capability subclass IIIe redcedar. ponderosa pine, and i bs irrigated. IVe nonirrigated: Sandy Plains range site. best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac. and Siberian 73—Vona loamy sand, 3 to 5 percent slopes. This is a peashrub. deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on plains and Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The high terraces at elevations of 4.600 to 5,900 feet It cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked formed in eolian or alluvial deposits. Included in mapping pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape are some leveled areas. Also included are small areas of cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen- soils that have a loamy substratum and some areas of tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop- soils that are noncaicareous to a depth of 60 inches. ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range- Typically the surface layer of this Vona soil is grayish land wildlife, for example, the pronghorn antelope, can be brown. The upper 6 inches is loamy sand and the lower 5 attracted by developing livestock watering facilities, inches is fine sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light managing livestock grazing, and reseeding where needed. yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 14 inches thick. This soil has good potential for urban and recreational The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is sandy loam. development. Once established, the lawns, shrubs, and Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water trees grow well. The primary limiting soil feature is the capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 rapid permeability in the substratum, which causes a inches or more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard of ground water contamination from sewag= hazard is low. lagoons. In places recreational development is limited by This soil is suited to limited cropping. Intensive the susceptibility to soil blowing. Capability subclass IVe cropping is hazardous because of soil blowing. The irrigated, VIe nonirrigated; Sandy Plains range site. cropping system should be limited to such close grown 74—Vona loamy sand, 5 to 9 percent slopes. This is a crops as alfalfa, wheat, and barley. The soil is also suited deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on plains at to irrigated pasture. A suitable cropping system is 3 to 4 elevations of 4.600 to 5200 feet. It formed in eolian years of alfalfa followed by 2 years of corn and small deposits. Included in mapping are small areas of soils that grain and alfalfa seeded with a nurse crop. have a loamy substratum and areas of soils that are non- Closely spaced contour ditches or sprinklers can be calcareous to a depth of 60 inches. used in irrigating close grown crops. Contour furrows or Typically the surface layer is grayish brown. The upper spinklers should be used for new crops. Application of 6 inches is loamy sand and the lower 4 inches is fine barnyard manure and commercial fertilizer helps to main- sandy loam. The subsoil is brown and light yellowish fain good production. brown fine sandy loam about 12 inches thick. The sub- The potential native vegetation on this range site is stratum to a depth of 60 inches is loamy sand. dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water grama. Needleancithread, switchgrass, sideoats grams, capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 and western wheatgrass are also prominent Potential inches or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion production ranges from 2200 pounds per acre in favora- harird is low. ble years to 1,800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range The potential native vegetation on this range site is condition deteriorates, the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, dominated by sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, and blue and switchgrass decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed, grams Needleandthread, switchgrass, sideoats grama, and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade and western wheatgrass are also prominent. Potential the site as range condition becomes poorer. production ranges from 2.200 pounds per acre in favora- Management of vegetation on this soil should be based ble years to 1.800 pounds in unfavorable years. As range on taking half and leaving half of the total annual produc- condition deteriorates. the sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, lion. Seeding is desirable if the range is in poor condition. and switchgrass decrease and blue grama, sand dropseed, Sand bluestem, sand reedgrass, switchgrass, sideoats and sand sage increase. Annual weeds and grasses invade grama, blue grama, pubescent wheatgrass, and crested the site as range condition becomes poorer. Hello