LOCATION APISHAPA CO+NMEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, calcareous, mesic Vertic Fluvaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Apishapa clay loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 8 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/3) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to fine granular; slightly hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; cracks up to 1/2 inch wide; calcareous; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
AC--8 to 14 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; very weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very sticky and very plastic; cracks up to 1/2 inch wide; few slickensides on the faces of peds; calcareous; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (3 to 16 inches thick)
Ckzg1--14 to 50 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; common medium prominent (2.5Y 5/6 and 2.5Y 4/1) mottles; massive; extremely hard, very sticky and very plastic; few cracks in upper part; visible secondary calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate occurring as concretions, crystals, and in thin seams and streaks; calcareous; strongly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (20 to 40 inches thick)
Ckzg2--50 to 60 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) clay, olive gray (5Y 4/2) moist; massive; extremely hard, very plastic; secondary calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate, and probably other salts; calcareous; strongly alkaline. (Several feet thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Prowers County, Colorado; approximately 360 feet south 2,315 feet east of the NW corner of sec. 29, T. 22 S., R. 25 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: There are many distinct and prominent mottles of bright and dull chroma usually within an 18 inch depth. The particle size control section is slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline. Calcium carbonate equivalent is usually 2 to 5 percent in most of the control section, but increases to 10 or 12 percent in some horizons. Calcium sulfate is usually about 2 percent in the lower part of the control section but ranges from 0 to 5 percent. The average annual soil temperature is 51 to 57 degrees F., the average summer soil temperature ranges from 66 to 76 degrees F. The control section is usually clay but ranges from 35 to 60 percent clay, 10 to 50 percent silt, and 10 to 25 percent sand. Fluctuating water tables occur in these soils in some season of some years.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR through 5Y, value of 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3.
The C horizon has hue of 5Y through 10YR.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Abbott series. Abbott soils have more than 5 percent calcium carbonate equivalent throughout and lack gypsum crystals.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Apishapa soils are on flood plains or in slightly depressed areas on plains and terraces. Slope gradients range from 0 to about 4 percent. The soils formed in alluvial parent materials derived from mixed rock sources. The average annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 16 inches, of which 8 to 10 inches falls during the months of April through August. The frost-free season is 135 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Limon, Las, Las Animas, and Haverson soils. Las Animas, Las, and Haverson soils have less than 35 percent clay in the particle size control section. Limon soils are well drained.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained or poorly drained; very slow runoff or ponded; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally as native hay or pastureland. Native vegetation is mainly saltgrass, alkali sacaton, western wheatgrass, brush cactus, and greasewood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern and southeastern Colorado and northern New Mexico in MLRA 67 and 69. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: The Arkansas Valley Area, Colorado, 1926.