Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R029XY010NV
LOAMY SLOPE 8-10 P.Z.
Last updated: 2/20/2025
Accessed: 10/05/2026
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 029X–Southern Nevada Basin and Range
The Southern Nevada Basin and Range MLRA (29) represents the transition from the Mojave Desert to the Great Basin. It is cooler and wetter than the Mojave. It is warmer and typically receives more summer precipitation than the Great Basin. This area is in Nevada (73 percent), California (25 percent), and Utah (2 percent). It makes up about 26,295 square miles (68,140 square kilometers). Numerous national forests occur in the area, including the San Bernardino, Angeles, Sequoia, Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyabe, and Dixie National Forests. Portions of Death Valley National Monument, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Nevada Test Site, the Hawthorne Ammunition Depot, and the Nellis Air Force Range in Nevada and the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in California also are in this MLRA. The northeast part of the Paiute Indian Reservation and the southern third of the Walker River Indian Reservation are in the part of this MLRA in Nevada, and the Lone Pine, Fort Independence, and Big Pine Indian Reservations are in the part in California.
Physiography:
The entire area is in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. The area of broad, nearly level, aggraded desert basins and valleys between a series of mountain ranges trending north to south. The basins are bordered by sloping fans and pluvial lake terraces. The mountains are uplifted fault blocks with steep side slopes and not well dissected due to limited annual precipitation. Most of the valleys in this MLRA are closed basins or bolsons containing sinks or playa lakes.
Geology:
The mountains are dominated by Pliocene and Miocene andesite and basalt rocks, Paleozoic and Precambrian carbonate rocks prominent in some areas. Scattered outcrops of older Tertiary intrusives and very young tuffaceous sediments (Pliocene and Miocene) are in the western and eastern thirds of this MLRA. The valleys consist mostly of alluvial fill and playa deposits at the lowest elevations in the closed basins.
Climate:
The average annual precipitation is 3 to 12 inches (75 to 305 millimeters) in most of this area. It may be as high as 29 inches (735 millimeters), on the higher mountain slopes. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. Summers are dry, but sporadic storms are common in July and August.
Water Resources:
Water resources are scarce. Ground water and surface water sources are limited. Streams are small and intermittent. Quality of surface water in naturally degraded as streams cross area of valley fill effected by dissolved salts. Irrigation water may raise the levels of dissolved salts and suspended sediments causing contamination.
Soils:
Dominant soil orders include Entisols and Aridisols.Ecological site concept
The Loamy Slope 8-10 P.Z. site occurs on piedmont slopes, rock pediments, hills, and lower mountain sideslopes on all exposures. Slopes range from 4 to 75 percent, but slope gradients of 15 to 50 percent are typical. Elevations are 4400 to about 8200 feet. The soils are very shallow to moderately deep and are derived from a variety of parent materials. The surface may be stony, cobbly or gravelly.
Associated sites
R029XY008NV SHALLOW CALCAREOUS LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
R029XY016NV LOAMY UPLAND 5-8 P.Z.
R029XY049NV SANDY LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
R029XY075NV LOAMY SLOPE 10-12 P.Z.
R029XY077NV SHALLOW GRAVELLY LOAM 8-10 P.Z.
Similar sites
R029XY029NV LOAMY 10-12 P.Z.
Slopes less steep; more productive site
R028BY006NV SHALLOW CALCAREOUS LOAM 10-12 P.Z.
Slopes more steep; more productive site
R029XY049NV SANDY LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
Slopes less steep; more productive site; coarse textured soils
R029XY075NV LOAMY SLOPE 10-12 P.Z.
ARTRV present; more productive site
R029XY073NV BOULDERY SLOPE 8-12 P.Z.
ACSP12 dominant grass; very stony/bouldery surface
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis
Herbaceous (1) Achnatherum hymenoides
(2) Hesperostipa comataPhysiographic features
The Loamy Slope 8-10 P.Z. site occurs on piedmont slopes, rock pediments, hills, and lower mountain sideslopes on all exposures. Slopes range from 4 to 75 percent, but slope gradients of 15 to 50 percent are typical. Elevations are 4400 to about 8200 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Pediment
Runoff class Medium to very high Elevation 4400 – 8200 ft Slope 4 – 75 % Water table depth 72 – 0 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is semiarid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 8 to 10(11) inches. Mean annual air temperature is 49 to 55 degrees F. The average growing season is about 130 to 150 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 90-120 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 140-150 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 10-10 in Frost-free period (actual range) 90-120 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 130-160 days Precipitation total (actual range) 10-10 in Frost-free period (average) 110 days Freeze-free period (average) 150 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) TWIN SPRING FALLINI [USC00268443], Tonopah, NV
-
(2) TONOPAH [USW00023153], Tonopah, NV
-
(3) GOLDFIELD [USC00263285], Goldfield, NV
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features associated with this site.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are very shallow to moderately deep and are derived from a variety of parent materials. The surface may be stony, cobbly or gravelly. Water intake rates are slow to moderately rapid, available water capacity is very low, runoff is low to very high and soils are well drained to somewhat excessively drained. Soil stability values should be 3 to 6 on most soil textures found on this site. Areas of this site occurring on soils that have a physical crust will probably have stability values less than 3. The soil moisture regime is aridic bordering on xeric and the temperature regime is mesic. These soils typically have an argillic horizon. The soil series associated with this site include: Calpeak, Entero, Espint, Gabbvally, Handpah, Jetcop, Malmesa, Mina, Richinde, Schader, Thike, Wahguyhe, and Zoate.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – volcanic rock
(2) Colluvium – welded tuff
(3) Colluvium – volcanic rock
Surface texture (1) Very stony loam
(2) Extremely gravelly sandy loam
(3) Very gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 3 – 40 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 23 – 69 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.4 – 2.2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 20 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 5 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)17 – 60 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive livestock use, Wyoming big sagebrush and Douglas rabbitbrush will increase as Indian ricegrass, needleandthread, and fourwing saltbush decrease. Galleta will initially increase with wildfire. Species likely to invade this site are cheatgrass, Douglas' rabbitbrush, snakeweed, halogeton, Russian thistle, annual mustards, and bassia. Utah juniper increases on this site where it occurs adjacent to juniper woodland areas. Banana yucca typically occurs on this site in the eastern portion of MLRA 29.
Fire Ecology:
The fire return interval for Wyoming big sagebrush communities ranges from 10 to 70 years. Fire is the principal means of renewal for decadent stands of Wyoming big sagebrush. Wyoming big sagebrush establishes after fire from a seedbank; from seed produced by remnant plants that escaped fire; and from plants adjacent to the burn that seed in. Fires in Wyoming big sagebrush communities are usually not continuous, and remnant plants are the principal means of postfire reproduction. Nevada ephedra generally sprouts after fire damages aboveground vegetation. Underground regenerative structures commonly survive when aboveground vegetation is consumed by fire. However, severe fires may kill shallowly buried regenerative structures. Green ephedra generally sprouts vigorously from the roots or woody root crown after fire and rapidly produces aboveground biomass from surviving meristematic tissue. Fire top-kills or kills fourwing saltbush, depending upon ecotype. Fourwing saltbush may sprout after top-kill. Fourwing saltbush probably establishes primarily from seed after fire, with some populations also regenerating vegetatively.
Indian ricegrass can be killed by fire, depending on severity and season of burn. Indian ricegrass reestablishes on burned sites through seed dispersed from adjacent unburned areas. Needleandthread grass is top-killed by fire. It may be killed if the aboveground stems are completely consumed. Needleandthread grass in sagebrush ecosystems is classified as slightly damaged by fire, and in intermountain rangelands, as severely damaged. Needleandthread grass sprouts from the caudex following fire, if heat has not been sufficient to kill underground parts. Recovery usually takes 2 to 10 years. Needlegrasses are damaged by burning due to the dense plant material that can burn slowly and long, charring to the growing points. Late summer and early fall fires are least harmful. Sandberg bluegrass is generally unharmed by fire. It produces little litter, and its small bunch size and sparse litter reduces the amount of heat transferred to perennating buds in the soil. Its rapid maturation in the spring also reduces fire damage, since it is dormant when most fires occur. Galleta is a rhizomatous perennial which can resprout after top-kill by fire.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagramMore interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateRepresentative of the reference conditions prior to Euro-American settlement in the west.
Community 1.1
Wyoming big sagebrush/Indian ricegrassThe reference plant community is dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush, needle and thread and Indian ricegrass. Other important species occurring on this site are fourwing saltbush and ephedra. Potential vegetative composition is about 45 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 50 percent shrubs and scattered trees. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 15 to 20 percent. Bare ground is approximately 50 percent and basal area for perennial herbaceous plants
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Shrub/Vine 120 168 240 Grass/Grasslike 112 157 225 Forb 13 18 25 Tree 5 7 10 Total 250 350 500 State 2
Current Potential StateRepresentative of the current potential with the presence of non-native annuals. Non-native annuals have the ability to significantly change disturbance regimes and nutrient cycling dynamics.
State 3
Shrub StateShrubs dominate the plant community and non-native annual species are found in the understory.
State 4
Annual StateDominated by non-native annuals. Changes in disturbance return intervals and nutrient dynamics creating a positive feedback loop.
State 5
Tree StateDominated by pinyon and/or juniper trees. Changes in disturbance return intervals over the long term allows for pinyon and/or juniper to dominate the site by controlling site resources.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses 88–205 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 53–88 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 35–53 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–28 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 0–18 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 0–18 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 7–35 Mormon needlegrass ACAR14 Achnatherum aridum 2–11 – threeawn ARIST Aristida 2–11 – slimstalk spiderling BOGR Boerhavia gracillima 2–11 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 2–11 – Forb3 Perennial 7–28 threeawn ARIST Aristida 2–11 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 2–7 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 2–7 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 2–7 – 4 Annual 0–10 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 2–11 – Shrub/Vine5 Primary Shrubs 119–169 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 7–18 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 3–14 – mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 4–14 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 1–7 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 2–7 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 2–7 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 2–7 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 18–53 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 2–11 – spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 2–11 – beavertail pricklypear OPBA2 Opuntia basilaris 2–11 – Stansbury cliffrose PUST Purshia stansburiana 2–11 – desert snowberry SYLO Symphoricarpos longiflorus 2–11 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 2–11 – Tree7 Evergreen 2–11 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 105–123 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 2–11 – mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 2–11 – Stansbury cliffrose PUST Purshia stansburiana 2–11 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 2–11 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Grazing management should be keyed to Indian ricegrass, needleandthread, desert needlegrass, nluegrass galleta grass, and fourwing saltgrass production. Indian ricegrass has good forage value for domestic sheep, cattle and horses. Indian ricegrass is often used most heavily in the late winter, when succulent and nutritious new green leaves are produced. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Needleandthread is important, especially in the spring for domestic livestock. Desert needlegrass is palatable to livestock and is grazed during the spring. Bluegrass is a widespread forage grass. It is one of the earliest grasses in the spring and is sought by domestic livestock and several wildlife species. Sandberg bluegrass is a palatable species, but its production is closely tied to weather conditions. It produces little forage in drought years, making it a less dependable food source than other perennial bunchgrasses. When actively growing, galleta provides good to excellent forage for cattle and horses and fair forage for domestic sheep. Although not preferred, all classes of livestock may use galleta when it is dry. Domestic sheep show greater use in winter than summer months and typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving coarser growth around the edges. Galleta may prove somewhat coarse to domestic sheep. Livestock browse Wyoming big sagebrush, but may use it only lightly when palatable herbaceous species are available. Nevada ephedra is important winter range browse for domestic cattle, sheep and goats. Green ephedra is an important browse species for big game animals. Green ephedra is heavily used by wildlife on winter ranges. Fourwing saltbush is one of the most palatable shrubs in the West. Its protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels are comparable to alfalfa. It provides nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. Palatability is rated as good for domestic sheep and domestic goats; fair for cattle; fair to good for horses in winter, poor for horses in other seasons.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Wyoming big sagebrush is preferred browse for wild ungulates, and Wyoming big sagebrush communities are important winter ranges for big game. Pronghorn usually browse Wyoming big sagebrush heavily. Sagebrush-grassland communities provide critical sage-grouse breeding and nesting habitats. Open Wyoming sagebrush communities are preferred nesting habitat. Meadows surrounded by sagebrush may be used as feeding and strutting grounds. Sagebrush is a crucial component of their diet year-round, and sage-grouse select sagebrush almost exclusively for cover. Leks are often located on low sagebrush sites, grassy openings, dry meadows, ridgetops, and disturbed sites. Sage-grouse prefer mountain big sagebrush and Wyoming big sagebrush communities to basin big sagebrush communities. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn browse Nevada ephedra, especially in spring and late summer when new growth is available. Green ephedra is an important browse species for big game animals. Green ephedra is heavily used by wildlife on winter ranges. Fourwing saltbush provides valuable habitat and year-round browse for wildlife. Fourwing saltbush also provides browse and shelter for small mammals. Additionally, the browse provides a source of water for black-tailed jackrabbits in arid environments. Granivorous birds consume the fruits. Wild ungulates, rodent and lagomorphs readily consume all aboveground portions of the plant. Palatability is rated good for deer, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Indian ricegrass is eaten by pronghorn in "moderate" amounts whenever available. In Nevada it is consumed by desert bighorns. A number of heteromyid rodents inhabiting desert rangelands show preference for seed of Indian ricegrass. Indian ricegrass is an important component of jackrabbit diets in spring and summer. In Nevada, Indian ricegrass may even dominate jackrabbit diets during the spring through early summer months. Indian ricegrass seed provides food for many species of birds. Doves, for example, eat large amounts of shattered Indian ricegrass seed lying on the ground. Needleandthread is moderately important as spring forage for mule deer, but use declines considerably as more preferred forages become available. Scribner’s needlegrass and bluegrass is palatable to wildlife and is grazed during the spring. Desert bighorn sheep of the Mojave Desert utilize galleta as forage. Galleta provides moderately palatable forage when actively growing and relatively unpalatable forage during dormant periods. Galleta provides poor cover for most wildlife species.Hydrological functions
Rills are rare on this site. A few can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms or rapid spring snowmelt. Water flow patterns are rare but can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms. Flow patterns are short and stable. Pedestals are rare with occurrence typically limited to area within water flow patterns. Frost heaving of shallow rooted plants should not be considered as normal condition. Gullies are rare in areas of this site that occur on stable landforms. Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual and perennial forbs) are expected to move the distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during catastrophic events. Perennial herbaceous plants (especially deep-rooted bunchgrasses [i.e., Indian ricegrass] slow runoff and increase infiltration. The sparse shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide a limited opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on this site.
Recreational uses
Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers and shrubs during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.
Other products
Native Americans made tea from big sagebrush leaves. They used the tea as a tonic, an antiseptic, for treating colds, diarrhea, and sore eyes and as a rinse to ward off ticks. Big sagebrush seeds were eaten raw or made into meal. Native Americans used Nevada ephedra as a tea to treat stomach and kidney ailments. Fourwing saltbush is traditionally important to Native Americans. They ground the seeds for flour. The leaves, placed on coals, impart a salty flavor to corn and other roasted food. Top-growth produces a yellow dye. Young leaves and shoots were used to dye wool and other materials. The roots and flowers were ground to soothe insect bites.
Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native American peoples. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source.Other information
Wyoming big sagebrush is used for stabilizing slopes and gullies and for restoring degraded wildlife habitat, rangelands, mine spoils and other disturbed sites. It is particularly recommended on dry upland sites where other shrubs are difficult to establish. Nevada ephedra is useful for erosion control, and seedlings have been successfully planted onto reclaimed strip mines, with survival ranging from 12 to 94%. Atrazine may be effective in controlling Nevada ephedra, though some plants can survive through crown sprouting. Irrigation may increase control by atrazine.
Green ephedra is listed as a successful shrub for restoring western rangeland communities and can be used to rehabilitate disturbed lands. It also has value for reducing soil erosion on both clay and sandy soils. Green ephedra establishes readily through direct seeding, transplants, and stem cuttings. Fourwing saltbush is widely used in rangeland and riparian improvement and reclamation projects, including burned area recovery. It is probably the most widely used shrub for restoration of winter ranges and mined land reclamation. Indian ricegrass is well-suited for surface erosion control and desert revegetation although it is not highly effective in controlling sand movement.
Needleandthread grass is useful for stabilizing eroded or degraded sites.Supporting information
Inventory data references
NASIS data used for abiotic narratives and tables.
Type locality
Location 1: Nye County, NV Township/Range/Section T14N R48E S18 General legal description Stone Cabin Valley, Nye County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Mineral, Esmeralda and Lincoln County, Nevada. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2022. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296.
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).Contributors
HA/GD/VWM
TK Stringham (STM)Approval
Kendra Moseley, 2/20/2025
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) GK BRACKLEY Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 06/20/2006 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none to rare. A few can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms or rapid spring snowmelt. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are none to rare but can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none to rare. Occurrence is usually limited to areas of water flow patterns. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ± 50%; surface rock fragments 35 to 50%; shrub canopy less than 20%; basal area for perennial herbaceous plants < 5%. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during large rainfall events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values should be 3 to 6 on most soil textures found on this site. Areas of this site occurring on soils that have a physical crust will probably have stability values less than 3. (To be field tested) -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is typically platy or fine granular. Soil surface colors are light browns or grays and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 3 inches is typically 1 to 1.5 percent dropping off quickly below. Organic matter content can be more or less depending on micro-topography. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial herbaceous plants (especially deep-rooted bunchgrasses [i.e., Indian ricegrass] slow runoff and increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are none. Massive sub-surface horizons, subsoil argillic horizons or duripans are not to be interpreted as compacted layers. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrassesSub-dominant:
tall shrubs (Wyoming big sagebrush) > associated shrubs > shallow-rooted and/or rhizomatous, perennial grasses > deep-rooted, perennial forbs = fibrous, shallow-rooted, annual and perennial forbsOther:
evergreen trees, succulentsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 35% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (<20%) have dead centers -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Between plant interspaces (± 20%) and litter depth is< ¼-inch. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (through June) ± 350 lbs/ac; Favorable years ± 500 lbs/ac and unfavorable years ± 250 lbs/ac. -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Potential invaders include cheatgrass, halogeton, Russian thistle, and annual mustards. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Reduced growth and production occur during drought years.
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement
