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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.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
Associated sites
R029XY002NV SALINE MEADOW
R029XY004NV SALINE BOTTOM
R029XY024NV SODIC TERRACE 5-8 P.Z.
R029XY091NV SODIC TERRACE 8-10 P.Z.
R029XY094NV SODIC FLOODPLAIN
R029XY153NV SODIC SANDS
R029XY154NV DRY SALINE MEADOW
R029XY156NV DRY FLOODPLAIN
Similar sites
R029XY153NV SODIC SANDS
SAVE4 dominant shrub; ATTO minor shrub
R029XY004NV SALINE BOTTOM
ARTR2 rare to absent; ATTO minor shrub, if present; more productive site
R029XY018NV SODIC DUNE
SAVE4 dominant shrub; ATTO minor shrub
R029XY091NV SODIC TERRACE 8-10 P.Z.
SAVE4-ARTR2 codominant
R029XY156NV DRY FLOODPLAIN
ARTR2 dominant shrub; ATTO minor shrub, if present
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Atriplex torreyi
Herbaceous (1) Leymus cinereus
(2) Sporobolus airoidesPhysiographic features
This site occurs on inset fans and axial stream floodplains. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent, but slope gradients of 0 to 2 is typical. Elevation is 3500 to about 6500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Inset fan
(2) Stream terrace
(3) Flood plain
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency Occasional Ponding frequency Occasional Elevation 3500 – 6500 ft Slope 0 – 4 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is arid, characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 6 to 10 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F. The average growing season is about 90 to 120 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 120 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site normally receives additional moisture from flooding or as run-in from higher landscapes. A stable water table within 6 to 8 feet of the surface provides extra moisture to deep-rooted plants.
Soil features
The soils of this site are very deep and well drained. They are formed in alluvium from lacustrine sediments. These soils are moderately to strongly salt and sodium affected. Soil reaction decreases with soil depth. This site normally receives additional moisture from flooding or as run-in from higher landscapes. A stable water table within 6 to 8 feet of the surface provides extra moisture to deep-rooted plants. Runoff is high but there is no widespread ponding. Potential for sheet and rill erosion is slight. The soil series associated with this site is Slaw.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
(2) Silty clay loam
(3) Gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow Soil depth 72 – 84 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)7.3 – 7.9 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 4 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)8 – 32 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)13 – 99 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)8.5 – 9.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive grazing use by cattle and/or feral horses, basin wildrye and other perennial grasses decrease in productivity and density as canopy cover and density of Torrey's quailbush, rubber rabbitbrush and black greasewood increase. Cheatgrass and annual forbs such as mustards and Russian thistle are species likely to invade this site.
Fire Ecology:
Grassland communities with a basin wildrye component historically experienced mostly infrequent to frequent stand replacing fires. Grassland vegetation types experienced both short fire intervals of less than 35 years as well as intervals ranging from 35 to 100 years, depending on climate and ignition sources. Torrey’s quailbush has been shown to have reduced flammability due to high moisture and ash contents. Torrey’s quailbush can survive at least some fires. The limited information available suggests that the most likely postfire regeneration strategy of Torrey’s quailbush is seed production. Basin wildrye is top-killed by fire. Older basin wildrye plants with large proportions of dead material within the perennial crown can be expected to show higher mortality due to fire than younger plants having little debris. Basin wildrye is generally tolerant of fire but may be damaged by early season fire combined with dry soil conditions. Alkali sacaton is classified as tolerant of, but not resistant to, fire. Top-killing by fire is probably frequent, and the plants can be killed by severe fire.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. DRAFT STM
Figure 5. DRAFT STM LEGEND
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More 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 StateCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is dominated by Torrey's quailbush and basin wildrye. Potential vegetative composition is about 35% grasses, 5% forbs and 60% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 25 to 45 percent.
Figure 6. 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 480 720 900 Grass/Grasslike 280 420 525 Forb 40 60 75 Total 800 1200 1500 State 2
Current Potenital StateState 3
Annual StateAdditional 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 288–660 basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 240–480 – alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 24–120 – saltgrass DISP Distichlis spicata 24–60 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 24–180 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 6–36 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 6–36 – Forb3 Perennial 24–96 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 3–36 – povertyweed IVAX Iva axillaris 6–36 – niterwort NITRO Nitrophila 6–36 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 6–36 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 6–36 – 4 Annual 1–36 basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 240–480 – Shrub/Vine5 Primary Shrubs 361–756 Torrey's saltbush ATTO Atriplex torreyi 300–480 – greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 60–180 – basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 1–96 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 6–36 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 60–180 povertyweed IVAX Iva axillaris 6–36 – niterwort NITRO Nitrophila 6–36 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 6–36 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 6–36 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 12–36 – shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 12–36 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 12–36 – spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 12–36 – silver buffaloberry SHAR Shepherdia argentea 12–36 – seepweed SUAED Suaeda 12–36 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to basin wildrye and alkali sacaton production. The early growth and abundant production of basin wildrye make it a valuable source of forage for livestock. It is important forage for cattle and is readily grazed by cattle and horses in early spring and fall. Though coarse-textured during the winter, basin wildrye may be utilized more frequently by livestock and wildlife when snow has covered low shrubs and other grasses. Alkali sacaton is a valuable forage species in arid and semiarid regions. Plants are tolerant to moderate grazing and can produce abundant herbage utilized by livestock. Livestock browse the leaves of Torrey’s quailbush.
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:
Leaves and seeds of Torrey’s quailbush are eaten by many species. Mule deer and pronghorn browse the leaves. Small mammals such as rabbits and rodents have been reported to eat Torrey’s quailbush. Dense stands of Torrey’s quailbush provide excellent cover for several species. Basin wildrye provides winter forage for mule deer, though use is often low compared to other native grasses. Basin wildrye provides summer forage for black-tailed jackrabbits. Because basin wildrye remains green throughout early summer, it remains available for small mammal forage for longer time than other grasses. The western saltdesert shrub and grassland communities where alkali sacaton is common support an abundance of mule deer, pronghorn, carnivores, small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Hydrological functions
Runoff is high. Permeability is slow.
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
Tribes of the American southwest used Torrey’s quailbush seeds to make a thick gruel. They made flour to make small cakes, used the leaves as soap, and used the flowers, stems and leaves as a treatment for nasal congestion. The seeds were likely used in a similar way to fourwing saltbush. Seeds of fourwing saltbush were also reportedly ground into flour. Other uses for fourwing saltbrush that may have been similar for big saltbrush are the use of the ground meal as an emetic, use of ground flowers or roots moistened with saliva in treating ant bites, and addition of ashes to water for dyeing meal greenish-blue. Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand.
Other information
Torrey’s quailbush is a recommended revegetation species in riparian areas throughout its range and has also been used in revegetation projects in other habitats. Basin wildrye is useful in mine reclamation, fire rehabilitation and stabilizing disturbed areas. Its usefulness in range seeding, however, may be limited by initially weak stand establishment. Alkali sacaton is one of the most commonly used species for seeding and stabilizing disturbed lands. Due to alkali sacaton’s salt tolerance, it is recommended for native grass seeding on subirrigated saline sites.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: White Pine County, NV Township/Range/Section T11N R61E S32 Latitude 38° 46′ 21″ Longitude 115° 8′ 31″ General legal description NW¼SE¼ Section 32, T11N. R61E. MDBM. About 8 miles southwest of Lund, approximately 1½ miles north of White Pine and Nye County line, White Pine County, Nevada. Also found in Nye County. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov)
Contributors
RRK
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) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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