Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R034BY329UT
Upland Silt Loam (Fourwing saltbush/Winterfat)
Accessed: 05/11/2026
-
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.
Associated sites
R034BY320UT Upland Shallow Loam (Black Sagebrush)
R034BY322UT Upland Shallow Loam (Two-Needle Pinyon / Utah Juniper)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Atriplex canescens
(2) Krascheninnikovia lanataHerbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on stream terraces, washes, toeslopes and alluvial fans. Slopes are mostly 2 to 8 percent. Elevations range from 6,000 feet to 7,000 feet on all aspects.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Stream terrace
(2) Alluvial fan
Elevation 6000 – 7000 ft Slope 2 – 8 % Climatic features
Average annual precipitation is 12 to 14 inches. Approximately 60% occurs as rain from March through October. Much of this summer precipitation occurs as convection thunderstorms. On the average, November through February are the driest months and July through October are the wettest months. Soil temperatures are in the mesic and frigid regime. In average years, plants begin growth around March and April and end growth in October. Plants usually remain green until frost in October except in drier than average years. There is usually an active greenup period in the fall. The most rapid growth occurs during April, May and June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 0 days Freeze-free period (average) 130 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
Characteristic soils in this site are deep to very deep and well drained. They formed in alluvium derived mainly from sedimentary parent materials. Soils have a silt loam surface texture and are calcareous. The water supplying capacity is 6 to 8 inches. Average annual soil loss in potential is approximately .5 to 1 ton/acre.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Drainage class Well drained Soil depth 40 – 60 in Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition deteriorates due to overgrazing, perennial bunch grasses will decrease while cheatgrass and western wheatgrass increase. Under cattle grazing, fourwing saltbush and winterfat may dominate the site. Although this site can burn, fire does not appear to be an important ecological factor. Cheatgrass and annual weeds are most likely to invade this site.
State and transition model
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 StateThe dominant aspect of the plant community is fourwing saltbush and winterfat. The composition by air-dry weight is approximately 35 percent perennial grasses, 10 percent forbs and 55 percent shrubs.
Figure 3. 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 275 413 523 Grass/Grasslike 175 263 333 Forb 50 75 95 Total 500 751 951 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 40-50% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-30% Forb foliar cover 0-10% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 0% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 0% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – – – >0.5 <= 1 – – – 4-6% >1 <= 2 – – 24-26% – >2 <= 4.5 – 44-46% – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Shrub/Vine0 Dominant Shrubs 320–440 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 160–200 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 120–160 – basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 40–80 – 3 Sub-Dominant Shrubs 48–112 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 24–40 – prairie sagewort ARFR4 Artemisia frigida 8–24 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 8–24 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 8–24 – Grass/Grasslike0 Dominant Grasses 168–320 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 80–120 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 40–80 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 40–80 – 1 Sub-Dominant Grasses 80–176 Grass, annual 2GA Grass, annual 24–40 – Grass, perennial 2GP Grass, perennial 24–40 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 8–24 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 8–24 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 8–24 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 8–24 – Forb0 Dominant Forbs 8–40 scarlet globemallow SPCO Sphaeralcea coccinea 8–40 – 2 Sub-Dominant Forbs 104–192 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 24–40 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 24–40 – basin fleabane ERPU9 Erigeron pulcherrimus 8–16 – Shockley's buckwheat ERSH Eriogonum shockleyi 8–16 – mountain pepperweed LEMO2 Lepidium montanum 8–16 – hoary tansyaster MACA2 Machaeranthera canescens 8–16 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 8–16 – hedgemustard SIOF Sisymbrium officinale 8–16 – Pacific aster SYCHC Symphyotrichum chilense var. chilense 8–16 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides proper grazing for cattle and sheep during spring, summer, and fall.
This site provides food and cover for wildlife.
Wildlife using this site include jackrabbit, coyote, mule deer and elk.
Hydrological functions
The soil is in hydrologic group b. The runoff curve numbers are 61 through 79 depending on the condition of the watershed.
Recreational uses
This site has moderate recreational opportunities and often has scenic vistas.
Wood products
None
Supporting information
Other references
Modal Soil: Mikim SiL Moist 2-8% — fine-loamy, mixed calcareous, mesic Ustic Torriorthents
Contributors
J. Lee Broadbent
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) Shane A. Green (NRCS), Brock Benson (NRCS), Robert D. Stager (BLM), Mike Gates (BLM), Tyler Staggs (BLM), Alan Bass (BLM). Adapted to this site and revised to include updated terminology and concepts by V. Keith Wadman (NRCS Retired). Contact for lead author shane.green@ut.usda.gov Date 12/15/2011 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None to very few rills present. Some minor rill development may occur on slopes >5% or on areas located below exposed bedrock or other water shedding areas where increased runoff may occur. Where these rills are present, they should be fairly short (3-6 feet), <1 inch deep and somewhat widely spaced (4-8 feet). Minor rill development may be observed on all slopes following major thunderstorm or spring runoff events but should heal during the next growing season. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some very minor evidence of water flow patterns may be found around perennial plant bases. They show little evidence of current erosion. They are expected to be short (3-6 feet), stable, sinuous and not connected. There may be very minor evidence of deposition. Evidence of water flow may increase somewhat with slope. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Perennial vegetation shows little evidence of erosional pedestalling (1 to 2% of individual plants). Plant roots are covered and litter remains in place around plant crowns. Terracettes should be absent or, if present, stable. A slight increase in both pedestal and terracette development may occur with increasing slope. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-20% bare ground. Bare ground spaces should not be greater than 1 to 2 foot in diameter. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No gullies present on site. A very few gullies may be present in landscape settings where they transport runoff from areas of greater water flow such as exposed bedrock. These gullies will be limited to areas adjacent to sites where this runoff accumulation occurs. Any gullies present should show little sign of accelerated erosion and should be stabilized with perennial vegetation. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None to very slight. Very little evidence of wind generated soil movement is present. Wind caused blowouts and deposition are not present. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most litter resides in place with some redistribution caused by water movement. Minor litter removal may occur in flow channels with deposition occurring within 1 to 2 feet at points of obstruction. The majority of litter accumulates at the base of plants. Some grass leaves and small twigs (grass stems) may accumulate in soil depressions adjacent to plants. Woody stems are not likely to move. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
This site should have a soil stability rating of 4 or 5 under the plant canopies, and a rating of 3 to 4 in the interspaces. The average rating should be a 4. Soil surface textures are mostly loams and silt loams. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
(Bigpack) Soil surface 0-4 inches. Texture is a silt loam; color is very dark gray brown (10YR3/2); and structure is weak medium subanglar blocky parting to weak granular. Ochric epipedon ranges to 4 inches. Use the specific information for the soil you are assessing found in the published soil survey to supplement this description. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial vegetation produces sufficient cover and spatial arrangement to intercept most raindrops and reduce raindrop splash erosion. Litter on soil surface and cryptogamic crusting, where present, also protects soil from splash erosion and encourages a higher rate of infiltration. Plant spatial distribution should slow runoff, allowing additional time for infiltration. Bare spaces are expected to be small and irregular in shape and are usually not connected. Vegetative structure is usually adequate to capture snow and ensure that snowmelt occurs in a controlled manner, allowing maximum time for infiltration, and reducing runoff and erosion in all but the most extreme storm events. When perennial grasses and shrubs decrease due to natural events including drought, insect damage, etc., which reduce ground cover and increase bare ground, runoff is expected to increase and associated infiltration reduced. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Some soils have an increase in clay content deep in their profile that could be mistaken for a compaction pan. -
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:
Sprouting shrubs (Fourwing saltbush, winterfat) > Rhizomatous grasses (western wheatgrass) > Non-sprouting shrubs (basin big sagebrush).Sub-dominant:
Sprouting shrubs (green rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush) > Perennial bunchgrasses (Indian ricegrass, Nevada bluegrass) > Perennial forbs (scarlet globemallow).Other:
A wide variety of other perennial grasses and both perennial and annual forbs can be expected to occur in the plant community.Additional:
Natural disturbance regimes include fire, drought, and insects. Assumed fire cycle of 30 to 40+ years. Functional/structural groups may appropriately contain non-native species if their ecological function is the same as the native species in the reference state (e.g. Crested wheatgrass, Smooth brome, intermediate wheatgrass, Siberian Wheatgrass etc.) Following a disturbance such as fire, drought, rodents or insects that remove woody vegetation, forbs and perennial grasses (herbaceous species) may dominate the community for a period of time. If a disturbance has not occurred for an extended period of time, woody species may continue to increase. These conditions would reflect a functional community phase within the reference state. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All age classes of perennial grasses should be present under average to above average growing conditions with age class expression likely subdued during periods of extended drought. Slight decadence in the principle shrubs could occur near the end of the fire cycle or during periods of extended drought, or insect infestations. In general, a mix of age classes should be expected with some dead and decadent plants present. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover will be heavier under plants. Most litter will be herbaceous and depths of 1/2 to 1 inch would be considered normal. Perennial vegetation should be well distributed on the site. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Annual production in air-dry herbage should be approximately 700 - 800 #/acre on an average year but could range from 450 - 1000 #/acre during periods of prolonged drought or above average precipitation. -
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:
Cheatgrass, Russian thistle, Utah juniper, and non-native, invasive annual forbs such as alyssum. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce in all years, except in extreme drought years. Green rabbitbrush sprouts vigorously following fire. There are no restrictions on either seed or vegetative reproduction. Some seedling recruitment of major species is present during average and above average growing 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
