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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.
Ecological site concept
This site is on nearly level to moderately sloping or rolling uplands found near cones or craters. Slopes average 10 percent or less and do not ordinarily exceed 35 percent.
These soils are derived from volcanic cinders. Typically, they have gravelly or very gravelly loam surfaces, but these may also be gravelly or very gravelly sandy loams or sandy clay loams. They are moderately deep to deep and are well drained.Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Bouteloua gracilis
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaLegacy ID
R035XA117NM
Physiographic features
This site is on nearly level to moderately sloping or rolling uplands found near cones or craters. Slopes average 10 percent or less and do not ordinarily exceed 35 percent. Elevations vary from about 6,000 to 7,800 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Cinder cone
(2) Volcanic crater
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 6000 – 7800 ft Slope 0 – 35 % Water table depth 72 – 0 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Average annual precipitation varies from about 10 inches to just over 16 inches. Fluctuations ranging from about 5 inches to 25 inches are not uncommon. The overall climate is characterized by cold dry winters in which winter moisture is less than summer. As much as half or more of the annual precipitation can be expected to come during the period of July through September. Thus, fall conditions are often more favorable for good growth of cool-season perennial grasses, shrubs, and forbs than are those of spring.
The average frost-free season is about 120 days and extends from approximately mid-May to early or mid-September. Average annual air temperatures are 50 degrees F or lower and summer maximums rarely exceed 100 degrees F. Winter minimums typically approach or go below zero. Monthly mean temperatures exceed 70 degrees F for the period of July and August.
Rainfall patterns generally favor warm-season perennial vegetation, while the temperature regime tends to favor cool-season vegetation. This creates a somewhat complex community of plants on a given range site which is quite susceptible to disturbance and is at or near its productive potential only when both natural warm- and cool- season dominants are present.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 170 days Freeze-free period (average) 250 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams.
Soil features
These soils are derived from volcanic cinders. Typically, they have gravelly or very gravelly loam surfaces, but these may also be gravelly or very gravelly sandy loams or sandy clay loams. They are moderately deep to deep and are well drained. The subsoils are usually gravelly or very gravelly throughout. Permeability is moderately rapid, and the available water capacity is low to moderate.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Gravelly sandy clay loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 40 – 0 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 20 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1 – 6 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 20 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 4 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 4 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)40 – 80 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)10 – 20 % Ecological dynamics
Overview
This site occurs on cinder cones, hills, and plateaus. It occurs as a distinct unit or as part of a complex with Gravelly sites. The historic plant community of the Cinder site is a grassland characterized by both warm and cool season perennial bunchgrasses, scattered shrubs and forbs, and occasionally a few trees. Blue grama is the dominant grass. Widely scattered patches of wolfberry, Apache plume, and four-wing saltbush are common. A few scattered piñon and juniper may also occur on this site. This site is susceptible to encroachment of rabbitbrush. Rabbitbrush may increase on this site in response to fire, overgrazing, and decreased resource competition.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. MLRA 36, WP-2 Cinder
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 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityState Containing the Historic Climax Plant Community
Grassland State: The historic plant community is dominated by blue grama, with sideoats grama and galleta occurring as the sub- dominant grasses. New Mexico feathergrass, western wheatgrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail are the most frequently encountered cool-season species. Widely scattered patches of wolfberry, Apache plume, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat are common. Piñon and juniper may also be present. Heavy continuous use by livestock can result in a decrease in cool-season grasses, sideoats grama, spike muhly and winterfat. Blue grama, galleta, ring muhly, and threeawns typically increase in relative cover.
Diagnosis: Grass cover is uniform with few large bare areas present. Shrubs are scattered with canopy cover averaging five percent. Evidence of erosion such as pedestalling of grasses, rills and gullies are infrequent.
Figure 5. 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)Grass/Grasslike 298 521 744 Forb 28 49 70 Total 326 570 814 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-20% Forb foliar cover 0-10% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 10-20% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 20-60% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-20% Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM0308 , R035XA117NM-Cinder-HCPC. WP-2.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 7 10 15 25 25 8 5 0 0 State 2
Shrub-EncroachedCommunity 2.1
Shrub-EncroachedAdditional States:
Shrub Encroached State: This state is characterized by the noticeable increase of rabbitbrush and decreased annual production of grasses. Blue grama is the dominant grass species, and ring muhly, galleta, and dropseeds are typically found at increased densities. Cool season grasses are found in isolated patches or are absent. Annual production of grasses is substantially reduced.
Diagnosis: Rabbitbrush is found at increased densities relative to the Grassland state. Grass cover is patchy with large bare areas present. Low vigor blue grama is the dominant grass. Evidence of erosion such as pedestalling of plants, elongated water flow patterns, litter dams, and rills is common. Gullies may be present, especially on slopes greater than 10 percent.
Transition to Shrub Encroached State (1a) Rabbitbrush is a fire adapted species and may increase or quickly occupy burned areas.6 Rabbitbrush can increase after 1-3 years following fire.5 Seed production and seedling survival of rabbitbrush is believed to be sensitive to resource competition.2 During years of limited rainfall, high grass cover may help to suppress shrub seedlings by competing directly for soil moisture. Rabbitbrush is believed to increase under
heavy grazing pressure.4 Overgrazing can reduce grass cover and provide competition free areas for the establishment of rabbitbrush seedlings.
Key indicators of approach to transition:
* Decrease or change in composition or distribution of grass cover.
* Increase in size and frequency of bare patches.
* Increase in amount of rabbitbrush seedlings.
Transition back to Grassland (2b) Brush control is necessary to initiate the transition back to the grassland state. Chemical control has been shown to be effective in the control of rabbitbrush1,3, but the results may vary widely depending on time and rate of application. Root plowing and other mechanical control methods that sever the plant below the root crown may reduce rabbitbrush densities. Follow up treatment may be necessary. Prescribed grazing will help ensure adequate rest following brush control and will assist in the establishment and maintenance of grass cover.
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 184–215 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 184–215 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 184–215 – 2 61–92 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 61–92 – 3 61–92 needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 61–92 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 61–92 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 61–92 – 4 31–61 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 31–61 – 5 31–61 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 31–61 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 31–61 – 6 31–92 common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 31–92 – spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 31–92 – 7 6–31 threeawn ARIST Aristida 6–31 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 6–31 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 6–31 – 8 0–18 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–18 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–18 – Shrub/Vine9 6–31 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 6–31 – Apache plume FAPA Fallugia paradoxa 6–31 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 6–31 – 10 6–18 winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 6–18 – 11 6–18 Bigelow sage ARBI3 Artemisia bigelovii 6–18 – prairie sagewort ARFR4 Artemisia frigida 6–18 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 6–18 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 6–18 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 6–18 – Tree12 0–18 juniper JUNIP Juniperus 0–18 – twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 0–18 – Forb13 6–43 Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 6–43 – 14 6–18 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 6–18 – Table 8. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This range site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is
characterized by pronghorn antelope, coyote, black-tailed jackrabbit, Merriam's kangaroo rat, white-throated woodrat, silky pocket mouse, sparrow hawk, chipping sparrow, mourning dove, leopard lizard, short-horned lizard, and prairie rattlesnake. The chestnut-collard longspur winters on this site, and the common raven and prairie falcon hunt over it.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups. Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series-------------Hydrologic Group
Ceniza---------------------------B
Churipa--------------------------B
Montoso--------------------------B
Recreational uses
This site offers fair to good potential for hiking, horseback riding, nature observation, photography, camping, and picnicking. It offers good to excellent potential for pronghorn antelope hunting.
Wood products
This site has little significant value for wood products.
Other products
This site is suitable for grazing by most kinds and classes of livestock in all seasons of the year, although it is more suited to grazing animals (cattle or sheep) than browsers (goats). Continuous year-long grazing by cattle will ordinarily result in a decrease in such species as New Mexico feathergrass, needle-and-thread, western wheatgrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Prolonged heavy use will also cause a decline of sideoats grama, winterfat and spike muhly. Blue grama may initially increase to the point that occupies 75 to 80 percent of the species composition. The site, at this point, will also be characterized by increases in ring muhly, threeawns, rabbitbrush, and possibly pinyon and juniper. Production in these instances may be cut substantially.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity-----------------------Index Ac/AUM
100 - 76---------------------------3.5 - 4.6
75 – 51----------------------------4.4 - 6.6
50 – 26----------------------------6.4 - 11.0
25 – 0-----------------------------11.0 +
Supporting information
Other references
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the New Mexico and Arizona Plateaus & Mesas Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: McKinley, Catron, Cibola, Socorro and Sandoval.
1. Cluff, G.J., B.A. Roundy, R.A. Evans, and J.A. Young. 1983. Herbicidal control of greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and salt rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. consimilis). Weed Science. 31: 275-279.
2. McKell, C. M., and W. W. Chilcote. 1957. Response of Rabbitbrush following removal of
competing vegetation. Journal of Range Management. 10: 228-230
3. Whisenant, S.G. 1988. Control of threadleaf rubber rabbitbrush with herbicides. Journal of Range Management. 41: 470-472
4. Whitson, T.D. (ed.). 1999. Weeds of the West. The Western Society of Weed Science,
Wyoming. pp 103
5. Wright, H. A. 1972. Shrub response to fire. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2004].
6. Young, R. P. 1983. Fire as a vegetation management tool in rangelands of the Intermountain Region. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/[2004].
Contributors
Brenda Simpson
Christine Bishop
David Trujillo
Don Sylvester
John TunbergApproval
Kendra Moseley, 5/20/2025
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) Contact for lead author Date 04/21/2026 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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