Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R035XB237AZ
Clay Loam Terrace
6-10" p.z.
Sodic
Last updated: 5/20/2025
Accessed: 04/30/2026
-
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.
Click to explore map
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 035X–Colorado Plateau
This ecological site occurs in Common Resource Area 35.2 - the Colorado Plateau Shrub – Grasslands
Elevations range from 3800-5800 feet and precipitation averages 6 to 10 inches per year. Vegetation includes shadscale, fourwing saltbush, Mormon tea, blackbrush, Indian ricegrass, galleta, blue grama, and black grama. The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province and is characterized by a sequence of flat to gently dipping sedimentary rocks eroded into plateaus, valleys and deep canyons. Sedimentary rock classes dominate the plateau with volcanic fields occurring for the most part near its margin.Ecological site concept
This site occurs on fan remnants, low stream terraces, and swales of valley floors below mesas and cuestas. Soils on this site are very deep, and are sodic. The surface textures are clay loam to clay with sandy clay loam to clay subsurface textures.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Atriplex obovata
Herbaceous (1) Sporobolus airoides
(2) Pleuraphis jamesiiPhysiographic features
This site occurs on fan remnants, low stream terraces, and swales of valley floors below mesas and cuestas.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan remnant
(2) Stream terrace
(3) Valley floor
Flooding duration Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) to very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency Rare to occasional Ponding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) Ponding frequency Rare to occasional Elevation 3800 – 5800 ft Slope 0 – 5 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The 35.2 Colorado Plateau Cold Desert Shrub - Grassland common resource area has a very dry and windy climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The annual precipitation averages between 6 and 10 inches. The soil moisture regime is typic aridic and the soil temperature regime is mesic. A slight majority of the precipitation arrives during the late fall, winter, and early spring. This winter season moisture originates in the Pacific Ocean and arrives as rain, or sometimes snow, during widespread frontal storms of generally low intensity. The majority of the snow (average range of 1 to 17 inches) falls from December through February, but rarely lasts more than a few days. A seasonal drought occurs from late May through early July. Summer rains occur from July through September during brief intense local thunderstorms. The rain is sporadic in intensity and location. The moisture originates from the Gulf of Mexico in the early summer and the Gulf of California in the late summer/early fall. Windy conditions are common year round, but the winds are strongest and most frequent during the spring.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 180 days Freeze-free period (average) 210 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
The soil moisture on this ecological site comes from precipitation and occasional run-on moisture following storm events. The sodic, clay surface has very slow infiltration and permeability and does not allow the site to capture much of the moisture available. Thus, this site will contribute run-on moisture to landforms below during heavy rain events.
Soil features
Soils on this site are very deep. The surface textures are clay loam to clay with sandy clay loam to clay subsurface textures.
Soil map unit components that have been correlated to this ecological site include:
SSA 633 Navajo County Central part - MU's 8 & 9 Burnswick;
SSA 707 Little Colorado River Valley Area - MU's 35 Navajo, 62 Fajada;
SSA 712 Canyon de Chelly National Monument MU 11 Navajo;
SSA 713 Chinle Area - MU's 19 Gotho, 22 & 35 Nazlini, 22, 24 & 60 Jocity, 24 Tezinie, 60 Ives;
SSA 715 Fort Defiance Area AZ/NM MU's 20 & 21 Burnswick, 71, 72 & 73 Notal, 72 Notal family, 95 Whitecone;
SSA 717 Shiprock NM - MU's 107 & 200 Tocito, 122, 177, 160, 170 Notal and 524 Uzaneva.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – mudstone
Surface texture (1) Clay loam
(2) Sandy clay loam
(3) Silty clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Very slow to slow Soil depth 60 – 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)9 – 14.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 5 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)2 – 8 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)13 – 30 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.9 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
An ecological site is not a precise assemblage of species for which the proportions are the same from place to place or from year to year. In all plant communities, variability is apparent in productivity and occurrence of individual species. Spatial boundaries of the communities; however, can be recognized by characteristic patterns of species composition, association, and community structure. The historic climax plant community for this ecological site has been described by sampling relict or relatively undisturbed sites and/or reviewing historic records. The historic climax plant community is the plant community that evolved over time with the soil forming process and long term changes in climatic conditions of the area. It is the plant community that was best adapted to the unique combination of environmental factors associated with the site.
Natural disturbances, such as drought, fire, grazing of native fauna, and insects, are inherent in the development and maintenance of these plant communities. The effects of these disturbances are part of the range of characteristics of the ecological site. Fluctuations in plant community structure and function caused by the effects of natural disturbances help establish the boundaries and characteristics of an ecological site. They are accounted for as part of the range of characteristics of the ecological site. Recognizable plant community phases are identified in the reference state of the ecological site. Some sites may have a small range of variation, while others have a large range. Some plant community phases may exist for long periods of time, while others may only occur for a couple of years after a disturbance.
Deterioration of the plant community, hydrology, or soil site stability on an ecological site can result in crossing a threshold or potentially irreversible boundary to another state, or equilibrium. This can occur as a result of the loss of soil surface through erosion, the loss of the stability of the site due to disturbances that cause active erosion on the site, increases in the amounts and/or patterns or runoff from rainstorms, changes in availability of surface and subsurface water, significant changes in plant structural and functional types, or the introduction of non-native species. When these thresholds are crossed, the potential of the ecological site to return to the historic climax plant community can be lost, or restoration will require significant inputs . There may be multiple states possible for an ecological site, determined by the type and or severity of disturbance.
The known states and transition pathways for this ecological site are described in the state and transition model. Within each state, there may be one or more known plant community phases. These community phases describe the different plant community that can be recognized and mapped across this ecological site. The state and transition model is intended to help land users recognize the current plant community on the ecological site, and the management options for improving the plant community to the desired plant community.
Plant production information in this site description is standardized to the annual production on an air-dry weight basis in near normal rainfall years.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. STM - R035XB237AZ
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 textState 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateThe reference state represents the plant communities and ecological dynamics of the Clay Loam Terrace, Sodic site. The soil has a moderate amount of exchangeable sodium that heavily influences the kinds and amounts of plant species that will grow on the site. The reference state is generally dominated by alkali sacaton, James' galleta and mound saltbush. In the original plant community there is a predominance of warm season grasses with a mixture of large shrubs and half shrubs.
The reference state is self sustaining and resistant to change due to high resistance to natural disturbances and high resilience following natural disturbances. When natural disturbances occur, the rate of recovery is variable due to disturbance intensity. Plant species most likely to invade or increase on this site when it deteriorates are mound saltbush, black greasewood, and annuals. Once invasive plants establish, return to the reference state may not be possible.Community 1.1
Native Grassland with Shrubs (Reference Plant Community)
Figure 5. Clay Loam Terrace, 6-10" p.z. Sodic
The reference plant community that is dominated by perennial warm season grasses with a mix of shrubs and a small component of forbs.
Dominate grasses, such as alkali sacaton, James' gallata and squirreltail, make up about 55 percent of the total production. Common shrubs like mound saltbush and black greasewood generally make up less than 30 percent of the annual production.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)Grass/Grasslike 240 300 360 Shrub/Vine 140 175 210 Forb 10 20 30 Total 390 495 600 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 10-20% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0-0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-30% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 40-60% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 0-5% 0-1% >0.5 <= 1 – 5-15% 5-10% 0-1% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 0-5% – >2 <= 4.5 – 0-1% – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3521 , 35.2 6-10" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer. Most growth in this CRA occurs in the spring using stored winter moisture..
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 1 9 20 27 14 10 11 5 3 0 0 Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5201 , 35.2 6-10" p.z. galleta. Growth begins in spring, most growth occurs during summer rains..
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 10 20 10 15 35 5 0 0 0 Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5203 , 35.2 6-10" p.z. alkali sacaton. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer, goes dormant in the fall..
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 10 20 10 20 20 10 5 0 0 Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5210 , 35.2 6-10" p.z. mound saltbush. Growth begins in spring and continues through the summer. Seed stalk extension occurs in late summer with seed set in the fall..
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 20 25 15 15 10 5 5 0 0 Community 1.2
Native Shrubland with Grasses
This plant community is primarily composed of shrubs, a mixture of mid and short grasses along with a small percentage of forbs. Shrubs, like mound saltbush, black greasewood, Torrey seepweed, shadscale saltbush produce about 60 percent of the total annual production.
Figure 11. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Shrub/Vine 225 275 325 Grass/Grasslike 130 165 200 Forb 10 20 30 Total 365 460 555 Table 9. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-30% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0-20% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 20-30% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 40-70% Table 10. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 0-3% 0-1% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-10% 5-10% 0-1% >1 <= 2 – 10-20% 0-2% – >2 <= 4.5 – 0-1% – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Native Grassland with Shrubs (Reference Plant Community)
Native Shrubland with GrassesNo Prescribed Grazing, Extensive Insect and/or Wildlife Herbivory, or Drought.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Native Shrubland with Grasses
Native Grassland with Shrubs (Reference Plant Community)Prescribed grazing or Rest, Favorable/Normal precipitation.
State 2
Native/ Introduced Non-Native StateThis state has plant communities that reflect a well-managed area after the introduction of livestock and non-native annual species. While not the Reference State, this state reflects the best current potential. Annuals, native and non-native, can make up to 20 percent of the total plant composition. Annuals are well established, but do not dominate the understory canopy.
Community 2.1
Native Grassland with ShrubsThis plant community represents the best current potential plant community that is dominated by perennial warm season grasses with a mix of shrubs and a small component of forbs.
Dominate grasses, such as alkali sacaton, James' gallata and squirreltail, make up about 55 percent of the total production. Common shrubs like mound saltbush and black greasewood generally make up less than 30 percent of the annual production. Non-native annual forbs and grasses are present in small amounts.Community 2.2
Native Shrubland with GrassesThis plant community is primarily composed of shrubs, a mixture of mid and short grasses along with a small percentage of forbs. Shrubs, like mound saltbush, black greasewood, Torrey seepweed, shadscale saltbush produce about 60 percent of the total annual production. Non-native annual forbs and grasses are present in small amounts.
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2No Prescribed Grazing, Extensive Insect and/or Wildlife Herbivory, or Drought
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Prescribed grazing or Rest, Favorable/Normal precipitation.
State 3
Shrub DominatedThis state is characterized by a dominance of shrub canopy with a small amount of herbaceous cover. Bare ground is typically over 75 percent, but ranges from 65 to 90 percent with basal cover averaging 1 to 5 percent for all vegetation. Perennial grasses may not be present or only present in ocassional scattered clumps.
Community 3.1
Mixed Shrubs/ Annuals
Figure 12. Mixed Shrub Dominated Plant Community
This plant community is dominated by a mixed shrub canopy, where some perennial grasses are present but contribute only a small amout of the total annual production. Common dominant shrubs include mound saltbush and black greasewood. Other shrubs include shadscale saltbush, Torrey seepweed, snakeweed and succulents. Non-native annual species are present.
Community 3.2
Mound saltbush/ Annuals
Figure 13. Mound Saltbush Dominated Plant Community
Figure 14. Mound saltbush - Annuals, Heavily Grazed
This plant community is dominated by mound saltbush with a lesser amounts of black greasewood, shadscale, and Torrey seepweed. Annual forbs are present in small amounts and perennial grasses are sparse and widely scattered.
Pathway 3.1
Community 3.1 to 3.2
Mixed Shrubs/ Annuals
Mound saltbush/ AnnualsContinous heavy grazing, Drought. Continous heavy grazing can be described here as: Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1
Mound saltbush/ Annuals
Mixed Shrubs/ AnnualsRest or prescribed grazing, Normal preciptition.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Introduction of non-native annuals.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Drought, extended periods with winter dominated moisture patterns, loss of the natural fire frequency, and unmanaged grazing can reduce the perennial grasses on the site and allow woody species to increase. Unmanaged grazing can be described here as: Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2Brush management with range planting, Deferred/Prescribed grazing, Favorable climate.
Additional community tables
Table 11. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Common Grasses 250–325 alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 175–225 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 50–100 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 5–25 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 5–25 – 2 Other Grasses 10–40 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 0–15 – Grass, annual 2GA Grass, annual 0–10 – Grass, perennial 2GP Grass, perennial 0–10 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–10 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–10 – Forb3 Annual Forbs 5–15 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–10 – sack saltbush ATSA Atriplex saccaria 0–10 – mealy goosefoot CHIN2 Chenopodium incanum 0–5 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–5 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–5 – plantain PLANT Plantago 0–5 – 4 Perennial Forbs 5–15 sandmat CHAMA15 Chamaesyce 0–10 – greenleaf five eyes CHCO2 Chamaesaracha coronopus 0–10 – little hogweed POOL Portulaca oleracea 0–10 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 0–10 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 0–5 – Shrub/Vine5 Common Shrubs 125–175 mound saltbush ATOB Atriplex obovata 100–150 – greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 10–30 – Mojave seablite SUMO Suaeda moquinii 5–20 – 6 Other Shrubs 15–35 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 0–15 – shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 0–15 – Greene's rabbitbrush CHGR6 Chrysothamnus greenei 0–10 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–10 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–10 – Table 12. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Common Grasses 125–175 alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 75–125 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 25–50 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 5–20 – 2 Other Grasses 5–25 sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–20 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–10 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–10 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 0–10 – Forb3 Annual Forbs 5–15 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–10 – sack saltbush ATSA Atriplex saccaria 0–10 – mealy goosefoot CHIN2 Chenopodium incanum 0–5 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–5 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–5 – plantain PLANT Plantago 0–5 – 4 Perennial Forbs 5–15 sandmat CHAMA15 Chamaesyce 0–10 – greenleaf five eyes CHCO2 Chamaesaracha coronopus 0–10 – little hogweed POOL Portulaca oleracea 0–10 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 0–10 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 0–5 – Shrub/Vine5 Common Shrubs 225–295 mound saltbush ATOB Atriplex obovata 200–250 – greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 5–25 – Mojave seablite SUMO Suaeda moquinii 0–20 – shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 0–20 – 6 Other Shrubs 0–30 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 0–15 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–10 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–10 – Table 13. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 16. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing during any period of the year by cows and calves, stocker cattle, sheep and horses. Prescribed grazing systems can benefit this site by allowing rest periods for the cool season species.
The potential plant community provides a variety of food and cover plants for small wildlife. When the vegetation complex retrogresses then unpalatable shrub species increase and the site becomes less usable as a foraging area for some species. Grazing practices that encourage cool season grass species are beneficial to antelope, cottontails and rodents. Shrubs that provide both food and cover should be maintained.Recreational uses
Site is typically fans and low stream terraces which lend themselves to activities such as horseback riding, wildlife observation and hunting.
Winters are cold, however, relatively mild spring, fall and summer months are attractive to recreationists.Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Apache County, AZ Township/Range/Section T37N R25E S26 General legal description Little Round Rock Quad; Section 26, T37N, R25E; ten and one half miles south south west of Rock Point Trading Post on west side of Chinle Wash; Navajo Indian Reservation, AZ. Location 2: Navajo County, AZ Township/Range/Section T20N R20E S7 General legal description North of Marcou Mesa area, about 2 miles NE of Flying Butte, along the northside of Cottonwood Wash Location 3: Apache County, AZ Latitude 109° 43′ 2″ Longitude 36° 15′ 50″ General legal description About 7 miles east of Chinle Wash, South of Carson Mesa, near Coyote Springs, on the northside of the Black Mountain Wash. Other references
Updates and revisions for this ESD were conducted as part of a 2007-2012 Interagency Technical Assistance Agreement between the Bureau of Indian Affairs–Navajo Region and the NRCS-Arizona.
Contributors
Ken Gishi
Kenneth L. Gishi
Larry D. Ellicott
Steve BarkerApproval
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) Ken Gishi, Kevin Williams Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist, NRCS-Arizona State Office, Phoenix,AZ Date 06/07/2007 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills may occur occasionally due to clay loam and clay textures, slow permeability, moderate to high shrink/swell (cracking) characteristic of may soils, and rare flooding. The number and length of rills will be limited by the generally low slopes on the site. Rills should be uncommon due to moderate plant cover potential of the site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns may be due to the slow permeability of the soil, high shrink/swell characteristic of the soils and rare flooding. Patterns should be short (less than 8') and discontinuous due to moderate plant cover potential of the site. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
none -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground ranges 35-55% and has the potential to produce a heavy amount of plant cover and litter due to an average available water capacity of 10.7 inches. Drought may cause increase in bare ground. -
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):
Herbaceous and woody litter will be transported throughout the site by water during rare flood events. Herbceous litter will also be redistributed by wind. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soils have moderate shrink/swell properties and cracking may be common on the surface. If cracks do occur on the surface, this process will reduce aggregate stability. When well vegetated and not subjected to severe flood events, these soils have a low to moderate resistance to water erosion and a moderate resistance to wind erosion. Average Site Soil Stability are 1.5 (range 1-4), averages with canopy are 3 to 4, averages with no canopy are 1 to 2. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is mostly moderate thick platy structure parting to strong very fine granular. The A-horizon thickness is 2-6 inches. The A-horizon color did not differ significantly from the subsurface soil horizons. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This site is characterized by a relatively even distribution of grasses with scattered shrubs. There may be small patches or a light overstory of large shrubs. Vegetative canopy cover ranges from 15-35% (grasses > shrubs > forbs). Basal cover ranges 5-12% (predominantly grasses) for vascular plants and 0-1% for biological crust (moss > lichen > cyanobacteria). Both canopy and basal cover values decrease during a prolonged drought. This type of plant community is moderately effective at capturing and storing precipitation. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Naturally there would not be a compaction layer, but these soils are easily compacted when wet and disturbed. Most of the soils may be easily compacted when wet due to clay loam and clay textures, lack of rock fragments, and occasional moisture from flooding. Most soils have a naturally granular surface structure. -
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:
perennial bunch grasses > perennial sod-forming grasses > shrubs >>Other:
annual grasses = annual forbs > perennial forbsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All plant functional groups are adapted to survival in all but the most severe droughts. Severe winter droughts affect the shrubs the most. Severe summer droughts affect grasses the most. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter amounts increase during the first few years of drought, then decrease in later years. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Average annual production on this site is expected to be 400 to 500 lbs/ac. in a year of average annual 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:
Broom snakeweed, mound saltbush, and greasewood are native to the site but may have the potential to increase and dominate after heavy grazing. Saltcedar, Russian knapweed, and camelthorn are non-natives that have the potential to invade the site with or without disturbance. Cheatgrass is an non-native annual grass that has the potential to invade and dominate with or without disturbance. Annual wheatgrass and Russian thistle are introduced annuals that have the potential to invade after heavy continous grazing or disturbance, especially if the site is near farm fields or disturbed lands. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants native to the site are adapted to the climate and are capable of producing seeds, stolons, and/or rhizomes during the most severe droughts.
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
