Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Major Land Resource Area 042B
Major Land Resource Area
Accessed: 04/22/2026
Previous
Sections
Next
Description
MLRA 42B Southern Rio Grande Rift is a subdivision of the Basin and Range province and falls within the Northern most extend of the Chihuahuan Desert. The rift is a string of alluvium-filled open and closed basins connected to the Rio Grande and Tularosa basins. The MLRA is distinguished by north to south trending mountains and valleys, steep fault-block sedimentary mountains, extinct volcanic hills, and lava flows. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 8,500 ft. Ecological communities of this MLRA include basin and tributary riparian areas, gypsiferous dune fields, desert grasslands, desert shrublands, savanna hills, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. Most of the rangeland is federally or state owned with livestock grazing and outdoor recreation being the major land use. Most of the river valley is under cultivation and utilizes both surface and ground water for irrigation. The major crops are pecans, chili, onion, alfalfa, and ensilage for dairy cattle. The remainder of the valley is in residential and commercial use.
Key publications
Next steps
-
1
Select an ecological site
Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
2
Explore the ecological site description
Next, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
Ecological site list
Tools
Search
Filter by
interactive key
precipitation
frost free days
more..
clear all
Sort by
id
name
stage
Viewing 20 of 37
View all
Ecological site map
Basemap
Topo
Road
Aerial
Hybrid
Find me
Find point
Full screen
Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
Ecological site photos
Tools
Filter by
interactive key
precipitation
frost free days
more..
clear all
Type
Image size
Done
Filters
Interactive key
Precipitation
Frost free days
Elevation
Slope
Landform
Parent material origin
Parent material kind
Soil texture
3,500 - 5,500 ft. elevation, 8-11 inches of precipitation, and a thermic and typic aridic soil regime
4,500-5,500 elevation, 11-13 in PZ, and thermic to mesic and aridic Ustic soil regimes (North of Bosque Del Apache)
Elevation 4,700-6,300 ft. 13-15 PZ, foothills landforms and thermic to mesic and aridic Ustic
6,000 - 8,500 ft. elevation, 14-18 PZ, and mesic and ustic soil regimes.
LRU 42.BB Desert Shrub. These sites are typically below 5200 ft., including hills below 5300 ft elevation. PZ is 9-10 PZ, Temp. Regime is thermic, Moisture Regime is Typic Aridic.
Site basalt flow, basalt hill or cinder cone. Malpais
R042BB037NM – Malpais, Desert Shrub
R042BB037NM – Malpais, Desert Shrub
Site is hypergypsic, soils having>15% gypsum with Gypsic, or a Hypergypsic minerology class
Site not Hypergypsic.
Site occurs on hills or mountains- Gyp Hills
R042BB013NM – Gyp Hills, Desert Shrub
R042BB013NM – Gyp Hills, Desert Shrub
Site occurs within basin floor or piedmont slopes
Site lacustrine or relict lacustrine
Site an eolian deposit
Site concave ,0.5% slope, ponds water, and is void of vegetation. Gyp Playa
R042BB008NM – Gyp Playa, Desert Shrub
R042BB008NM – Gyp Playa, Desert Shrub
Site on a pluvial lake plane or playa lake plane and/or 0.5 % slopes with surfacing watertable. Alkali Flat
R042BB001NM – Alkali Flat, Desert Shrub
R042BB001NM – Alkali Flat, Desert Shrub
Site is on an active dune field
Site not in active dune field.
Site located on crest to footslope of dune
Site located in the interdune (dune toeslope to lowest point in interdune)
Dunes are barchan or Transverse. These are very active dunes and typically occur adjacent to gyp source. Gyp Duneland Barren
R042BB002NM – Gyp Duneland Barren, Desert Shrub
R042BB002NM – Gyp Duneland Barren, Desert Shrub
Dunes are parabolic in shape. Site typically not adjacent to gypsum source, and occurs downwind from barchan and transverse dunes. Gyp Dune Vegetated
R042BB003NM – Vegetated Gypsum Dunes, Desert Shrub
R042BB003NM – Vegetated Gypsum Dunes, Desert Shrub
Depth to water table < 24 inches, site surface soil will have wind scouring or be slightly indurated. Gyp Interdune Wet
R042BB004NM – Gyp Interdune (Wet), Desert Shrub
R042BB004NM – Gyp Interdune (Wet), Desert Shrub
Depth to watertable >24 inches. Surface soils may have some wind scouring however will not be indurated, some recent soil deposit is evident. Gyp Interdune Dry
R042BB005NM – Gyp Interdune (Dry), Desert Shrub
R042BB005NM – Gyp Interdune (Dry), Desert Shrub
gypsum cementation occurs within 50 cm of soil surface. Site cover is dominated with hairy crinkle mat and crypto crust. Gyp Out Crop
R042BB007NM – Gyp Outcrop, Desert Shrub
R042BB007NM – Gyp Outcrop, Desert Shrub
Soil surface not indurated, cemented gyp when present occurs at > 50cm depth. Gyp Upland
R042BB006NM – Gyp Upland, Desert Shrub
R042BB006NM – Gyp Upland, Desert Shrub
Landscape is hills and mountains
landform is piedmont
Landform is basin floor or relict basin floor
Site is limestone or of limestone parent material. Limestone Hills
R042BB021NM – Limestone Hills, Desert Shrub
R042BB021NM – Limestone Hills, Desert Shrub
Site is of igneous parent materials other than basalt, or is sedimentary material other than limestone. Hills
R042BB027NM – Hills, Desert Shrub
R042BB027NM – Hills, Desert Shrub
Site is a drainageway. Draw
R042BB016NM – Draw, Desert Shrub
R042BB016NM – Draw, Desert Shrub
Site not a drainageway
Site aeolian sand deposit and
Site alluvial and colluvial
Sand deposits are > 3 feet thick, sandy textures throughout. Indicator species Giant dropseed, mesa dropseed. Deep Sand
R042BB011NM – Deep Sand, Desert Shrub
R042BB011NM – Deep Sand, Desert Shrub
Sand deposits are < 3 feet but greater than 20 inches thick. May have a loamy sand surface texture.
R042BB012NM – Sandy, Desert Shrub
R042BB012NM – Sandy, Desert Shrub
Soils are shallow sand deposits less than 20 inches thick, or sandy material is over a contrasting soil texture or other restrictive soil features Shallow sands
R042BB015NM – Shallow Sandy, Desert Shrub
R042BB015NM – Shallow Sandy, Desert Shrub
Soils have restrictive features within 20 inches of the soil surface. Gravelly
R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
Soils have less than 15 percent gravel by volume.
Soils have less than 35 percent gravel by volume but greater than 15 percent gravel.
Soils have greater than 35 percent gravel by volume Very Gravelly
R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
Water receiving areas, less than 1% slope
Water shedding positions. Loamy
R042BB014NM – Loamy, Desert Shrub
R042BB014NM – Loamy, Desert Shrub
Clayey textures throughout, slightly calcareous. Clayey
R042BB023NM – Clayey, Desert Shrub
R042BB023NM – Clayey, Desert Shrub
Soils are loamy throughout, and are highly calcareous within 6 inches of the soil surface. Limy
R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
Soils are sandy throughout. Gravelly sand
R042BB024NM – Gravelly Sand, Desert Shrub
R042BB024NM – Gravelly Sand, Desert Shrub
All other soils. Gravelly Loam
R042BB035NM – Gravelly Loam, Desert Shrub
R042BB035NM – Gravelly Loam, Desert Shrub
Eolian Parent Material consisting of sand and loamy sand textures
Alluvial Parent Material
Basalt Parent Material
R042BB037NM – Malpais, Desert Shrub
R042BB037NM – Malpais, Desert Shrub
Soil has a restrictive layer within 20 inches
R042BB015NM – Shallow Sandy, Desert Shrub
R042BB015NM – Shallow Sandy, Desert Shrub
soil does not have a restrictive layer within 20 inches
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Saline or Alkaline soils, halophyte plants iodine bush, pickleweed or salt tolerant plants such as inland salt grass, alkali sacaton, atriplex spp.
Non-Saline
Salt concentrations on soil surface
No salt concentrations at surface
Adjacent to water and sub irrigated
R042BB028NM – Salt Meadow, Desert Shrub
R042BB028NM – Salt Meadow, Desert Shrub
Drainageways and flood plains
R042BB033NM – Salty Bottomland, Desert Shrub
R042BB033NM – Salty Bottomland, Desert Shrub
Alluvial Flats - not sub-irrigated and does not pond water
R042BB036NM – Salt Flats, Desert Shrub
R042BB036NM – Salt Flats, Desert Shrub
Slope 0 to 1 % and not highly calcareous. Dominant species include giant sacaton, tobosa, vine mesquite.
R042BB018NM – Bottomland, Desert Shrub
R042BB018NM – Bottomland, Desert Shrub
Slopes 1 .to 1.5 % highly calcareous site dominated by Burrograss
R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
Soils form in water shedding areas, rises
R042BB023NM – Clayey, Desert Shrub
R042BB023NM – Clayey, Desert Shrub
LRU 42BE Cool Desert Grassland. This LRU occurs at 4700-5600ft elevation. It has PZ of 11-12 inches, and has temp. regime of thermic and a moisture regime Typic of aridic. Vegetation is grassland and shrub savanna.
Landscape is Hills
Landscape is Piedmont
Landscape is basin floor. These ES sites occur at the northern most extent of the MLRA 42B and LRU 42BE.
Site is shallow to Limestone bedrock – Limestone Hills ES
R042BE059NM – Limestone Hills Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE059NM – Limestone Hills Cool Desert Grassland
Site is shallow to basalt bedrock – Malpais
R042BE056NM – Malpais, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE056NM – Malpais, Cool Desert Grassland
Site shallow to indurated sediments other than limestone or site shallow to igneous parent material other than basalt – Hill
R042BE058NM – Hills, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE058NM – Hills, Cool Desert Grassland
Site shallow to moderately deep highly dissected- Mesa Breaks
R042BE060NM – Mesa Breaks, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE060NM – Mesa Breaks, Cool Desert Grassland
Soils are clayey to sandy loam
Soils are sandy to sandy loam or sandy material is over a various soil textures or restrictive soil features
Site in a drainageway– Swale ES
R042BE062NM – Swale, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE062NM – Swale, Cool Desert Grassland
Not in a drainage
Site Basalt, Gravelly to Cobbly-Malpais ES
R042BE056NM – Malpais, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE056NM – Malpais, Cool Desert Grassland
Site Loamy and Gravelly- Gravelly Sand
R042BE053NM – Gravelly Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE053NM – Gravelly Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Soils hypergypsic > 15% gypsum with Gypsic or Hypergypsic minerology class- Gyp upland
R042BE063NM – Gyp Upland, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE063NM – Gyp Upland, Cool Desert Grassland
Soil have Clay to Clay loam surface and Clayey subsurface > 35%= Clay, Alkali sacaton is an indicator specie -Clayey
R042BE061NM – Clayey, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE061NM – Clayey, Cool Desert Grassland
Soil is loamy to loamy sand surface with Loamy subsurface, <35% Clay – Burrograss is an indicator specie-Loamy
R042BE052NM – Loamy, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE052NM – Loamy, Cool Desert Grassland
Soil not gravelly < 15% gravel
Soils >15% gravel – Gravelly Sand ES
R042BE053NM – Gravelly Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE053NM – Gravelly Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Soils sandy to loamy sand eolian Deposits > 3 feet in depth and sandy textures throughout. Site is undulating or dunes, Giant Dropseed is an indicator species - Deep Sand
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Soils sandy loam deposits 20 -36 in depth, – Sandy
R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
Eolian Parent Material consisting of sand and loamy sand textures
Alluvial Parent Material not sub-irrigated no shallow watertable
Site alluvial has shallow water table, or seasonal shallow watertable
Soil depth between 20 to 72 inches in depth. Sandy
R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
Soil depth >72 inches and undulating to dunes. Deep Sand
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Saline soils without salt concentrations at surface salty. Dominant shrub Atriplex sp. Salty Bottomland ES
R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
Non-Saline. Bottomland ES
R042BE057NM – Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE057NM – Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
Site Saline. Dominant species inland saltgrass, alkali sacaton, atriplex sp. Salty Bottomland
R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
Site not saline Giant Sacaton. Bottomland
R042BE057NM – Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
R042BE057NM – Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
LRU 42BF Desert Foothills. This LRU occurs in mountains footslope and foothills with elevation an elevation range of 5400 - 7100 ft. Annual precipitation ranges from 13-15 inches. Vegetation includes both Tree savanna, mixed shrublands, and mixed P-J Veg. Zone
Limestone Hills - Site gravelly to channery, soils high in carbonates derived from parent material such as limestone and dolomite.
Igneous Hills- Site cobbly to very cobbly derived from both intrusive and extrusive material.
Site very shallow to mod. deep soils of sandstone parent material. Sand Stone Hills ESD
R042BF903NM – Sandstone Hill, Desert Foothills
R042BF903NM – Sandstone Hill, Desert Foothills
Site typically shallow to deep gravelly alluvium soils. Vegetation is sparse shrubs of little leaf sumac or winterfat, and is dominated by grass understory of black grama, bluegram, tridens. Limestone Shrub Savannah
R042BF801NM – Limestone Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
R042BF801NM – Limestone Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
Site dominated by shallow gravelly alluvium, occurs at higher elevations or northern aspects. Vegetation is a mix of juniper and pinyon trees, mountain mahogany, with blue grama and Wolf tail dominating the grass understory. Limestone Hills
R042BF020NM – Limestone Hill, Desert Foothills
R042BF020NM – Limestone Hill, Desert Foothills
Site typically shallow to deep alluvial cobbly to very cobbly. Gravels. Typically, the site has scattered juniper or oak shrubs with grass understory of blue and side oats grama, curly mesquite, tobosa and black grama. Igneous Shrub Savannah
R042BF902NM – Igneous Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
R042BF902NM – Igneous Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
Site dominated by shallow alluvium, occurs at higher elevations or northern aspects. Vegetation is a mix of juniper and pinyon trees, mountain mahogany, buckbrush shrubs and wolftail, bluegrama,and deer muhly grass understory. Igneous Hills ESD
LRU 42BK Desert Mountians. This LRU occurs on sites that are 6000 to 8500 ft. in elevation
R042BG901NM – Igneous Mountains, Desert Mountains
R042BG901NM – Igneous Mountains, Desert Mountains
Long term average mean annual precipitation
- No filter
- 20 – 25cm (8 – 10in)
- 25 – 30cm (10 – 12in)
- 30 – 35cm (12 – 14in)
—
cm
Long term average frost free days
- No filter
- 150 – 170days
- 170 – 190days
- 190 – 210days
- 210 – 230days
—
days
- No filter
- 1000 – 1200m (3300 – 3900ft)
- 1200 – 1400m (3900 – 4600ft)
- 1400 – 1600m (4600 – 5200ft)
- 1600 – 1800m (5200 – 5900ft)
—
m
- No filter
- 0 – 3%
- 3 – 5%
- 5 – 10%
- 10 – 15%
- 15 – 20%
- 20 – 25%
- 25 – 30%
- 30 – 35%
- 35 – 40%
- 40 – 45%
- 45 – 50%
- 50 – 60%
- 60 – 70%
- 70 – 80%
- 80 – 90%
—
%
- No filter
- Alluvial fan
- Alluvial flat
- Barchan dune
- Basin floor
- Braided stream
- Canyon
- Drainageway
- Draw
- Dune
- Escarpment
- Fan piedmont
- Fan remnant
- Flood plain
- Hill
- Interdune
- Lakebed
- Lava flow
- Mesa
- Mountain slope
- Parabolic dune
- Pediment
- Plain
- Playa
- Pluvial lake (relict)
- Sand sheet
- Scarp slope
- Stream terrace
- Swale
- Terrace
- Transverse dune
- Valley floor
- Valley side
- No filter
- Gypsum, rock
- No filter
- Eolian deposits
- Eolian sands
Soil surface texture
- No filter
- Clay
- Clay loam
- Coarse sand
- Fine sand
- Fine sandy loam
- Loam
- Loamy coarse sand
- Loamy fine sand
- Loamy sand
- Sand
- Sandy clay loam
- Silt
- Silty clay
- Silty clay loam
- Silt loam
- Sandy loam
- Very fine sand
- Very fine sandy loam
Print Options
Sections
Font
A
A
A
A
Other
Print
Ecological site keys
LRU 42BB - Desert Shrub
I.
LRU 42.BB Desert Shrub. These sites are typically below 5200 ft., including hills below 5300 ft elevation. PZ is 9-10 PZ, Temp. Regime is thermic, Moisture Regime is Typic Aridic.
B.
Site is hypergypsic, soils having>15% gypsum with Gypsic, or a Hypergypsic minerology class
2
Site occurs within basin floor or piedmont slopes
i.
Site lacustrine or relict lacustrine
a.
Site concave ,0.5% slope, ponds water, and is void of vegetation. Gyp Playa
... R042BB008NM – Gyp Playa, Desert Shrub
b.
Site on a pluvial lake plane or playa lake plane and/or 0.5 % slopes with surfacing watertable. Alkali Flat
... R042BB001NM – Alkali Flat, Desert Shrub
ii.
Site an eolian deposit
a.
Site is on an active dune field
1)
Site located on crest to footslope of dune
a)
Dunes are barchan or Transverse. These are very active dunes and typically occur adjacent to gyp source. Gyp Duneland Barren
... R042BB002NM – Gyp Duneland Barren, Desert Shrub
b)
Dunes are parabolic in shape. Site typically not adjacent to gypsum source, and occurs downwind from barchan and transverse dunes. Gyp Dune Vegetated
... R042BB003NM – Vegetated Gypsum Dunes, Desert Shrub
2)
Site located in the interdune (dune toeslope to lowest point in interdune)
a)
Depth to water table < 24 inches, site surface soil will have wind scouring or be slightly indurated. Gyp Interdune Wet
... R042BB004NM – Gyp Interdune (Wet), Desert Shrub
b)
Depth to watertable >24 inches. Surface soils may have some wind scouring however will not be indurated, some recent soil deposit is evident. Gyp Interdune Dry
... R042BB005NM – Gyp Interdune (Dry), Desert Shrub
b.
Site not in active dune field.
1)
gypsum cementation occurs within 50 cm of soil surface. Site cover is dominated with hairy crinkle mat and crypto crust. Gyp Out Crop
... R042BB007NM – Gyp Outcrop, Desert Shrub
2)
Soil surface not indurated, cemented gyp when present occurs at > 50cm depth. Gyp Upland
... R042BB006NM – Gyp Upland, Desert Shrub
C.
Site not Hypergypsic.
1
Landscape is hills and mountains
i.
Site is limestone or of limestone parent material. Limestone Hills
... R042BB021NM – Limestone Hills, Desert Shrub
ii.
Site is of igneous parent materials other than basalt, or is sedimentary material other than limestone. Hills
... R042BB027NM – Hills, Desert Shrub
2
landform is piedmont
ii.
Site not a drainageway
a.
Site aeolian sand deposit and
1)
Sand deposits are > 3 feet thick, sandy textures throughout. Indicator species Giant dropseed, mesa dropseed. Deep Sand
... R042BB011NM – Deep Sand, Desert Shrub
2)
Sand deposits are < 3 feet but greater than 20 inches thick. May have a loamy sand surface texture.
... R042BB012NM – Sandy, Desert Shrub
3)
Soils are shallow sand deposits less than 20 inches thick, or sandy material is over a contrasting soil texture or other restrictive soil features Shallow sands
... R042BB015NM – Shallow Sandy, Desert Shrub
b.
Site alluvial and colluvial
1)
Soils have restrictive features within 20 inches of the soil surface. Gravelly
... R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
2)
Soils have less than 15 percent gravel by volume.
a)
Water receiving areas, less than 1% slope
(2)
Soils are loamy throughout, and are highly calcareous within 6 inches of the soil surface. Limy
... R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
3)
Soils have less than 35 percent gravel by volume but greater than 15 percent gravel.
4)
Soils have greater than 35 percent gravel by volume Very Gravelly
... R042BB010NM – Gravelly, Desert Shrub
3
Landform is basin floor or relict basin floor
i.
Eolian Parent Material consisting of sand and loamy sand textures
b.
soil does not have a restrictive layer within 20 inches
... R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
ii.
Alluvial Parent Material
a.
Saline or Alkaline soils, halophyte plants iodine bush, pickleweed or salt tolerant plants such as inland salt grass, alkali sacaton, atriplex spp.
1)
Salt concentrations on soil surface
2)
No salt concentrations at surface
a)
Alluvial Flats - not sub-irrigated and does not pond water
... R042BB036NM – Salt Flats, Desert Shrub
b.
Non-Saline
1)
Slope 0 to 1 % and not highly calcareous. Dominant species include giant sacaton, tobosa, vine mesquite.
... R042BB018NM – Bottomland, Desert Shrub
2)
Slopes 1 .to 1.5 % highly calcareous site dominated by Burrograss
... R042BB019NM – Limy, Desert Shrub
LRU 42BE - Cool Desert Grassland
I.
LRU 42BE Cool Desert Grassland. This LRU occurs at 4700-5600ft elevation. It has PZ of 11-12 inches, and has temp. regime of thermic and a moisture regime Typic of aridic. Vegetation is grassland and shrub savanna.
A.
Landscape is Hills
1
Site is shallow to Limestone bedrock – Limestone Hills ES
... R042BE059NM – Limestone Hills Cool Desert Grassland
3
Site shallow to indurated sediments other than limestone or site shallow to igneous parent material other than basalt – Hill
... R042BE058NM – Hills, Cool Desert Grassland
4
Site shallow to moderately deep highly dissected- Mesa Breaks
... R042BE060NM – Mesa Breaks, Cool Desert Grassland
B.
Landscape is Piedmont
1
Soils are clayey to sandy loam
ii.
Not in a drainage
a.
Soils hypergypsic > 15% gypsum with Gypsic or Hypergypsic minerology class- Gyp upland
... R042BE063NM – Gyp Upland, Cool Desert Grassland
b.
Soil have Clay to Clay loam surface and Clayey subsurface > 35%= Clay, Alkali sacaton is an indicator specie -Clayey
... R042BE061NM – Clayey, Cool Desert Grassland
c.
Soil is loamy to loamy sand surface with Loamy subsurface, <35% Clay – Burrograss is an indicator specie-Loamy
... R042BE052NM – Loamy, Cool Desert Grassland
2
Soils are sandy to sandy loam or sandy material is over a various soil textures or restrictive soil features
i.
Soil not gravelly < 15% gravel
a.
Soils sandy to loamy sand eolian Deposits > 3 feet in depth and sandy textures throughout. Site is undulating or dunes, Giant Dropseed is an indicator species - Deep Sand
... R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
b.
Soils sandy loam deposits 20 -36 in depth, – Sandy
... R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
C.
Landscape is basin floor. These ES sites occur at the northern most extent of the MLRA 42B and LRU 42BE.
1
Eolian Parent Material consisting of sand and loamy sand textures
i.
Soil depth between 20 to 72 inches in depth. Sandy
... R042BE051NM – Sandy, Cool Desert Grassland
ii.
Soil depth >72 inches and undulating to dunes. Deep Sand
... R042BE054NM – Deep Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
2
Alluvial Parent Material not sub-irrigated no shallow watertable
i.
Saline soils without salt concentrations at surface salty. Dominant shrub Atriplex sp. Salty Bottomland ES
... R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
3
Site alluvial has shallow water table, or seasonal shallow watertable
i.
Site Saline. Dominant species inland saltgrass, alkali sacaton, atriplex sp. Salty Bottomland
... R042BE055NM – Salty Bottomland, Cool Desert Grassland
LRU 42BF - Desert Foothills
I.
LRU 42BF Desert Foothills. This LRU occurs in mountains footslope and foothills with elevation an elevation range of 5400 - 7100 ft. Annual precipitation ranges from 13-15 inches. Vegetation includes both Tree savanna, mixed shrublands, and mixed P-J Veg. Zone
A.
Limestone Hills - Site gravelly to channery, soils high in carbonates derived from parent material such as limestone and dolomite.
1
Site typically shallow to deep gravelly alluvium soils. Vegetation is sparse shrubs of little leaf sumac or winterfat, and is dominated by grass understory of black grama, bluegram, tridens. Limestone Shrub Savannah
... R042BF801NM – Limestone Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
2
Site dominated by shallow gravelly alluvium, occurs at higher elevations or northern aspects. Vegetation is a mix of juniper and pinyon trees, mountain mahogany, with blue grama and Wolf tail dominating the grass understory. Limestone Hills
... R042BF020NM – Limestone Hill, Desert Foothills
B.
Igneous Hills- Site cobbly to very cobbly derived from both intrusive and extrusive material.
1
Site typically shallow to deep alluvial cobbly to very cobbly. Gravels. Typically, the site has scattered juniper or oak shrubs with grass understory of blue and side oats grama, curly mesquite, tobosa and black grama. Igneous Shrub Savannah
... R042BF902NM – Igneous Shrub Savannah, Desert Foothills
2
Site dominated by shallow alluvium, occurs at higher elevations or northern aspects. Vegetation is a mix of juniper and pinyon trees, mountain mahogany, buckbrush shrubs and wolftail, bluegrama,and deer muhly grass understory. Igneous Hills ESD
C.
Site very shallow to mod. deep soils of sandstone parent material. Sand Stone Hills ESD
... R042BF903NM – Sandstone Hill, Desert Foothills
LRU 42BG - Desert Mountains
I.
LRU 42BK Desert Mountians. This LRU occurs on sites that are 6000 to 8500 ft. in elevation
... R042BG901NM – Igneous Mountains, Desert Mountains
The 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