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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.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
These soils are usually occuring along major waterways (Rio Puerco and Rio Grande). In valleys on stream terraces, fan terraces, drainageways. occasionally floodwaters from major streams will flood these areas.
There may be a water table at varying depths which affects the vegetation. Slopes are from 1 to 5 percent. Elevations are from 4,500 feet above sea level to 5,500 feet.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Drainageway
(2) Flood plain
(3) Stream terrace
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency None to occasional Ponding frequency None Elevation 4500 – 5500 ft Slope 1 – 10 % Water table depth 40 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
This site has an arid climate with distinct seasonal temperature variations and large annual and diurnal temperature changes characteristic of a continental climate.
Precipitation averages 8 to 10 inches annually. Deviations of 4 inches or more from the average are quite common. Fifty percent of the precipitation is received from July to November, which is the dominant growing season of native plants. Summer precipitation is characterized by high-intensity, short-duration rainstorms. Winter precipitation averages less than one-half inch per month, usually in the form of rain. There are occasional snowstorms of short duration.
Temperatures vary from a mean monthly average of 77 F in July to 34 F in January, with a maximum of 104 F and a minimum of -10 F. The average last killing frost in spring is April 15 and the average first killing frost in fall is October 28. Frost-free season averages 185 days. Temperatures are conducive to native grass and forb growth from March through November.
Spring winds of 15 to 40 miles per hour are common from February to June. These winds increase transpiration rates of native plants and rapidly dry the surface soil. Small soil particles are often displaced by the wind near the soil surface. This results in structural damage to native plants, especially young seedlings.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html using 50% probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F, respectively.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 170 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
This site is not influenced by water from wetland or stream.<br />
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Soil features
Soils are deep to very deep. Surface textures are clay loam, sandy clay loam, or clay. There are a few with loam to very fine sandy loam textures. Substrata are mainly clay loam, silty clay loam, or clay. There are some areas of Tome soils which have loam to very fine sandy loam substrata.
Salinity is 4 to 24 millimhos per centimeter. Some areas of Armijo and Aga are strongly saline with exchanageable sodium of 15 percent. Some subhorizons are very gravelly.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic Soils Are:
Tome
Armijo
Gilco
Aga
Peralta
Belen
Brazito
Gila
Vinton
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Clay loam
(2) Sandy clay loam
(3) Clay
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to well drained Permeability class Moderately slow Soil depth 60 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 10 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 1 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)5 – 8.9 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 7 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)2 – 16 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)6 – 30 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 9.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)4 – 25 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 2 % Ecological dynamics
The aspect and biomass of vegetation on this site is a shrub/grass mixture characterized by fourwing saltbrush and greasewood. Tall, mid-grass, and short grasses are present. Mid- and short grasses are dominant. Annual and perennial forbs are always present in varying amounts. When the plant community deteriorates, there is a definite increase in amounts of shrubs and short grassses.
The potential plant community produces approximately 2,000 pounds (air dry) per acre during years of favorable growing conditions and about 1,000 pounds during unfavorable years. The total average annual production is approximately 1,500 pounds.
Other grasses that could appear on this site include: blue grama, foxtail, sand dropseed, spike dropseed, giant dropseed, and New Mexico feathergrass.
Other woody plants include: none other mentioned.
Other forbs include tansymustard.
State and transition model
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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
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe aspect and biomass of vegetation on this site is a shrub/grass mixture characterized by fourwing saltbrush and greasewood. Tall, mid-grass, and short grasses are present. Mid- and short grasses are dominant. Annual and perennial forbs are always present in varying amounts. When the plant community deteriorates, there is a definite increase in amounts of shrubs and short grassses.
The potential plant community produces approximately 2,000 pounds (air dry) per acre during years of favorable growing conditions and about 1,000 pounds during unfavorable years. The total average annual production is approximately 1,500 pounds.
Other grasses that could appear on this site include: blue grama, foxtail, sand dropseed, spike dropseed, giant dropseed, and New Mexico feathergrass.
Other woody plants include: none other mentioned.
Other forbs include tansymustard.
Figure 4. 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 650 975 1300 Shrub/Vine 250 375 500 Forb 100 150 200 Total 1000 1500 2000 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 40% Forb foliar cover 0% 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 50% Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2241 , R042XA055NM-Salty Bottomland- Warm Season Plant-HCPC. SD-1 Salty Bottomland HCPC Warm Season Plant Community.
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 3 5 10 10 25 30 12 5 0 0 Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2242 , R042XA055NM-Salty Bottomland-Cool Season Plant-HCPC. SD-1 Salty Bottomland HCPC Cool Season Plant Community.
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 15 20 20 2 5 10 15 13 0 0 Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Warm Season 225–300 big sacaton SPWR2 Sporobolus wrightii 225–300 – 2 Warm Season 450–600 alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 450–600 – 3 Warm Season 75–150 vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 75–150 – 4 Warm Season 225–300 saltgrass DISP Distichlis spicata 225–300 – 5 Warm Season 75–150 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 75–150 – 6 Warm Season 30–75 burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 30–75 – 7 Warm Season 30–75 mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 30–75 – 8 Warm Season 30–75 sedge CAREX Carex 30–75 – Shrub/Vine9 Shrub 150–300 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 150–300 – 10 Shrub 75–150 shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 75–150 – 11 Shrub 75–225 greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 75–225 – 12 Shrub 45–75 rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 45–75 – Forb13 Forb 30–75 iodinebush ALOC2 Allenrolfea occidentalis 30–75 – 14 Forb 45–75 Russian thistle SAKA Salsola kali 45–75 – 15 Forb 45–75 Cuman ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya 45–75 – 16 Forb 45–75 Interpretations
Animal community
Habitat for wildlife:
This ecological site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by coyote, striped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail, banner-tailed kangaroo rat, tawny-bellied cotton rat, kildeer, roadrunner, loggerhead shrike, fence lizard, New Mexico whiptail, and Sonora gopher snake.
When woody vegetation is present, these sites are breeding areas for mockingbird, mourning dove, roadrunner, and red-winged blackbird.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydraulic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series Hydrologic Group
Most soils in site. D
Recreational uses
This site has limited potential for recreational use.
Wood products
This site has no potential for wood products.
Other products
Grazing: This site is well suited for year-long grazing use by cattle, sheep, horses, burros, antelope, and deer.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index-------Ac/AUM
100 - 76---------------0.8 – 1.1
75 – 51----------------1.0 – 1.7
50 – 26----------------1.6 – 3.4
25 – 0-----------------3.4 – 3.4+
Supporting information
Other references
Other References:
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the Southern Desertic Basins, Plains and Mountains, Major Land Resource Area 42, of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Valencia, Socorro, and Bernalillo.
Contributors
Brandon Bestelmeyer
Don Sylvester
Jason S. Martin
Michael Carpinelli
Santiago MisquezRangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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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.
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