Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Major Land Resource Area 042C
Major Land Resource Area
Accessed: 04/24/2026
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Ecological site groups
Major Land Resource Areas
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Site receives significant additional moisture—either from run-on or throughflow. Site occurs on a floodplain or in a swale or playa bottom.
Site does not receive significant additional moisture—either from run-on or throughflow. Site does not occur on a floodplain or in a swale or playa bottom.
[Criteria]
GX042C01ESG01 – Run-On
GX042C01ESG01 – Run-On
Soils contain visible masses of gypsum in the upper 100 cm.
Soils lack visible masses of gypsum in the upper 100 cm.
[Criteria]
GX042C01ESG02 – Gypsum
GX042C01ESG02 – Gypsum
Root-restrictive layer occurs within 50 cm of the soil surface.
Soils are >50 cm to root-restrictive layer.
[Criteria]
GX042C01ESG03 – Shallow
GX042C01ESG03 – Shallow
Soil texture is fine sandy loam or coarser at the surface, and sand percentage is ≥50 in all horizons in the upper 100 cm.
Soil texture is finer than fine sandy loam at the surface, and/or at least one horizon with <50% sand occurs in the upper 100 cm.
[Criteria]
GX042C01ESG04 – Sandy
GX042C01ESG04 – Sandy
Soils meet both of the following criteria: 1) soil at the surface reacts strongly or violently to 1N HCl. 2) ≥5% calcareous or carbonate-coated fragments at the surface.
Soils fail to meet one or both of the following criteria: 1) soil at the surface reacts strongly or violently to 1N HCl. 2) ≥5% calcareous or carbonate-coated fragments at the surface.
[Criteria]
GX042C01ESG05 – Limy
GX042C01ESG05 – Limy
[Criteria]
–
–
Additional water
Uplands
Perennial water - 041XESG09 Riparian
Ephemeral water
Subsurface EC >4 - 040XESG10 Saline Bottoms
Subsurface EC <4 - 040XESG01 Bottoms
Surface SAR >8
Surface SAR <8
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG62 Thornscrub Saline Hills
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG63 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Hills
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG38 Madrean Woodland Saline Hills
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG64 Temperate Forest Saline Hills
Gypsum >5% surface or >10% subsurface
Gypsum <5% surface or <10% subsurface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 042AESG33 Gypsum Thornscrub
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG55 Gypsum Semi-Desert Grassland
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042AESG69 Gypsum Madrean Woodland
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG70 Gypsum Temperate Forest
Subsurface EC >8 or surface EC >4
Subsurface EC <8 and surface EC <4
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG62 Thornscrub Saline Hills
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG63 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Hills
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG38 Madrean Woodland Saline Hills
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG64 Temperate Forest Saline Hills
EC >1.5 surface or >2 subsurface
EC <1.5 surface and <2 subsurface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG39 Thornscrub Saline Uplands
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG65 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Uplands
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG66 Madrean Woodland Saline Uplands
Slope >35% & >40% surface rock
Slope <35% or <40% surface rock
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG17 Thornscrub Breaks
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 038XESG18 Semi-Desert Grassland Breaks
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG19 Madrean Woodland Breaks
Elevation - >6000 ft
042CESG20 – Temperate Forest Breaks
042CESG20 – Temperate Forest Breaks
Depth <30cm
Depth: 30-55cm
Depth >55cm
Elevation - <2500 ft - 040XESG61 Very Shallow Desert
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG46 Very Shallow Thornscrub
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG47 Very Shallow Semi-Desert Grassland
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042AESG48 Very Shallow Madrean Woodland
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG49 Very Shallow Temperate Forest
Elevation - <2500 ft - 040XESG60 Shallow Desert
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG42 Shallow Thornscrub
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG43 Shallow Semi-Desert Grassland
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG44 Shallow Madrean Woodland
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG45 Shallow Temperate Forest
Rock >30% surface or >30% subsurface
Rock <30% surface and <30% subsurface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG25 Deep Rocky Thornscrub
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG26 Deep Rocky Semi-Desert Grassland
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG27 Deep Rocky Madrean Woodland
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG28 Deep Rocky Temperate Forest
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface
Clay <30% surface and <35% subsurface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG21 Thornscrub Clay Uplands
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG22 Semi-Desert Grassland Clay Uplands
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG23 Madrean Woodland Clay Uplands
Elevation - >6000 ft - 038XESG24 Temperate Forest Clay Uplands
Sand >75% or texture is loamy sand or sandier in surface & subsurface
Sand <75% or texture is sandy loam or finer in surface & subsurface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft
042CESG40 – Thornscrub Sandy Uplands
042CESG40 – Thornscrub Sandy Uplands
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG41 Semi-Desert Grassland Sandy Uplands
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG68 Madrean Woodland Sandy Uplands
Clay <20 % or texture is sandy loam or sandier in surface
Clay >20% or texture is finer than sandy loam in surface
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG34 Thornscrub Loamy Uplands
Elevation - 3700 4500 ft - 041XESG35 Semi-Desert Grassland Loamy Uplands
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG36 Madrean Woodland Loamy Uplands
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG37 Temperate Forest Loamy Uplands
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 042AESG29 Thornscrub Finer Uplands
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG30 Semi-Desert Grassland Finer Uplands
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 070BESG31 Madrean Woodland Finer Uplands
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG32 Temperate Forest Finer Uplands
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Ecological site group keys
Key to the Ecological Site Groups of MLRA 42C
I.
Site receives significant additional moisture—either from run-on or throughflow. Site occurs on a floodplain or in a swale or playa bottom.
II.
Site does not receive significant additional moisture—either from run-on or throughflow. Site does not occur on a floodplain or in a swale or playa bottom.
A.
Soils contain visible masses of gypsum in the upper 100 cm.
B.
Soils lack visible masses of gypsum in the upper 100 cm.
1
Root-restrictive layer occurs within 50 cm of the soil surface.
2
Soils are >50 cm to root-restrictive layer.
i.
Soil texture is fine sandy loam or coarser at the surface, and sand percentage is ≥50 in all horizons in the upper 100 cm.
ii.
Soil texture is finer than fine sandy loam at the surface, and/or at least one horizon with <50% sand occurs in the upper 100 cm.
a.
Soils meet both of the following criteria: 1) soil at the surface reacts strongly or violently to 1N HCl. 2) ≥5% calcareous or carbonate-coated fragments at the surface.
b.
Soils fail to meet one or both of the following criteria: 1) soil at the surface reacts strongly or violently to 1N HCl. 2) ≥5% calcareous or carbonate-coated fragments at the surface.
National Park Service
I.
Additional water
A.
Perennial water - 041XESG09 Riparian
B.
Ephemeral water
1
Subsurface EC >4 - 040XESG10 Saline Bottoms
2
Subsurface EC <4 - 040XESG01 Bottoms
II.
Uplands
A.
Surface SAR >8
1
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG62 Thornscrub Saline Hills
2
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG63 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Hills
3
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG38 Madrean Woodland Saline Hills
4
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG64 Temperate Forest Saline Hills
B.
Surface SAR <8
1
Gypsum >5% surface or >10% subsurface
i.
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 042AESG33 Gypsum Thornscrub
ii.
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG55 Gypsum Semi-Desert Grassland
iii.
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042AESG69 Gypsum Madrean Woodland
iv.
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG70 Gypsum Temperate Forest
2
Gypsum <5% surface or <10% subsurface
i.
Subsurface EC >8 or surface EC >4
a.
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG62 Thornscrub Saline Hills
b.
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG63 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Hills
c.
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG38 Madrean Woodland Saline Hills
d.
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG64 Temperate Forest Saline Hills
ii.
Subsurface EC <8 and surface EC <4
a.
EC >1.5 surface or >2 subsurface
1)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 041XESG39 Thornscrub Saline Uplands
2)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG65 Semi-Desert Grassland Saline Uplands
3)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG66 Madrean Woodland Saline Uplands
b.
EC <1.5 surface and <2 subsurface
1)
Slope >35% & >40% surface rock
a)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG17 Thornscrub Breaks
b)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 038XESG18 Semi-Desert Grassland Breaks
c)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG19 Madrean Woodland Breaks
2)
Slope <35% or <40% surface rock
a)
Depth <30cm
(1)
Elevation - <2500 ft - 040XESG61 Very Shallow Desert
(2)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG46 Very Shallow Thornscrub
(3)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG47 Very Shallow Semi-Desert Grassland
(4)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042AESG48 Very Shallow Madrean Woodland
(5)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG49 Very Shallow Temperate Forest
b)
Depth: 30-55cm
(1)
Elevation - <2500 ft - 040XESG60 Shallow Desert
(2)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG42 Shallow Thornscrub
(3)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG43 Shallow Semi-Desert Grassland
(4)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG44 Shallow Madrean Woodland
(5)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG45 Shallow Temperate Forest
c)
Depth >55cm
(1)
Rock >30% surface or >30% subsurface
(a)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG25 Deep Rocky Thornscrub
(b)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042AESG26 Deep Rocky Semi-Desert Grassland
(c)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG27 Deep Rocky Madrean Woodland
(d)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG28 Deep Rocky Temperate Forest
(2)
Rock <30% surface and <30% subsurface
(a)
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface
(1)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG21 Thornscrub Clay Uplands
(2)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG22 Semi-Desert Grassland Clay Uplands
(3)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 038XESG23 Madrean Woodland Clay Uplands
(4)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 038XESG24 Temperate Forest Clay Uplands
(b)
Clay <30% surface and <35% subsurface
(1)
Sand >75% or texture is loamy sand or sandier in surface & subsurface
(b)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 042BESG41 Semi-Desert Grassland Sandy Uplands
(c)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG68 Madrean Woodland Sandy Uplands
(2)
Sand <75% or texture is sandy loam or finer in surface & subsurface
(a)
Clay <20 % or texture is sandy loam or sandier in surface
(1)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 040XESG34 Thornscrub Loamy Uplands
(2)
Elevation - 3700 4500 ft - 041XESG35 Semi-Desert Grassland Loamy Uplands
(3)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 042BESG36 Madrean Woodland Loamy Uplands
(4)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG37 Temperate Forest Loamy Uplands
(b)
Clay >20% or texture is finer than sandy loam in surface
(1)
Elevation - 2500-3700 ft - 042AESG29 Thornscrub Finer Uplands
(2)
Elevation - 3700-4500 ft - 041XESG30 Semi-Desert Grassland Finer Uplands
(3)
Elevation - 4500-6000 ft - 070BESG31 Madrean Woodland Finer Uplands
(4)
Elevation - >6000 ft - 070BESG32 Temperate Forest Finer Uplands
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.
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