Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Major Land Resource Area 048A
Major Land Resource Area
Accessed: 05/02/2026
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Next, learn more about the selected ecological site group and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site group description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
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Ecological site groups
Major Land Resource Areas
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Aquic Moisture Regime
Udic Moisture Regime
Ustic Moisture Regime
Aridic Moisture Regime
Cryic Temperature Regime
Frigid Temperature Regime - 48 soil components
ESG048A03 – Aquic Frigid
ESG048A03 – Aquic Frigid
Mineral Soil - 117 soil components
ESG048A01 – Aquic Cryic Mineral
ESG048A01 – Aquic Cryic Mineral
Organic Soil - 43 soil components
ESG048A02 – Aquic Cryic Organic
ESG048A02 – Aquic Cryic Organic
Pergelic Temperature Regime - 13 soil components
ESG048A04 – Udic Pergelic
ESG048A04 – Udic Pergelic
Cryic Temperature Regime
Frigid Temperature Regime - 372 soil components
ESG048A09 – Udic Frigid
ESG048A09 – Udic Frigid
Sandy Surface Texture - 24 soil components
ESG048A05 – Udic Cryic Sandy
ESG048A05 – Udic Cryic Sandy
Loamy Surface Texture
No coarse fragments on the surface - 764 soil components
ESG048A06 – Udic Cryic Loamy
ESG048A06 – Udic Cryic Loamy
Gravelly Surface - 450 soil components
ESG048A07 – Udic Cryic Gravelly
ESG048A07 – Udic Cryic Gravelly
Coarse fragments larger than gravel on the surface - 699 soil components
ESG048A08 – Udic Cryic Stony
ESG048A08 – Udic Cryic Stony
Cryic Temperature Regime
Frigid Temperature Regime
Mesic Temperature Regime - 87 soil components
ESG048A14 – Ustic Mesic
ESG048A14 – Ustic Mesic
No coarse fragments on the surface - 187 soil components
ESG048A10 – Ustic Cryic
ESG048A10 – Ustic Cryic
Coarse fragments on the surface - 174 soil components
ESG048A11 – Ustic Cryic Gravelly
ESG048A11 – Ustic Cryic Gravelly
No coarse fragments on the surface - 497 soil components
ESG048A12 – Ustic Frigid
ESG048A12 – Ustic Frigid
Coarse fragments on the surface - 708 soil components
ESG048A13 – Ustic Frigid Gravelly
ESG048A13 – Ustic Frigid Gravelly
Frigid Temperature Regime - 74 soil components
ESG048A15 – Aridic Frigid
ESG048A15 – Aridic Frigid
Mesic Temperature Regime - 38 soil components
ESG048A16 – Aridic Mesic
ESG048A16 – Aridic Mesic
Additional water
Uplands
Perennial water - 109 soil components
ESG048A17 – Riparian
ESG048A17 – Riparian
Ephemeral water
Subsurface EC >4 - 28 soil components
ESG048A18 – Saline Bottoms
ESG048A18 – Saline Bottoms
Subsurface EC <4
Sand >50% & Clay <25% for surface and subsurface - 9 soil components
ESG048A19 – Sandy Bottoms
ESG048A19 – Sandy Bottoms
Sand <50% & Clay >25% for surface and subsurface - 89 soil components
ESG048A20 – Bottoms
ESG048A20 – Bottoms
>75% bedrock outcrop - 527 soil components
ESG048A21 – Outcrops
ESG048A21 – Outcrops
<75% bedrock outcrop
Surface SAR >8, or Subsurface EC >8, or Surface EC >4 - 93 soil components
ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
Surface SAR <8, or Subsurface EC <8, or Surface EC <4
Gypsum >5% surface or >10% subsurface - 27 soil components
ESG048A23 – Gypsum
ESG048A23 – Gypsum
Gypsum <5% surface and <10% subsurface
EC >1.5 surface or >2 subsurface - 42 soil components
ESG048A24 – Saline Uplands
ESG048A24 – Saline Uplands
EC <1.5 surface or <2 subsurface
slope >35% & >40% surface rock - 34 soil components
ESG048A25 – Breaks
ESG048A25 – Breaks
slope <35% or <40% surface rock
Depth <30cm - 1211 soil components
ESG048A26 – Very Shallow
ESG048A26 – Very Shallow
depth: 30-55cm - 717 soil components
ESG048A27 – Shallow
ESG048A27 – Shallow
depth >55cm
Rock >30% surface or >30% subsurface - 628 soil components
ESG048A28 – Deep Rocky
ESG048A28 – Deep Rocky
Rock <30% surface and <30% subsurface
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface - 655 soil components
ESG048A29 – Clay Uplands
ESG048A29 – Clay Uplands
Clay <30% surface and <35% subsurface
sand >75% or texture is Loamy Sand or sandier in surface & subsurface - 21 soil components
ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
sand <75% or texture is Loamy Fine Sand or finer in surface & subsurface
Clay <20% or texture is Sandy Loam or sandier in surface - 993 soil components
ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface - 977 soil components
ESG048A32 – Finer Uplands
ESG048A32 – Finer Uplands
Additional water
Uplands
Perennial water
Ephemeral water
Mineral soil surface - 68 soil components
ESG048A33 – Mineral Riparian
ESG048A33 – Mineral Riparian
Organic soil surface - 40 soil components
ESG048A34 – Organic Riparian
ESG048A34 – Organic Riparian
Subsurface EC >4 - 28 soil components
ESG048A18 – Saline Bottoms
ESG048A18 – Saline Bottoms
Subsurface EC <4 - 98 soil components
ESG048A20 – Bottoms
ESG048A20 – Bottoms
>75% bedrock outcrop - 527 soil components
ESG048A21 – Outcrops
ESG048A21 – Outcrops
<75% bedrock outcrop
Surface SAR >8, subsurface EC >8, or surface EC >4, and soil moisture regime udic or ustic - 64 soil components
ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
(Gypsum >5% surface or >10% subsurface) OR (surface SAR >8 or subsurface EC>8 or surface EC>4 AND soil moisture regime is aridic) - 56 soil components
ESG048A35 – Arid/Gypsic Saline Hills
ESG048A35 – Arid/Gypsic Saline Hills
Gypsum <5% surface, gypsum <10% subsurface, surface SAR <8, subsurface EC <8, and surface EC <4.
EC>1.5 surface or >2 subsurface - 42 soil components
ESG048A24 – Saline Uplands
ESG048A24 – Saline Uplands
EC<1.5 surface or <2 subsurface
slope >35% & >40% surface rock AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 34 soil components
ESG048A25 – Breaks
ESG048A25 – Breaks
Depth <30 cm AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 1170 soil components
ESG048A26 – Very Shallow
ESG048A26 – Very Shallow
Depth: 30-55 cm AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 694 soil components
ESG048A27 – Shallow
ESG048A27 – Shallow
Rock >30% surface or >30% subsurface AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 621 soil components
ESG048A28 – Deep Rocky
ESG048A28 – Deep Rocky
Slope, rock, or depth meeting one of the four criteria above, but with an Aridic soil moisture regime - 71 soil components
ESG048A36 – Aridic Shallow or Rocky
ESG048A36 – Aridic Shallow or Rocky
Soil not steep, rocky, or shallow
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Udic soil moisture regime - 216 soil components
ESG048A37 – Udic Clay Uplands
ESG048A37 – Udic Clay Uplands
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Ustic soil moisture regime - 370 soil components
ESG048A38 – Ustic Clay Uplands
ESG048A38 – Ustic Clay Uplands
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Aridic soil moisture regime - 69 soil components
ESG048A39 – Aridic Clay Uplands
ESG048A39 – Aridic Clay Uplands
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface
sand >75% or texture is loamy sand or sandier in surface & subsurface - 21 soil components
ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
sand <75% or texture is Loamy Fine Sand or finer in surface & subsurface
Clay <20%or texture is Sandy Loam or sandier in surface - 993 soil components
ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Udic soil moisture regime - 411 soil components
ESG048A40 – Udic Finer Uplands
ESG048A40 – Udic Finer Uplands
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Ustic soil moisture regime - 343 soil components
ESG048A41 – Ustic Finer Uplands
ESG048A41 – Ustic Finer Uplands
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Aridic soil moisture regime - 96 soil components
ESG048A42 – Aridic Finer Uplands
ESG048A42 – Aridic Finer Uplands
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Ecological site group keys
MLRA 48A ESGs - Curtis strawman
I.
Aquic Moisture Regime
A.
Cryic Temperature Regime
II.
Udic Moisture Regime
B.
Cryic Temperature Regime
2
Loamy Surface Texture
iii.
Coarse fragments larger than gravel on the surface - 699 soil components
... ESG048A08 – Udic Cryic Stony
III.
Ustic Moisture Regime
A.
Cryic Temperature Regime
B.
Frigid Temperature Regime
IV.
Aridic Moisture Regime
MLRA 48A ESGs - Travis strawman
I.
Additional water
B.
Ephemeral water
2
Subsurface EC <4
i.
Sand >50% & Clay <25% for surface and subsurface - 9 soil components
... ESG048A19 – Sandy Bottoms
II.
Uplands
B.
<75% bedrock outcrop
1
Surface SAR >8, or Subsurface EC >8, or Surface EC >4 - 93 soil components
... ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
2
Surface SAR <8, or Subsurface EC <8, or Surface EC <4
ii.
Gypsum <5% surface and <10% subsurface
b.
EC <1.5 surface or <2 subsurface
2)
slope <35% or <40% surface rock
c)
depth >55cm
(2)
Rock <30% surface and <30% subsurface
(b)
Clay <30% surface and <35% subsurface
(1)
sand >75% or texture is Loamy Sand or sandier in surface & subsurface - 21 soil components
... ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
(2)
sand <75% or texture is Loamy Fine Sand or finer in surface & subsurface
(a)
Clay <20% or texture is Sandy Loam or sandier in surface - 993 soil components
... ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
(b)
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface - 977 soil components
... ESG048A32 – Finer Uplands
3rd Iteration
I.
Additional water
A.
Perennial water
B.
Ephemeral water
II.
Uplands
B.
<75% bedrock outcrop
1
Surface SAR >8, subsurface EC >8, or surface EC >4, and soil moisture regime udic or ustic - 64 soil components
... ESG048A22 – Saline Hills
2
(Gypsum >5% surface or >10% subsurface) OR (surface SAR >8 or subsurface EC>8 or surface EC>4 AND soil moisture regime is aridic) - 56 soil components
... ESG048A35 – Arid/Gypsic Saline Hills
3
Gypsum <5% surface, gypsum <10% subsurface, surface SAR <8, subsurface EC <8, and surface EC <4.
ii.
EC<1.5 surface or <2 subsurface
a.
slope >35% & >40% surface rock AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 34 soil components
... ESG048A25 – Breaks
b.
Depth <30 cm AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 1170 soil components
... ESG048A26 – Very Shallow
c.
Depth: 30-55 cm AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 694 soil components
... ESG048A27 – Shallow
d.
Rock >30% surface or >30% subsurface AND soil moisture regime of Udic or Ustic - 621 soil components
... ESG048A28 – Deep Rocky
e.
Slope, rock, or depth meeting one of the four criteria above, but with an Aridic soil moisture regime - 71 soil components
... ESG048A36 – Aridic Shallow or Rocky
f.
Soil not steep, rocky, or shallow
1)
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Udic soil moisture regime - 216 soil components
... ESG048A37 – Udic Clay Uplands
2)
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Ustic soil moisture regime - 370 soil components
... ESG048A38 – Ustic Clay Uplands
3)
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface AND Aridic soil moisture regime - 69 soil components
... ESG048A39 – Aridic Clay Uplands
4)
Clay >30% surface or >35% subsurface
a)
sand >75% or texture is loamy sand or sandier in surface & subsurface - 21 soil components
... ESG048A30 – Sandy Uplands
b)
sand <75% or texture is Loamy Fine Sand or finer in surface & subsurface
(1)
Clay <20%or texture is Sandy Loam or sandier in surface - 993 soil components
... ESG048A31 – Loamy Uplands
(2)
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Udic soil moisture regime - 411 soil components
... ESG048A40 – Udic Finer Uplands
(3)
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Ustic soil moisture regime - 343 soil components
... ESG048A41 – Ustic Finer Uplands
(4)
Clay >20% or texture is Fine Sandy Loam or finer in surface AND Aridic soil moisture regime - 96 soil components
... ESG048A42 – Aridic 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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