Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R024XY011NV
SODIC FLAT 6-8 P.Z.
Last updated: 3/07/2025
Accessed: 04/08/2025
General 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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 024X–Humboldt Basin and Range Area
Major land resource area (MLRA) 24, the Humboldt Area, covers an area of approximately 8,115,200 acres (12,680 sq. mi.). It is found in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. Elevations range from 3,950 to 5,900 feet (1,205 to 1,800 meters) in most of the area, some mountain peaks are more than 8,850 feet (2,700 meters).
A series of widely spaced north-south trending mountain ranges are separated by broad valleys filled with alluvium washed in from adjacent mountain ranges. Most valleys are drained by tributaries to the Humboldt River. However, playas occur in lower elevation valleys with closed drainage systems. Isolated ranges are dissected, uplifted fault-block mountains. Geology is comprised of Mesozoic and Paleozoic volcanic rock and marine and continental sediments. Occasional young andesite and basalt flows (6 to 17 million years old) occur at the margins of the mountains. Dominant soil orders include Aridisols, Entisols, Inceptisols and Mollisols. Soils of the area are generally characterized by a mesic soil temperature regime, an aridic soil moisture regime and mixed geology. They are generally well drained, loamy and very deep.
Approximately 75 percent of MLRA 24 is federally owned, the remainder is primarily used for farming, ranching and mining. Irrigated land makes up about 3 percent of the area; the majority of irrigation water is from surface water sources, such as the Humboldt River and Rye Patch Reservoir. Annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) for most of the area, but can be as much as 40 inches (101 cm) in the mountain ranges. The majority of annual precipitation occurs as snow in the winter. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in the spring and fall.
Ecological site concept
This ecological site is on alluvial flats. Soils are deep, poorly to somewhat poorly drained, and formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks with a component of volcanic ash. The soil profile is characterized by an ochric epipedon, a pH greater than 8.0 throughout, sodicity (SAR) greater than 30 and a water table between 35 to 59 inches (90 to 150 cm) at some point during the spring. Soil textures are fine sandy loam or silt clay loam.
Important abiotic factors include crusting & baking of the surface layer upon drying, inhibiting water infiltration and seedling emergence. High salt concentrations reduce seed viability, germination and the available water capacity of these soils.
Full consideration should be given to combining this ecological site concept with Sodic Flat 8-10" PZ (024XY008NV), Sodic Flat (024XYXY001OR) and Dry Sodic Flood Plane (024XY112OR). These sites do not compete on soil characteristics, abiotic factors or species composition.
Associated sites
| R024XY003NV |
SODIC TERRACE 6-8 P.Z. Soils are very deep, well drained and formed in a thin layer of loess and alluvium derived from mixed parent material influenced by volcanic ash over lacustrine sediments and characterized by a very low infiltration. |
|---|---|
| R024XY007NV |
SALINE BOTTOM The soil profile is characterized by an ochric epipedon, strong to moderate salinity throughout and a high-water table between 27 to 39 inches (70-100 cm) at some time during the year. Sodicity (SAR) is 13-99 in the upper 20 inches (50cm) and decreases with depth. Dominant plant species are Black greasewood (SAVE4) and Basin wildrye (LECI4) |
Similar sites
| R024XY008NV |
SODIC FLAT 8-10 P.Z. More productive site, this site presents crusting & baking of the surface layer upon drying, inhibiting water infiltration and seedling emergence. High salt concentrations reduce seed viability, germination and the available water capacity of these soils. Black greasewood (SAVE4) dominant shrub; Shadscale (ATCO) minor shrub; Basin wildrye (LECI4) dominant grass. |
|---|---|
| R024XY022NV |
SODIC TERRACE 8-10 P.Z. The plant community is characterized by the mixing of shadscale (ATCO), black greasewood (SAVE4), and big sagebrush (ARTR2). More productive site. |
| R024XY003NV |
SODIC TERRACE 6-8 P.Z. More productive site; Greasewood (SAVE4) and Saltgrass (DISP) absent; soils not saline-alkali affected. |
| R024XY007NV |
SALINE BOTTOM More productive site; Basin wildrye (LECI4) dominant plant. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Sarcobatus vermiculatus |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Leymus cinereus |
Physiographic features
This site is on lake plains adjacent to playas. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Elevations are 3,800 to about 6,400 feet (1,150 to 1,951m).
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Lake plain
(2) Alluvial flat (3) Lake plain |
|---|---|
| Runoff class | Medium to very high |
| Ponding duration | Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days) |
| Ponding frequency | Occasional to frequent |
| Elevation | 3,800 – 6,400 ft |
| Slope | 2% |
| Water table depth | 20 – 72 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is semiarid and characterized by cold, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm). Mean annual air temperature is 45 to 53 degrees F. The average growing season is about 90 to 130 days.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 130 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) | 8 in |
Figure 1. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
This site is adjacent to and is on lake plains. Surface runoff from the soils of this site is low and there is widespread ponding in the late winter and early spring.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are deep to very deep, poorly to somewhat poorly drained, and formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks with a component of volcanic ash. The soil profile is characterized by an ochric epipedon, a pH greater than 8.0 throughout and a water table between 35 to 59 inches (90 to 150 cm) at some point during the spring. Sodicity (SAR) is greater than 30 and soil surface will crust on drying. Soil textures are fine sandy loam or silt clay loam. The upper portion of these soils is strongly salt and sodium affected due to capillary movement of dissolved salts upward from the ground water. Effective rooting depths are limited by a fluctuating water table. Ponding from run-on water is common. Potential for sheet and rill erosion is slight to moderate.
Soil series associated with this site include: Argenta, Benin, Dunphy, Ocala, Preble, Prideen, Umberland, Wendane, and Yobe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Volcanic ash
(2) Alluvium (3) Lacustrine deposits |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Silt loam (2) Silty clay loam (3) Fine sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Poorly drained to moderately well drained |
| Permeability class | Very slow to moderate |
| Soil depth | 40 – 84 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 4% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | Not specified |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2 – 7.9 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
32 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
13 – 99 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.9 – 9.6 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
26% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
Not specified |
Ecological dynamics
An ecological site is the product of all the environmental factors responsible for its development and it has a set of key characteristics that influence a site’s resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasives. Key characteristics include 1) climate (precipitation, temperature), 2) topography (aspect, slope, elevation, and landform), 3) hydrology (infiltration, runoff), 4) soils (depth, texture, structure, organic matter), 5) plant communities (functional groups, productivity), and 6) natural disturbance regime (fire, herbivory, etc.) (Caudle et al 2013). Biotic factors that that influence resilience include site productivity, species composition and structure, and population regulation and regeneration (Chambers et al. 2013).
The Great Basin shrub communities have high spatial and temporal variability in precipitation, both among years and within growing seasons. Nutrient availability is typically low but increases with elevation and closely follows moisture availability. The moisture resource supporting the greatest amount of plant growth is usually the water stored in the soil profile during the winter. The invasibility of plant communities is often linked to resource availability. Disturbance can decrease resource uptake due to damage or mortality of the native species and depressed competition or can increase resource pools by the decomposition of dead plant material following disturbance.
Hydrology of these black greasewood-basin wildrye sites is critical for site function and maintenance. Black greasewood is classified as a phreatophyte (Eddleman 2002), and its distribution is well correlated with the distribution of groundwater (Mozingo 1987). Meinzer (1927) discovered that the taproots of black greasewood could penetrate from 20 to 57 feet below the surface. Romo (1984) found water tables ranging from 3.5 to 15 m under black greasewood dominated communities in Oregon. Black greasewood stands develop best where moisture is readily available, either from surface or subsurface runoff (Brown 1965). It is commonly found on floodplains that are either subject to periodic flooding, have a high water table at least part of the year, or have a water table less than 34 feet deep (Harr and Price 1972, Blauer et al. 1976, Branson et al. 1976, Blaisdell and Holmgren 1984, Eddleman 2002). Ganskopp (1986) reported that water tables within 9.8 to 11.8 inches of the surface had no effect on black greasewood in Oregon. However, a study, conducted in California, found that black greasewood did not survive six months of continuous flooding (Groeneveld and Crowley 1988, Groeneveld 1990). Black greasewood is usually a deep-rooted shrub but has some shallow roots near the soil surface; the maximum rooting depth can be determined by the depth to a saturated zone (Harr and Price 1972).
Drought will initially cause a decline in bunchgrasses, but prolonged drought will eventually cause a decline in shrubs, including black greasewood. As site condition deteriorates, these sites may become a pure stand of black greasewood or a pure stand with an annual understory. Marcum and Kopec (1997) found inland saltgrass more tolerant of increased levels of salinity than alkali sacaton therefore dewatering and/or long term drought causing increased levels of salinity would create environmental conditions more favorable to inland saltgrass over alkali sacaton. Alkali sacaton is considered a facultative wet species in this region; therefore it is not drought tolerant. A lowering of the water table can occur with ground water pumping. This may contribute to the loss of deep rooted species such as greasewood and basin wildrye and an increase in rabbitbrush, shadscale and other species with the absence of drought.
Vegetation on these sites is normally restricted to coppice mound areas that are surrounded by playa-like depressions or nearly level, usually barren interspaces. These communities often exhibit the formation of microbiotic crusts within the interspaces. These crusts influence the soils on these sites and their ability to reduce erosion and increase infiltration, they may also alter the soil structure and possibly increase soil fertility (Fletcher and Martin 1948, Williams 1993). Finer textured soils such as silts tend to support more microbiotic cover than coarse texture soils (Anderson et al. 1982). Disturbance such as hoof action from inappropriate grazing and cheatgrass invasion can reduce biotic crust integrity (Anderson et al. 1982, Ponzetti et al. 2007) and increase erosion. Annual non-native species such as Russian thistle, halogeton and cheatgrass invade these sites where competition from perennial species is decreased.
This site has moderate resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion. The introduction of annual weedy species, like cheatgrass, may cause an increase in fire frequency and eventually lead to an annual state or a state dominated by black greasewood and rabbitbrush.
Three alternative states have been identified for this site.
Fire Ecology:
Fire is a rare disturbance in these plant communities likely occurring in years with above average production. Natural fire return intervals are estimated to vary between 35 years and 100+ years in salt desert ecosystems with basin wildrye (Paysen et al. 2000).
This site may burn only during high fire hazard conditions; for example, years with high precipitation can result in almost continuous fine fuels, increasing fire hazard (West 1994, Paysen et al. 2000). Black greasewood may be killed by severe fires, but can resprout after low to moderate severity fires (Robertson 1983, West 1994). Sheeter (1968) reported that following a Nevada wildfire, black greasewood sprouts reached approximately 2.5 feet within 3 years. Grazing and other disturbance may result in increased biomass production due to sprouting and increased seed production, also leading to greater fuel loads (Sanderson and Stutz 1994, Paysen et al. 2000). Higher production sites would have experienced fire more frequently than lower production sites.
Although not a dominant component within these sites, basin wildrye is relatively resistant to fire, particularly dormant season fire, as plants sprout from surviving root crowns and rhizomes (Zschaechner 1985) and would likely increase after fire. Bud sagebrush is killed by fire (West 1994). Shadscale is intolerant of fire and can only regenerate through seed (Zielinski 1994). Increases in the fire return interval leads to increases in the shrub component of the plant community, potentially facilitating increases in bare ground, inland salt grass and invasive weeds. Lack of fire combined with excessive herbivory decreases or eliminates the herbaceous understory, favoring black greasewood and annual species. Therefore, fire can be detrimental to these communities, especially in the presence of fire tolerant, annual non-native species.
Basin wildrye is top-killed by fire. Older basin wildrye plants with large proportions of dead material within the perennial crown can be expected to show higher mortality due to fire than younger plants having little debris. Basin wildrye is generally tolerant of fire but may be damaged by early season fire combined with dry soil conditions. Saltgrass rhizomes occur deep in the soil where they are insulated from the heat of most fires. Saltgrass survives fire by sending up new growth from rhizomes.
State and transition model
Figure 2. State and Transition Model
Figure 3. STM Narrative
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The Reference State 1.0 is a representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. The reference state has three general community phases; a shrub-grass dominant phase, a perennial grass dominant phase and a shrub dominant phase. State dynamics are maintained by interactions between climatic patterns and disturbance regimes. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by fire, periodic drought and/or insect or disease attack.
Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community
This community is dominated by black greasewood. Basin wildrye and inland saltgrass are present in the understory. Drought will favor shrubs over perennial bunchgrasses. However, long-term drought will result in an overall decline in the plant community, regardless of functional group.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrub/Vine | 140 | 245 | 350 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 50 | 88 | 125 |
| Forb | 10 | 17 | 25 |
| Total | 200 | 350 | 500 |
Community 1.2
Community Phase 1.2
This community phase is characteristic of a post-disturbance, early-seral community phase. Basin wildrye and alkali sacaton dominate the community. Black greasewood will decrease but will likely sprout and return to pre-burn levels within a few years. Early colonizers such as rabbitbrush and shadscale may increase.
Community 1.3
Community Phase 1.3
Black greasewood and shadscale increase in the absence of disturbance. Decadent shrubs dominate the overstory and deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses in the understory are reduced either from competition with shrubs, herbivory, drought or combinations of these. Inland saltgrass is more drought tolerant and may increase in the community.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
A low severity fire would decrease the overstory of black greasewood and allow for the understory perennial grasses to increase. Fires are typically low severity resulting in a mosaic pattern due to low fuel loads. A fire following an unusually wet spring facilitating an increase in fine fuels may be more severe and reduce black greasewood cover to trace amounts.
Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3
Absence of disturbance over time, significant herbivory, long term drought or combinations of these would allow the black greasewood overstory to increase and dominate the site. This will generally cause a reduction in perennial bunch grasses; however inland saltgrass may increase in the understory depending on the timing and intensity of herbivory. Heavy spring utilization will favor an increase in black greasewood.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Time and lack of disturbance will allow black greasewood to increase.
Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.2
Fire will decrease the overstory of black greasewood and allow for the perennial bunchgrasses to dominate the site. Fires are typically high severity in this phase due to the dominance of black greasewood resulting in removal of the overstory shrub community.
State 2
Current Potential State
This state is similar to the Reference State 1.0 with three similar community phases. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Non-natives may increase in abundance but will not become dominant within this State. These non-natives can be highly flammable and can promote fire where historically fire had been infrequent. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These feedbacks include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Positive feedbacks decrease ecosystem resilience and stability of the state. These include the non-natives’ high seed output, persistent seed bank, rapid growth rate, ability to cross pollinate, and adaptations for seed dispersal.
Community 2.1
Community Phase 2.1
This community phase is compositionally similar to the Reference State Community Phase 1.1 with the presence of non-native species in trace amounts. This community is dominated by black greasewood. Basin wildrye, inland saltgrass, Alkali sacaton, shadscale, rubber rabbitbrush and other shrubs comprise the minor components. Non-native annual species such as halogeton and cheatgrass are present.
Community 2.2
Community Phase 2.2
This community phase is characteristic of a post-disturbance, early-seral community where annual non-native species are present. Perennial bunchgrasses such as alkali sacaton, inland saltgrass and basin wildrye dominate the site. Depending on fire severity patches of intact shrubs may remain. Black greasewood and rabbitbrush may be sprouting. Annual non-native species are stable to increasing in the community.
Community 2.3
Community Phase 2.3 (At Risk)
Black greasewood dominates the overstory and perennial bunchgrasses in the understory are reduced, either from competition with shrubs or from inappropriate grazing, or from both. Rabbitbrush may be a significant component. Inland saltgrass is more grazing tolerant and may increase within the community. Annual non-native species are stable or increasing. This community is at risk of crossing a threshold to State 3.0 (grazing or fire).
Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2
A low severity fire would decrease the overstory of black greasewood and allow for the understory perennial grasses to increase. Fires are typically low severity resulting in a mosaic pattern due to low fuel loads. A fire following an unusually wet spring or a change in management favoring an increase in fine fuels may be more severe and reduce black sagebrush cover to trace amounts. Brush treatments with minimal soil disturbance may also reduce black greasewood and allow for perennial bunchgrasses to increase. Annual non-native species are likely to increase after fire.
Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.3
Absence of disturbance over time, long term drought, inappropriate grazing management or combinations of these would allow the black greasewood overstory to increase and dominate the site. Inappropriate grazing management reduces the perennial bunchgrass understory; conversely inland saltgrass may increase in the understory.
Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1
Absence of disturbance over time, long term drought and/or grazing management that favors the establishment and growth of black greasewood allows the shrub component to recover.
Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.2
Grazing management that reduces shrubs will allow for the perennial bunchgrasses in the understory to increase. Heavy late-fall/winter grazing may cause mechanical damage to black greasewood promoting the perennial bunchgrass understory. Brush treatments with minimal soil disturbance will also decrease greasewood and release the perennial understory. Fires may be high severity due to the dominance of black greasewood in this community phase; a fire would decrease the shrub overstory and may allow for an increase in perennial bunchgrasses. Annual non-native species are present and may increase in the community.
State 3
Shrub State
This state has two community phases, one that is characterized by a dominance of black greasewood overstory and the other with a rabbitbrush overstory. This site has crossed a biotic and abiotic threshold and site processes are being controlled by shrubs. Bare ground has increased and pedestalling of grasses may be excessive.
Community 3.1
Community Phase 3.1
Figure 5. P NovakEchenique NV777MU1102, Wendane Series 4/201
Figure 6. Sodic Flat 6-8" Phase 3.1
Black greasewood dominates the overstory. Rabbitbrush may be a significant component. Deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses such as basin wildrye have significantly declined. Annual non-native species increase. Bare ground is significant.
Community 3.2
Community Phase 3.2
Rabbitbrush dominates the site. Perennial bunchgrasses are present but a minor component. Annual non-native species are present and may be increasing in the understory.
Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2
Long term drought and/or lowering of water table by groundwater pumping would reduce black greasewood and allow for rabbitbrush and other shrubs on the site to dominate. Severe fire would also reduce black greasewood overstory and allow for an increase rabbitbrush.
Pathway 3.2a
Community 3.2 to 3.1
Release from long term drought and/or grazing pressure may allow for black greasewood, basin wildrye and other perennial bunchgrasses to increase.
State 4
Annual State
This state has two community phases. In this state, a biotic threshold has been crossed and state dynamics are driven by the dominance and persistence of the annual plant community which is perpetuated by a shortened fire return interval. The herbaceous understory is dominated by annual non-native species such as cheatgrass and halogeton. Bare ground may be abundant. Resiliency has declined and further degradation from fire facilitates a cheatgrass and sprouting shrub plant community. The fire return interval has shortened due to the dominance of cheatgrass in the understory and is a driver in site dynamics.
Community 4.1
Community Phase 4.1
This community is dominated by annual non-native species. Halogeton most commonly invades these sites. Trace amounts of shadscale and other shrubs may be present, but are not contributing to site function. Bare ground may be abundant, especially during low precipitation years. Soil erosion from wind and soil temperature are driving factors in site function.
Community 4.2
Community Phase 4.2
This community is dominated by black greasewood which can sprout after fire. Shadscale is increasing within the community. Annual non-native species dominate the understory.
Pathway 4.1a
Community 4.1 to 4.2
Time and lack of disturbance allows for reestablishment of black greasewood.
Pathway 4.2a
Community 4.2 to 4.1
Fire.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Trigger: Introduction of non-native annual plants. Slow variables: Over time the annual non-native plants will increase within the community. Threshold: Any amount of introduced non-native species causes an immediate decrease in the resilience of the site. Annual non-native species cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Trigger: To Community Phase 3.1: Inappropriate cattle/horse grazing will decrease or eliminate deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses and favor shrub growth and establishment. To Community Phase 3.2: Severe fire will reduce and/or eliminate black greasewood overstory and decrease perennial bunchgrasses. Soil disturbing brush treatments will reduce black greasewood and possibly increase non-native annual species. Lowering of the water table due to groundwater pumping will also decrease black greasewood and allow for rabbitbrush and other shrubs to increase. Slow variables: Long term decrease in deep-rooted perennial grass density and/or black greasewood. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter. Loss of long-lived, black greasewood changes the temporal and depending on the replacement shrub, the spatial distribution of nutrient cycling.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4
Trigger: Fire and/or soil disturbing treatments such as drill seeding and plowing. An unusually wet spring may facilitate the increased germination and production of cheatgrass leading to its dominance within the community. Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species. Threshold: Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires. Changes in plant community composition and spatial variability of vegetation due to the loss of perennial bunchgrasses and shadscale truncate energy capture spatially and temporally thus impacting nutrient cycling and distribution.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
Trigger: Fire and/or soil disturbing treatments such as drill seeding and plowing. An unusually wet spring may facilitate the increased germination and production of cheatgrass leading to its dominance within the community. Slow variables: Increased production and cover of non-native annual species. Threshold: Increased, continuous fine fuels modify the fire regime by changing intensity, size and spatial variability of fires. Changes in plant community composition and spatial variability of vegetation due to the loss of perennial bunchgrasses and shadscale truncate energy capture spatially and temporally thus impacting nutrient cycling and distribution.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Primary Perennial Grasses | 53–88 | ||||
| basin wildrye | LECI4 | Leymus cinereus | 35–53 | – | ||
| saltgrass | DISP | Distichlis spicata | 18–35 | – | ||
| 2 | Secondary Perennial Grasses | 1–18 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 2–11 | – | ||
| alkaligrass | PUCCI | Puccinellia | 2–11 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 2–11 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 3 | Perennial Forbs | 7–28 | ||||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 2–7 | – | ||
| povertyweed | IVAX | Iva axillaris | 2–7 | – | ||
| niterwort | NITRO | Nitrophila | 2–7 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 2–7 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 4 | Primary Shrubs | 210–263 | ||||
| greasewood | SAVE4 | Sarcobatus vermiculatus | 210–263 | – | ||
| 5 | Secondary Shrubs | 35–53 | ||||
| iodinebush | ALOC2 | Allenrolfea occidentalis | 4–11 | – | ||
| shadscale saltbush | ATCO | Atriplex confertifolia | 4–11 | – | ||
| sickle saltbush | ATFA | Atriplex falcata | 4–11 | – | ||
| Torrey's saltbush | ATTO | Atriplex torreyi | 4–11 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAN5 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa | 4–11 | – | ||
| seepweed | SUAED | Suaeda | 4–11 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site has value for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to dominant grasses and palatable shrubs production. Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for domestic sheep and cattle. It also receives light to moderate use by domestic sheep and cattle during spring and summer months. Black greasewood contains soluble sodium and potassium oxalates that may cause poisoning and death in domestic sheep and cattle if large amounts are consumed in a short time. The early growth and abundant production of basin wildrye make it a valuable source of forage for livestock. It is important forage for cattle and is readily grazed by cattle and horses in early spring and fall. Though coarse-textured during the winter, basin wildrye may be utilized more frequently by livestock and wildlife when snow has covered low shrubs and other grasses. Saltgrass's value as forage depends primarily on the relative availability of other grasses of higher nutritional value and palatability. It can be an especially important late summer grass in arid environments after other forage grasses have deceased. Saltgrass is rated as a fair to good forage species only because it stays green after most other grasses dry. Livestock generally avoid saltgrass due to its coarse foliage. Saltgrass is described as an increaser under grazing pressure.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for big game animals and a food source for many other wildlife species. It also receives light to moderate use by mule deer and pronghorn during spring and summer months. Basin wildrye provides winter forage for mule deer, though use is often low compared to other native grasses. Basin wildrye provides summer forage for black-tailed jackrabbits. Because basin wildrye remains green throughout early summer, it remains available for small mammal forage for longer time than other grasses. Saltgrass provides cover for a variety of bird species, small mammals, and arthropods and is on occasion used as forage for several big game wildlife species.
Hydrological functions
Runoff is low to very high. Permeability is very slow to moderate. Hydrologic soil groups are B, C, and D. Rills are none. Water flow patterns are rare to common dependent on location relative to major inflow areas. Water flow patterns are typically short, ending in depressional areas where water ponds. Pedestals are none. There are no gullies associated with this site. This site is typically ponded for short periods in the late winter and runoff is not significant. In areas with herbaceous cover (sparse) of deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses (basin wildrye) and/or rhizomatous grasses (saltgrass), these plants can increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site.
Recreational uses
This site has limited value for upland bird and big game hunting.
Other products
The leaves, seeds and stems of black greasewood are edible. Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand.
Other information
Black greasewood is useful for stabilizing soil on wind-blown areas. It successfully revegetates eroded areas and sites too saline for most plant species. Basin wildrye is useful in mine reclamation, fire rehabilitation and stabilizing disturbed areas. Its usefulness in range seeding, however, may be limited by initially weak stand establishment. Given its extensive system of rhizomes and roots which form a dense sod, saltgrass is considered a suitable species for controlling wind and water erosion.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
NASIS soil component data.
Type locality
| Location 1: Lander County, NV | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T30N R44E S19 |
| UTM zone | N |
| UTM northing | 4478555 |
| UTM easting | 494203 |
| Latitude | 40° 27′ 27″ |
| Longitude | 117° 4′ 6″ |
| General legal description | N½ Approximately 14 miles south of Battle Mountain, on the west side of NvHwy 8A, about 0.1 mile south of Reese River Bridge, Lander County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Pershing, and Washoe Counties, Nevada. |
| Location 2: Humboldt County, NV | |
| Township/Range/Section | T35N R42E S32 |
| UTM zone | N |
| UTM northing | 4523858 |
| UTM easting | 477143 |
| Latitude | 40° 51′ 55″ |
| Longitude | 117° 16′ 16″ |
| General legal description | NW¼SW¼ Approximately 2½ miles southwest of I-80 Exit 205, Pumpernikel Valley, Humboldt County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Eureka, Lander, and Pershing counties, Nevada. |
Other references
Blaisdell, J.P. and R.C. Holmgren. 1984. Managing Intermountain rangelands--salt-desert shrub ranges. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-163. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 52 p.
Blauer, A.C., A.P. Plummer, E.D. McArthur, R. Stevens, and B.C. Guinta. 1976. Characteristics and hybridization of important Intermountain shrubs. II. Chenopod family. Res. Pap. INT-177. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 49 p.
Branson, F.A., R.F. Miller, and I.S. McQueen. 1976. Moisture relationships in twelve northern desert shrub communities near Grand Junction, Colorado. Ecology 57(6):1104-1124.
Brown, R.W., Jr. 1965. The distribution of plant communities in the badlands of southeastern Montana. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 145 p. Thesis.
Eckert, R.E., Jr., A.D. Bruner, and G.J. Klomp. 1973. Productivity of tall wheatgrass and great basin wildrye under irrigation on a greasewood – rabbitbrush range site. Journal of Range Management 26(4):286-288.
Eddleman, L.E. 2002. Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.: Black greasewood. In: Bonner, F.T. (tech. coord.). Woody plant seed manual, [Online]. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Producer).
Ganskopp, D.C. 1986. Tolerances of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and greasewood to elevated water tables. Journal of Range Management 39(4):334-337.
Groeneveld, D.P. and D.E. Crowley. 1988. Root system response to flooding in three desert shrub species. Functional Ecology 2:491-497.
Groeneveld, D.P. 1990. Shrub rooting and water acquisition on threatened shallow groundwater habitats in the Owens Valley, California. In: McArthur, E.D. E.M. Romney, S.D. Smith, and P.T. Tueller (compilers). Proceedings--symposium on cheatgrass invasion, shrub die-off, and other aspects of shrub biology and management; 1989 April 5-7; Las Vegas, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-276. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: Pgs 221-237.
Harr, R.D. and K.R. Price. 1972. Evapotranspiration from a greasewood-cheatgrass community. Water Resources Research 8(5):1199-1203.
Hickey, Jr., W.C. and H.W. Springfield. 1966. Alkali sacaton: its merits for forage and cover. Journal of Range Management 19(2):71-74.
Krall, J.L., J.R. Stroh, C.S. Cooper, and S.R. Chapman. 1971. Effect of time and extent of harvesting on basin wildrye. Journal of Range Management 24:414-418.
Marcum, K.B. and D.H. Kopec. 1997. Salinity tolerance of turfgrasses and alternative species in the subfamily Chloridoideae (Poaceae). International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 8:735-742.
Mozingo, H.N. 1987. Shrubs of the Great Basin: A natural history. Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press. 342 p.
Paysen, T.E., R.J. Ansley, J.K. Brown, G.J. Gotffried, S.M. Haase, M.G. Harrington, M.G. Narog, S.S. Sackett, and R.C. Wilson. 2000. Fire in western shrubland, woodland, and grassland ecosystems. In: Brown, J.K. and J.K. Smith (eds.). Wildland fire in ecosystems: Effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-volume 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: Pgs 121-159.
Robertson, J.H. 1983. Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.). Phytologia. 54(5):309-324.
Romo, J.T. 1985. Water relations in Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and Kochia prostrata. Ph.D. Thesis. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
Roundy, B.A. 1985. Emergence and establishment of basin wildrye and tall wheatgrass in relation to moisture and salinity. Journal of Range Management 38(2):126-131.
Sanderson, S.C. and H.C. Stutz. 1994. Woody chenopods useful for rangeland reclamation in western North America. In: Monsen, S.B. and S.G. Kitchen (compilers). Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: Pgs 374-378.
Sheeter, G.R. 1968. Secondary succession and range improvements after wildfire in northeastern Nevada. Reno, NV: University of Nevada. 203 p. Thesis.
Stuart, D.M., G.E. Schuman, and A.S. Dylla. 1971. Chemical characteristics of the coppice dune soils in Paradise Valley, Nevada. Proceedings of the Soil Science Society of America 34:607-611.
West, N.E. 1994. Effects of fire on salt-desert shrub rangelands. In: Monsen, S.B. and S.G. Kitchen (compilers). Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: Pgs 71-74.
Young, R.P. 1983. Fire as a vegetation management tool in rangelands of the Intermountain region. In: Monsen, S.B. and N. Shaw (compilers). Managing Intermountain rangelands--improvement of range and wildlife habitats: Proceedings of symposia; 1981 September 15-17; Twin Falls, ID; 1982 June 22-24; Elko, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-157. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: Pgs 18-31.
Zielinski, M.J. 1994. Controlling erosion on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca District, Nevada. In: Monsen, Stephen B. and S.G. Kitchen (compilers). Proceedings-ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: Pgs 143-146.
Zschaechner, G.A. 1985. Studying rangeland fire effects: a case study in Nevada. In: Sanders, K. and J. Durham (eds). Rangeland fire effects. Proceedings of the symposium. 1984 November 27-29; Boise, ID. Boise, ID. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office. Pgs 66-84.
Contributors
CP/GKB
TK Stringham
P NovakEchenique
Approval
Kendra Moseley, 3/07/2025
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) | Patti Novak-Echenique |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | State Rangeland Management Specialist |
| Date | 12/17/2009 |
| Approved by | Kendra Moseley |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are rare to common depending on location relative to major inflow areas. Water flow patterns are typically short, ending in depressional areas where water ponds. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ~25-35%. -
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):
Fine litter (foliage of grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length during periods of intense summer convection storms. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during unusually deep flooding (ponding) events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values will range from 3 to 6 under canopy and 2 to 4 in the interspaces. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Structure of soil surface is thin platy or massive. Soil surface colors are light and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter is typically less than 0.9 percent (OM values taken from lab characterization data). -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This site is typically ponded for short periods in the late winter and runoff is not significant. In areas with herbaceous cover (sparse) of deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses (basin wildrye) and/or rhizomatous grasses (saltgrass), these plants can increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are not typical. Platy, subangular blocky, or massive subsurface layers are normal for this site and are not to be interpreted as compaction. -
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:
Salt-desert phreatophytic shrubs (black greasewood)Sub-dominant:
deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses = rhizomatous perennial grass > shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses > associated shrubs > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs = fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial and annual forbsOther:
Microbiotic crustsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 35% of total woody canopy. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Between plant interspaces (15-20%) and depth (< ¼ in.) -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (March thru June) ± 350 lbs/ac. Winter moisture significantly affects total production. Favorable years ±500 lbs/ac and unfavorable years ±200 lbs/ac. -
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:
Potential invaders include annual mustards, Russian thistle, halogeton, and cheatgrass. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Reduced growth and reproduction occur during extreme or extended drought periods.
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