Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XB103NM
Hills
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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.
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
This site is characterized by rolling to steep hills and mountain footslopes. Slopes range from a low of 15 percent to an extreme high of 75 percent, and exposure or direction of slope is variable. Elevation range from about 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
|
|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,000 – 7,000 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 75% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Average annual precipitation varies from about 12 inches to just over 16 inches. Substantial fluctuations from year to year are common, ranging from a low of about 6 inches to a high of over 30 inches. Approximately one-half of the annual precipitation comes in the form of rainfall during the months of July, August, and September, although wintertime precipitation in the form of snow, sleet, or rain is sometimes significant. Spring and late fall months are normally dry.
The average frost-free period ranges from about 165 to 190 days and extends from approximately the third or fourth week in April to mid October. Average annual air temperatures are about 56 degrees F. Summer maximums can exceed 100 degrees F and winter minimums on occasion go below zero. Monthly mean temperatures generally exceed 70 degrees F for the period of June through August.
Growing conditions favor warm-season perennial vegetation, although late winter and late summer precipitation is adequate to foster a significant cool-season component in the potential plant community. Occasional wet springs also create good conditions for annual forb production, but frequent winds from the west and southwest are common during this time of year and tend to deplete soil moisture at a critical time for the growth of these plants.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site 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) | 187 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 211 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
Soil features
Soils characterizing this site are typically shallow, stony and/or cobbly with loams, clay loams, and sandy loams over bedrock. Included are occasional areas or pockets of deeper soils that are stony. They have water intake rates that are moderate and permeability that is moderately slow to moderately rapid. They occur on slopes of 15 percent or more.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Stony loam (2) Gravelly (3) Cobbly |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained to excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Very slow to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 4 – 72 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 15 – 60% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 15 – 60% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
1 – 3 in |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
5.6 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
3 – 57% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
35% |
Ecological dynamics
Overview
The hills site often intergrades with breaks sites and may border loamy sites. The historic plant community type is dominated by sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Other grasses, including blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) may be subordinates depending upon aspect and hillslope position. Shrubs and trees, including one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) and shrub oak (Quercus spp.) are more common on north-facing slopes. It unclear why trees such as juniper and piñon pine (Pinus edulis) become dominant at the expense of grasses in some cases. Regional increases in the relative amount of winter rainfall, decreases in fire frequency, or grazing may facilitate woody plant establishment, and subsequent erosion or competition may inhibit the recolonization of grasses.
No systematic studies of communities, states or transitions have been performed in the hills site.
State and transition model
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State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
State Containing the Historic Climax Plant Community Sideoats grama: The expression of the historic community type depends upon aspect, slope position, and location within the subresource area. On south-facing slopes, black grama is more common as a co-dominant with sideoats grama. Black grama is also more common on the east side of WP-3 near the border with SD-2. On north-facing slopes or steep slopes where seeds are trapped and water infiltration and retention is increased by rock cover, sideoats grama is highly dominant and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), blue grama and hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) are subordinates. Tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica) tends to occur at hill bases where run-on water is received. Woody plants and succulents, including sacahuista (Nolina spp.), one-seed juniper, alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) are present and may be more common on north-facing slopes and hilltops. Variation in plant community composition may occur in response to drought (e.g. reduction in woody plants) or grazing. Diagnosis: Sideoats grama is dominant in most patches and perennial grass cover between trees and shrubs is more or less continuous. Evidence of erosion is infrequent.
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 | 403 | 657 | 910 |
| Forb | 46 | 75 | 104 |
| Total | 449 | 732 | 1014 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 8% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 7% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 0% |
| Forb foliar cover | 0% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 18% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 8% |
Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM0603, R038XB103NM Hills HCPC. R038XB103NM Hills HCPC Mixture of plant communities dictated by exposure with north facing slopes have more trees and shrubs and south facing slopes are more grassland..
| 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 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
State 2
Transition to tree-encoaching state
Community 2.1
Transition to tree-encoaching state
Additional States: Transition to tree-encoaching state (1a): It is unclear why woody plants become dominant, although it is likely that the subsequent decline in grasses is due to competition for water and nutrients and from erosional soil loss between woody plants. The formation of bare ground patches due to grazing, decreases in fire frequency, and increases in winter precipitation may be responsible either independently or in concert. The presence of grassland stands that are unburned and in which piñon and juniper have not invaded suggests that fire is not the sole limitation of tree encroachment. Key indicators of approach to transition: Increases in bare ground, decreases in litter cover and grass cover, increased frequency of tree seedlings (threshold may have been crossed), decreased fire frequency. Tree-encroaching: In this state, grass cover is reduced, shrubs and trees are dominant, and bare ground cover is high. Erosion rates may be relatively high. Grazing or summer drought may reduce grass cover within this state, but it can recover to subdominant status. On north-facing slopes, piñon and juniper tend to become dominants in this state, whereas south-facing slopes may be dominated by live oak and sacahuista. Mountain mahogany is an important subordinate on hilltops and north-facing slopes in this state. Blue grama is often the dominant grass. Diagnosis: Oak, juniper, or piñon are common and bare patches are associated with trees and shrub clumps but also exist in interspaces where erosion has occurred. Bare ground may be interconnected such that runoff is not intercepted by grasses.
State 3
Transition to sideoats state
Community 3.1
Transition to sideoats state
Transition to sideoats state (1b): Tree and shrub removal may release grasses from competition. Deferment of grazing may be used to allow grasses to recover and subsequent increases in fire frequency may be used to inhibit tree germination. Information sources and theoretical background: Communities, states, and transitions are based upon information in the ecological site description and observations by Gene Adkins, NRCS.
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | 141–188 | |||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 141–188 | – | ||
| 2 | 94–141 | |||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 94–141 | – | ||
| 3 | 9–28 | |||||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 9–28 | – | ||
| 4 | 47–94 | |||||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 47–94 | – | ||
| 5 | 47–94 | |||||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 47–94 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 47–94 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 47–94 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 47–94 | – | ||
| 6 | 47–94 | |||||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 47–94 | – | ||
| mountain muhly | MUMO | Muhlenbergia montana | 47–94 | – | ||
| spike muhly | MUWR | Muhlenbergia wrightii | 47–94 | – | ||
| 7 | 9–28 | |||||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 9–28 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 9–28 | – | ||
| 8 | 9–28 | |||||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 9–28 | – | ||
| 9 | 47–94 | |||||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 47–94 | – | ||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 47–94 | – | ||
| 10 | 28–47 | |||||
| Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 2GRAM | Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 28–47 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 11 | 28–47 | |||||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 28–47 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 28–47 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFLF | Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus | 28–47 | – | ||
| 12 | 9–29 | |||||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 9–29 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 9–29 | – | ||
| 13 | 9–47 | |||||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 9–47 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 14 | 28–75 | |||||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 28–75 | – | ||
| oak | QUERC | Quercus | 28–75 | – | ||
| 15 | 47–75 | |||||
| hairy mountain mahogany | CEMOP | Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus | 47–75 | – | ||
| Wright's milkpea | GAWR | Galactia wrightii | 47–75 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 47–75 | – | ||
| 16 | 9–47 | |||||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 9–47 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAN5 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa | 9–47 | – | ||
| Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 9–47 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 9–47 | – | ||
| 18 | 9–28 | |||||
| Shrub, deciduous | 2SD | Shrub, deciduous | 9–28 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 17 | 47–75 | |||||
| juniper | JUNIP | Juniperus | 47–75 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Habitat for Wildlife:
This site provides habitat which can support a resident animal community characterized by mule deer, desert cottontail, rock squirrel, rock pocket mouse, brush mouse, white-throated woodrat, gray fox, bobcat, scrub jay, red-shafted flicker, cliff swallow, Bewick’s wren, blue-grey gnatcatcher, rufous-crowned sparrow, scaled quail, mourning dove, red-spotted toad, collared lizard, tree lizard, short-horned lizard, alligator lizard, rock rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, and mountain patchnosed snake.
Where rock ledges and cliffs are present, prairie falcon, great horned owl, and golden eagle hunt over the site. Where the site is adjacent to ponderosa pine or mixed conifer areas, elk may range into this site to feed.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series----------------Hydrologic Group
Abrazo--------------------------D
Cascajo-------------------------A
Chiricahua----------------------D
Encierro------------------------D
Gaddes--------------------------C
Lithic Ustorthents--------------D
Luzena--------------------------D
Muzzler-------------------------D
Oro Grande----------------------D
Puertecito----------------------D
Santa Fe------------------------D
Santana-------------------------D
Recreational uses
This site offers recreation potential for hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, nature observation, photography, bird watching, and hunting for mule deer, quail and mourning dove.
During certain seasons, when favorable soil moisture conditions exist, the site displays a colorful array of wildflowers.
Wood products
This site has a limited potential for firewood and fence-post production where sufficient juniper is present and where steepness of slope does not make harvesting prohibitive.
Other products
Grazing:
This site is suitable for grazing in all seasons of the year, although most of the forage is produced during the summer months. It is adapted for cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, generally without regard to class of animal or season of use. Continuous yearlong grazing may, however, result in a decline or disappearance of cool-season grasses and preferred browse plants, especially if grazing use is prolonged and heavy. Because of the presence of significant amounts of both woody and herbaceous plants, the site is particularly suited to grazing by more than one species of animal (such as goats and cattle, sheep and cattle, and/or wildlife) to maintain a healthy balance of woody and herbaceous plants. Serious deterioration in the plant community may be characterized by heavy stands of juniper and oak brush, and the site is rarely suited to mechanical brush control or seeding.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index Ac/AUM
100 - 76-------------------------3.4 – 4.6
75 – 51-------------------------4.3 – 6.8
50 – 26-------------------------6.5 – 11.5
25 – 0--------------------------11.5+
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Grant County, NM | |
|---|---|
| Location 2: Catron County, NM | |
| Location 3: Hidalgo County, NM | |
| Location 4: Sierra County, NM | |
| Location 5: Socorro County, NM |
Other references
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the New Mexico and Arizona Plateaus and Mesas 36 Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Socorro, Sierra, Grant, Catron.
Characteristic Soils Are:
Luzena
Other Soils included are:
Abrazo, Cascajo, Chiricahua, Daze, Encierro Gaddes, Lithic Ustorthents, Luzena, Muzzler Oro Grande, Puertecito, Santa Fe, Santana Sedillo
Contributors
Don Sylvester
Dr. Brandon Bestelmeyer
John Tunberg
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) | |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | |
| Approved by | |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
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:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
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:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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