Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R042BE053NM
Gravelly Sand, Cool Desert Grassland
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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 upland site is relatively level to undulating alluval fans, fan terrace, fan remnent. Inclusions of narrow swales and drainageways are commonly associated with this site. Slopes are 5 to 30 percent (0-15 % common). Elevations are from 4,500 feet above sea level to 5,500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Alluvial fan
(2) Fan remnant (3) Fan piedmont |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) |
| Flooding frequency | None to occasional |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 4,800 – 5,500 ft |
| Slope | 5 – 30% |
| Water table depth | 60 – 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 often resulting 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) | 152 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 201 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 9 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 4. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 5. Annual average temperature pattern
Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from wetland or stream.
Soil features
These moderately sloping to moderately steep gravelly soils are well drained. Surface textures are very gravelly sandy loam, gravelly fine sandy loam, gravelly loam, gravelly sand. Substrata are calcareous gravelly or very gravelly loamy sand, loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic Soils Are:
Arizo
Bluepoint
Caliza
Nickel
Stumble
Kokan
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sandy loam (2) Gravelly fine sandy loam (3) Gravelly loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Moderately well drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately rapid to very rapid |
| Soil depth | 60 – 72 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 25% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 2% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2 – 9 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
1 – 10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
4 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.4 – 9 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
25% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Ecological dynamics
The aspect and biomass of vegetation on this site is predominantly grassland characteristized by short- and mid-grasses. Perennial shrubs, half-shrubs, and forbs are present in appreciable amounts. Annual forbs and grasses occur in relatively large amounts in years of above-average growing conditions. When the plant community deteriorates, there is a marked increase in shrubs, half-shrubs, and cacti. Mesquite often invades this site.
A microsite within this site may have creosotebush as 10 percent of the total composition.
Other grasses that could appear on this site include: fluffgrass, ring muhly, and six-weeks grama.
Other woody plants include creosote bush.
Other forbs include: desert senna, globemallow, prickly poppy, and yerba-de-pasma
State and transition model
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View Interactive Models
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The aspect and biomass of vegetation on this site is predominantly grassland characteristized by short- and mid-grasses. Perennial shrubs, half-shrubs, and forbs are present in appreciable amounts. Annual forbs and grasses occur in relatively large amounts in years of above-average growing conditions. When the plant community deteriorates, there is a marked increase in shrubs, half-shrubs, and cacti. Mesquite often invades this site. A microsite within this site may have creosotebush as 10 percent of the total composition. Other grasses that could appear on this site include: fluffgrass, ring muhly, and six-weeks grama. Other woody plants include creosote bush. Other forbs include: desert senna, globemallow, prickly poppy, and yerba-de-pasma.
Figure 6. 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 | 225 | 337 | 450 |
| Shrub/Vine | 45 | 68 | 90 |
| Forb | 30 | 45 | 60 |
| Total | 300 | 450 | 600 |
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2221, R042XA053NM-Gravelly Sand-Warm Season Plants-HCPC. R042XA053NM-Gravelly Sand-Warm Season Plants-HCPC.
| 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 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2222, R042XA053NM-Gravelly Sand-Cool Season Plants-HCPC. R042XA053NM-Gravelly Sand-Cool Season Plants-HCPC.
| 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 |
State 2
Creosote-Invaded State
Community 2.1
Crosote/Galleta
Figure 9. Creosote/Galleta
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 | Warm Season | 135–180 | ||||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 135–180 | – | ||
| 2 | Warm Season | 45–68 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 45–68 | – | ||
| 3 | Warm Season | 23–45 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 23–45 | – | ||
| 4 | Cool Season | 68–90 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECO26 | Hesperostipa comata | 68–90 | – | ||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 68–90 | – | ||
| 5 | Cool Season | 23–45 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 23–45 | – | ||
| 6 | Warm Season | 23–45 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 23–45 | – | ||
| 7 | Warm Season | 45–68 | ||||
| James' galleta | PLJA | Pleuraphis jamesii | 45–68 | – | ||
| 8 | Warm Season | 9–36 | ||||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 9–36 | – | ||
| 9 | Warm Season | 23–45 | ||||
| white tridens | TRAL2 | Tridens albescens | 23–45 | – | ||
| 10 | Warm Season | 23–45 | ||||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 23–45 | – | ||
| 11 | Warm Season | 9–36 | ||||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 9–36 | – | ||
| 12 | Warm Season | 23–45 | ||||
| silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 23–45 | – | ||
| 13 | Cool Season | 23–45 | ||||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 23–45 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 14 | Shrub | 9–23 | ||||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 9–23 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 9–23 | – | ||
| 15 | Shrub | 9–23 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 9–23 | – | ||
| 16 | Shrub | 14–36 | ||||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 14–36 | – | ||
| 17 | Shrub | 9–23 | ||||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 9–23 | – | ||
| 18 | Cacti | 5–14 | ||||
| plains pricklypear | OPPO | Opuntia polyacantha | 5–14 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 19 | Forb | 0–9 | ||||
| fiddleneck | AMSIN | Amsinckia | 0–9 | – | ||
| 20 | Forb | 0–9 | ||||
| Adonis blazingstar | MEMU3 | Mentzelia multiflora | 0–9 | – | ||
| 21 | Forb | 0–9 | ||||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–9 | – | ||
| 22 | Forb | 0–14 | ||||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–14 | – | ||
| 23 | Forb | 0–9 | ||||
| 24 | Forb | 0–14 | ||||
| purple locoweed | OXLA3 | Oxytropis lambertii | 0–14 | – | ||
| 25 | Forb | 0–9 | ||||
| western horsenettle | SODI | Solanum dimidiatum | 0–9 | – | ||
| 26 | Forb | 5–14 | ||||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 5–14 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by coyote, black-tailed jack rabbit, desert cottontail, Merriam’s kangaroo rat, southern plains woodrat, scaled quail, house finch, loggerhead shrike, prairie rattlesnake, glossy snake, and little striped whiptail.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydraulic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Serie Hydrologic Group
Nickel B
Kokan A
Scholle B
Caliza A
Recreational uses
This site has limited potential for recreational use.
Wood products
This site has no potential for wood products.
Other products
This site is well suited for year-long grazing use by cattle, sheep, horses, antelope, and burros.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index----Ac/AUM
100 - 76------------4.3 – 5.7
75 – 51-------------5.5 - 8.6
50 – 26-------------8.4 – 17.1
25 – 0-------------17.1 +
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 Misquez
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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