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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site FX052X03X131
Shallow Clay (Swc) Dry Shrubland
Last updated: 7/08/2019
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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.
![Location map](/images/maps/R052XY724MT.png)
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 052X–Brown Glaciated Plains
The Brown Glaciated Plains, MLRA 52, is an expansive, agriculturally and ecologically significant area. It consists of approximately 14.5 million acres and stretches across 350 miles from east to west, encompassing portions of 15 counties in north-central Montana. This region represents the southwestern limit of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and is considered to be the driest and westernmost area within the vast network of glacially derived prairie pothole landforms of the northern Great Plains. Elevation ranges from 2,000 feet (610 meters) to 4,600 feet (1,400 meters).
Soils are primarily Mollisols, but Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols are also common. Till from continental glaciation is the predominant parent material, but alluvium and bedrock are also common. Till deposits are typically less than 50 feet thick, and in some areas glacially deformed bedrock occurs at or near the soil surface (Soller, 2001). Underlying sedimentary bedrock largely consisting of Cretaceous shale, sandstone, and mudstone (Vuke et al., 2007) is commonly exposed on hillslopes, particularly along drainageways. Significant alluvial deposits occur along glacial outwash channels and major drainages, including portions of the Missouri, Teton, Marias, Milk, and Frenchman Rivers. Large glacial lakes, particularly in the western half of the MLRA, deposited clayey and silty lacustrine sediments (Fullerton et al., 2013).
Much of the western portion of this MLRA was glaciated towards the end of the Wisconsin age, with the maximum glacial extent occurring approximately 20,000 years ago (Fullerton et al., 2004). The result is a geologically young landscape that is predominantly a level till plain interspersed with lake plains and dominated by soils in the Mollisol and Vertisol orders. These soils are very productive and generally are well suited to dryland farming. Much of this area is aridic-ustic. Crop-fallow dryland wheat farming is the predominant land use. Areas of rangeland typically are on steep hillslopes along drainages.
The rangeland, much of which is native mixedgrass prairie, increases in abundance in the eastern half of the MLRA. The Wisconsin-age till in the north-central part of this area typically formed large disintegration moraines with steep slopes and numerous poorly drained potholes. A large portion of Wisconsin-age till occurring on the type of the level terrain that would typically be optimal for farming has large amounts of less-suitable sodium-affected Natrustalfs. Significant portions of Blaine, Phillips, and Valley Counties were glaciated approximately 150,000 years ago during the Illinoisan age. Due to erosion and dissection of the landscape, many of these areas have steeper slopes and more exposed bedrock than areas glaciated during the Wisconsin age (Fullerton and Colton, 1986).
While much of the rangeland in the aridic-ustic portion of MLRA 52 is classified as belonging to the “dry grassland” climatic zone, sites in portions of southern MLRA 52 may belong to the “dry shrubland” climatic zone. The dry shrubland zone represents the northernmost extent of the big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) steppe on the Great Plains. Because similar soils occur in both southern and northern portions of the MLRA, it is currently hypothesized that climate is the primary driving factor affecting big sagebrush distribution in this area. However, the precise factors are not yet fully understood.
Sizeable tracts of largely unbroken rangeland in the eastern half of the MLRA and adjacent southern Saskatchewan are home to the northern Montana population of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and large portions of this area are considered to be a Priority Area for Conservation (PAC) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013). This population is unique among sage grouse populations in the fact that many individuals overwinter in the big sagebrush steppe (dry shrubland) in the southern portion of the MLRA and then migrate to the northern portion of the MLRA, which lacks big sagebrush (dry grassland), to live the rest of the year (Smith, 2013).
Areas of the till plain near the Bearpaw and Highwood Mountains as well as the Sweetgrass Hills and Rocky Mountain foothills are at higher elevations, receive higher amounts of precipitation, and have a typic-ustic moisture regime. These areas have significantly more rangeland production than the drier aridic-ustic portions of the MLRA and have enough moisture to produce crops annually rather than just bi-annually, as in the drier areas. Ecological sites in this higher precipitation area are classified as the moist grassland climatic zone.
Classification relationships
NRCS Soil Geography Hierarchy
• Land Resource Region: Northern Great Plains
• Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 052 Brown Glaciated Plains
• Climate Zone: Dry Shrubland
National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (Cleland et al., 1997; McNab et al., 2007)
• Domain: Dry
• Division: Temperate Steppe
• Province: Great Plains-Palouse Dry Steppe Province 331
• Section: Northwestern Glaciated Plains 331D
• Subsection: Montana Glaciated Plains 331Dh
• Landtype Association/Landtype Phase: N/A
National Vegetation Classification Standard (Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2008)
• Class: Xeromorphic Woodland, Scrub and Herb Vegetation Class (3)
• Subclass: Cool Semi-Desert Scrub and Grassland Subclass (3.B)
• Formation: Cool Semi-Desert Scrub and Grassland Formation (3.B.1)
• Division: Cool Semi-Desert Scrub and Grassland Division (3.B.1.Ne)
• Macrogroup: Artemisia tridentata - Artemisia tripartita ssp. tripartita - Purshia tridentata Steppe and Shrubland Macrogroup (3.B.1.Ne.3)
• Group: Artemisia tridentata - Artemisia tripartita - Purshia tridentata Big Sagebrush Steppe and Shrubland Group (3.B.1.Ne.3.b)
• Alliance: Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Mesic Steppe and Shrubland Alliance
• Association: Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii Shrub Grassland or Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrub Grassland
EPA Ecoregions
• Level 1: Great Plains (9)
• Level 2: West-Central Semi-Arid Prairies (9.3)
• Level 3: Northwestern Glaciated Plains (42)
• Level 4: North-Central Brown Glaciated Plains (42o) and Glaciated Northern Grasslands (42j)
Ecological site concept
This provisional ecological site occurs in the Dry Shrubland climatic zone of MLRA 52. Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of this ecological site based on current data. This map is approximate, is not intended to be definitive, and may be subject to change. Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland is a moderately extensive ecological site occurring on most landscapes in MLRA 52. This ecological site occurs on hillslopes, badlands, and bluffs where soils are less than 20 inches deep and have a clay content greater than 35 percent. Slopes vary from 0 to 60 percent, but are typically greater than 15 percent.
The distinguishing characteristics of this site are lithic or paralithic bedrock less than 20 inches from the soil surface and a clay content of greater than 35 percent. Soils are derived from clayey residuum, or clayey alluvium over shale. Soil surface textures (upper 4 inches) contain more than 35 percent clay. Underlying horizons are typically weakly developed and commonly contain shale fragments. Calcium carbonate equivalent is typically less than 5 percent, but may be up to 15 percent in some cases. This site is nonacid, with pH values greater than 5.6 throughout the soil profile. Vegetation is typically sparse and soil exposure relatively high. Characteristic vegetation is western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), green needlegrass (Nassella viridula), and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis).
Preliminary studies indicate that there may also be an acid variant of this site. This variant appears to exhibit retarded shrub growth, reduced cover of cool season bunchgrasses, and increased cover of creeping juniper and prairie sandreed. At this time, this variant cannot be consistently identified as a separate ecological site concept and further investigation is required.
Associated sites
FX052X03X001 |
Clayey (Cy) Dry Shrubland This site is generally upslope from the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland site. It is most common on summits where the slope is less than 15 percent and soil depth is 20 inches deep or greater. |
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FX052X03X005 |
Clayey-Steep (Cystp) Dry Shrubland This site is adjacent to the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site where bedrock occurs at a depth greater than 20 inches. It typically occupies a backslope position similar to the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site. |
FX052X03X007 |
Coarse Clay (Coc) Dry Shrubland This site occurs on moderate to steeply sloping hillslopes adjacent to the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site. It is commonly in the same landscape positions but has different soil structure. |
Similar sites
FX052X01X131 |
Shallow Clay (Swc) Dry Grassland This site differs from the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site in that it has slightly cooler annual temperatures and supports silver sagebrush rather than big sagebrush. |
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FX052X03X005 |
Clayey-Steep (Cystp) Dry Shrubland This site differs from the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site in that depth to bedrock is greater than 20 inches. |
FX052X03X007 |
Coarse Clay (Coc) Dry Shrubland This site differs from the Shallow Clay Dry Shrubland ecological site in that the soil structure in the surface horizon is coarse granular rather than blocky. Prairie sandreed is a dominant plant species. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Legacy ID
R052XY724MT
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