Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R070BC033NM
Salty Bottomland
Accessed: 12/21/2024
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 developed from stratified and mixed alluvium from volcanic, granitic, metamorphic and sedimentary rock on alluvial fans, flood plains, stream terraces and have slopes of 0 to 5 percent. The site is commonly subject to overflow, both from within the drainageway and from surrounding upland. Flooding often results in water standing for several hours, or even a day, and the opportunity for relatively deep wetting is the principal feature of such flooding. Slopes are relatively uniform and usually do not exceed 2 percent. Elevations range from 3,700 to 5,000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Drainageway
(2) Flood plain (3) Alluvial flat |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days) |
| Flooding frequency | Rare to frequent |
| Ponding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) |
| Ponding frequency | Rare to occasional |
| Elevation | 3,700 – 5,000 ft |
| Slope | 5% |
| Ponding depth | 1 – 6 in |
| Water table depth | 42 – 72 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Annual average precipitation ranges from about 9 to 14 inches. Wide fluctuations from year to year are common, ranging from a low of about 2 inches to a high of over 20 inches. At least one-half of the annual precipitation comes in the form of rainfall during July, August, and September. Precipitation in the form of snow or sleet averages less than 4 inches annually.
The average annual air temperature is about 61 degrees F. Summer maximums usually exceed 100 degrees F., and winter minimums can go below zero. The average frost-free season exceeds 200 days and extends from April 1 to November 1.
Both the temperature regime and rainfall distribution favor warm-season perennial plants on this site. Spring moisture conditions are only occasionally adequate to cause significant growth during this period of the year. High winds from the west and southwest are common from March to June, which further tends to create poor soil moisture conditions in the springtime.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 211 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 232 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 14 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams.
Soil features
Soils are deep to very deep. Surface textures are clay, clay loam or silty clay loam. Subsoil textures range from clay, silty clay, silty clay loam, or clay loam. Some of the soils have stratfied layers of very fine sand or loamy sand and may be saline and/or alkali affected. The soil has electrical conductivity greater than 15 dS/m in some horizons 6 inches thick or more within 40 inches of the surface. Flooding is common on these soils. Water intake rates are moderate to very slow, and water-holding capacity is medium to high.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic soils:
Arno
Armijo
Belen
Balmorhea
Glendale
Mead
Mimbres
Pecos
Pima
Ravine
Verhalen
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Clay (2) Clay loam (3) Silty clay loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Poorly drained to moderately well drained |
| Permeability class | Slow |
| Soil depth | 60 – 72 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 15% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | Not specified |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
5 – 8 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
3 – 10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
4 – 32 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
4 – 15 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.9 – 9 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
6 – 15% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
Not specified |
Ecological dynamics
The aspect of this site is that of a grassland having noticeable shrubs evenly distributed. This site is characterized by salt-tolerant grasses and shrubs such as alkali sacaton, giant sacaton, and fourwing saltbush. Additional species representative of the site at its potential may include vine-mesquite, tobosa, burrograss, and inland saltgrass. Other
atriplex species, seepweed, and iodinebush may also be present in significant amounts.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The aspect of this site is that of a grassland having noticeable shrubs evenly distributed. This site is characterized by salt-tolerant grasses and shrubs such as alkali sacaton, giant sacaton, and fourwing saltbush. Additional species representative of the site at its potential may include vine-mesquite, tobosa, burrograss, and inland saltgrass. Other atriplex species, seepweed, and iodinebush may also be present in significant amounts.
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 | 1200 | 1800 | 2400 |
| Shrub/Vine | 180 | 270 | 360 |
| Forb | 120 | 180 | 240 |
| Total | 1500 | 2250 | 3000 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 0% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 45% |
| Forb basal cover | 0% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 30% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 24% |
Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM2534, R042XC033NM Salty Bottomland HCPC. R042XC033NM Salty Bottomland 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 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
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 | Warm Season | 788–900 | ||||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 788–900 | – | ||
| 2 | Warm Season | 113–225 | ||||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 113–225 | – | ||
| 3 | Warm Season | 113–225 | ||||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 113–225 | – | ||
| 4 | Warm Season | 113–225 | ||||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 113–225 | – | ||
| 5 | Warm Season | 113–225 | ||||
| saltgrass | DISP | Distichlis spicata | 113–225 | – | ||
| mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 113–225 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 113–225 | – | ||
| 6 | Warm Season | 113–225 | ||||
| Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 2GRAM | Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 113–225 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Shrub | 68–180 | ||||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 68–180 | – | ||
| saltbush | ATRIP | Atriplex | 68–180 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 5–48 | – | ||
| 8 | Shrub | 68–113 | ||||
| iodinebush | ALOC2 | Allenrolfea occidentalis | 68–113 | – | ||
| Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 2GRAM | Graminoid (grass or grass-like) | 5–14 | – | ||
| 9 | Shrub | 0–68 | ||||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–68 | – | ||
| 10 | Shrub | 23–113 | ||||
| marsh elder | IVA | Iva | 23–113 | – | ||
| desert seepweed | SUSU | Suaeda suffrutescens | 23–113 | – | ||
| 11 | Shrub | 0–23 | ||||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–23 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 12 | 68–108 | |||||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 68–180 | – | ||
| Russian thistle | SAKA | Salsola kali | 68–180 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFLF | Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus | 68–180 | – | ||
| desert seepweed | SUSU | Suaeda suffrutescens | 68–108 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 5–14 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 5–14 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 5–14 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 5–14 | – | ||
| 13 | Annual Forb | 0–68 | ||||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–68 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 5–14 | – | ||
| 14 | Perennial Forb | 23–113 | ||||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 23–113 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 5–14 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides habitat which support a resident animal community that is characterized by pronghorn antelope, coyote, black-tailed jackrabbit, desert pocket gopher, sparrow hawk, scaled quail, Gambel’s quail, loggerhead shrike, horned lark, meadowlark, lesser earless lizard, little striped whiptail lizard, Western spadefoot toad, and prairie rattlesnake.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydraulic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series---------Hydrologic Group
Pecos---------------D
Mimbres-------------B/C
Verhalen------------D
Arno----------------D
Belen---------------C
Mead----------------D
Pima----------------B
Glendale------------B
Armijo--------------B
Balmorhea-----------C
Recreational uses
Suitability for camping and picnicking is fair to poor limited mostly by weather extremes and potential flooding. Hunting is fair for pronghorn antelope, quail, dove, small game, and waterfowl where seasonal open water occurs. Photography and bird watching can be fair to good, especially during migration seasons. Most small animals of the site are nocturnal and secretive, seen only at night, early morning or evening.
Wood products
This site has no significant value for wood products.
Other products
This site is suitable to grazing in all seasons of the year, although the vast majority of the forage palatable to livestock is produced in the summer months and is most effectively used at that time. The site is adapted for grazing by cattle and horses, generally without regard to class of animal. Cows with calves will probably do better than calves or yearlings when forage is greenest. The site is also suitable for grazing by sheep and goats.
Retrogression may be caused by gullying and draining as well as by grazing abuse. In either event, such plants as alkali sacaton, giant sacaton, and vine-mesquite are replaced by such plants as tobosa, burrograss, inland saltgrass, and seepweed. Mesquite may take over the site, while bare ground and annuals more nearly characterize its gullied and drained condition.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index--------Ac/AUM
100 - 76----------------2.3 – 3.0
75 – 51-----------------2.8 – 3.7
50 – 26-----------------3.5 – 6.8
25 – 0------------------6.8 - +
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 Areas of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys. Sierra County Dona Ana County Grant County Hidalgo County Luna County Otero County
Characteristic Soils Are:
Mimbres silty clay loam, alkali
Mimbres silty clay loam, strongly alkali
Glendale silty clay loam, alkali
Glendale silty clay loam, strongly alkali
Verhalen silty clay loam, alkali
Belen silty clay loam, alkali
Arno clay loam, saline
Pima clay loam, saline
Pecos silty clay loam, saline
Mead silt loam
Balmorhea loam, drained
Contributors
Don Sylvester
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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