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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R150AY540TX
Salty Prairie
Last updated: 9/22/2023
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/R150AY540TX.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): 150A–Gulf Coast Prairies
MLRA 150A is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain in Texas (83 percent) and Louisiana (17 percent). It makes up about 16,365 square miles (42,410 square kilometers). It is characterized by nearly level plains that have low local relief and are dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 165 feet (0 to 50 meters) along the interior margin. It includes the towns of Crowley, Eunice, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Houston, Bay City, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and Kingsville, Texas. Interstates 10 and 45 are in the northeastern part of the area, and Interstate 37 is in the southwestern part. U.S. Highways 90 and 190 are in the eastern part, in Louisiana. U.S. Highway 77 passes through Kingsville, Texas. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site are in the part of the area in Texas.
Classification relationships
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 150A
Ecological site concept
The site is located on low lying flats. The soils have elevated levels of salts. This creates a vegetative community adapted to nutrient-poor and saline conditions. Vegetation is sparse with a few bare areas. This site is not similar in soils, landscape positions or vegetation to any other sites in MLRA 150A.
Associated sites
R150AY542TX |
Sandy Loam The Sandy Loam ecological site typically has a fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam surface. Sandy clay loam subsoil horizons are generally present 15 to 18 inches below the surface. This site is located in slightly higher positions on the landscape than the Salty Prairie. |
---|---|
R150AY639TX |
Clay Loam The Clay Loam ecological site has very deep clay loam soils and has high vegetative production. This site is located in higher positions on the landscape than the Salty Prairie. |
R150AY528TX |
Claypan Prairie The Claypan Prairie is a grassland site that occurs on nearly level, lower lying areas. Drainage in this site varies. The soils are characterized by a thin layer of fine sandy loam topsoil underlain by dense deep clay and clay loam subsoils. This site is located in slightly higher positions on the landscape than the Salty Prairie. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Baccharis |
Herbaceous |
(1) Setaria |
Physiographic features
The site was formed in loamy fluviomarine deposits derived from Pleistocene age. These nearly level soils are on the Coastal Plain. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent. Elevation ranges from 20 to 150 feet. Runoff is negligible to high.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Coastal plain
> Flat
(2) Coastal plain > Depression |
---|---|
Runoff class | Negligible to high |
Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) |
Flooding frequency | None |
Ponding frequency | None |
Elevation | 5 – 52 m |
Slope | 0 – 1% |
Water table depth | 10 – 61 cm |
Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate of MLRA 150A is humid subtropical with mild winters. The average annual precipitation in the northern two-thirds of this area is 45 to 63 inches. It is 28 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area and 30 to 45 inches in the southwestern third of the area. The precipitation is fairly evenly distributed, but it is slightly higher in late summer and midsummer in the western part of the area and slightly higher in winter in the eastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 66 to 72 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 325 days and ranges from 290 to 365 days, increasing in length to the southwest.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 255-269 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 365 days |
Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 864-991 mm |
Frost-free period (actual range) | 251-271 days |
Freeze-free period (actual range) | 365 days |
Precipitation total (actual range) | 838-1,016 mm |
Frost-free period (average) | 262 days |
Freeze-free period (average) | 365 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 914 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) BEEVILLE CHASE NAAS [USW00012925], Beeville, TX
-
(2) REFUGIO 3 SW [USC00417530], Refugio, TX
-
(3) REFUGIO 2 NW [USC00417533], Refugio, TX
-
(4) VICTORIA FIRE DEPT #5 [USC00419361], Victoria, TX
Influencing water features
A perched water table will occur on top of the natric horizon for a period during late fall and winter in normal years. After high rainfall events, soils can become saturated with reducing conditions within the upper part.
Wetland description
The soils in this site are hydric except for the Greta series. The Greta soils are associated with hydric soils and in a few of these soils small areas of hydric soils may exist. Onsite investigation is necessary to determine exact local conditions.
Soil features
The site consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, moderate to very slowly permeable soils. Soil reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline. Salinity and sodicity levels increase with depth. Diagnostic horizons and features include an ochric epipedo and natric horizon. Soils correlated to this site include: Greta, Warrenlake, and Woodsboro.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material |
(1)
Fluviomarine deposits
–
igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
|
---|---|
Surface texture |
(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Loam (3) Very fine sandy loam |
Family particle size |
(1) Fine (2) Fine-loamy (3) Coarse-loamy |
Drainage class | Somewhat poorly drained |
Permeability class | Moderate to very slow |
Soil depth | 203 cm |
Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0% |
Surface fragment cover >3" | 0% |
Available water capacity (0-152.4cm) |
15.24 – 17.78 cm |
Calcium carbonate equivalent (76.2-152.4cm) |
0 – 15% |
Electrical conductivity (0-152.4cm) |
4 – 20 mmhos/cm |
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-76.2cm) |
2 – 45 |
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-76.2cm) |
5.6 – 7.8 |
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (76.2-152.4cm) |
0 – 5% |
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-152.4cm) |
0% |
Ecological dynamics
The Gulf Coast Prairies are a disturbance-maintained system. Prior to European settlement fire and infrequent but intense, short-duration grazing by bison were important natural disturbances that suppressed woody species and invigorated herbaceous species. The herbaceous savannah species adapted to fire and grazing disturbances by maintaining below-ground perennating tissues. A natural fire frequency of 2 to 5 years seems reasonable for this site.
The Salty Prairie is a fire-influenced gulf cordgrass/little bluestem dominated community, interspersed with other perennial grasses and forbs. Woody plants are sparse or absent. Precipitation patterns are highly variable. Long-term droughts occur three to four times a century. Droughts reduce biomass production and create open space, which is colonized by opportunistic, often invasive, species when precipitation increases. Wet periods allow gulf cordgrass, little bluestem and associated species to return to its pre-drought condition. Because of the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, tropical storms and hurricanes and periodically inundated both by fresh water from heavy rains, and by saline storm surges associated with hurricanes.
With the introduction of wild longhorn cattle in the late 1700’s and domestic cattle in the 1820’s, an era of heavy grazing began. During the Spanish Mission era of 1600 to 1700’s in the San Antonio, Refugio, and Goliad areas, vast herds of cattle, horses, sheep, and goats were used for meat production for the missions. With no fences, these were free-roaming herds and only the increase was harvested allowing vast herds of these animals to run free and escape. Some portion of these herds took the place of bison once the bison herds were extirpated. This heavy grazing was exacerbated with the introduction of barbed wire and windmills in the 1880’s. Today, grazing is primarily beef cattle on rangeland and pastureland. However, horse numbers are increasing on small acreage properties in the region. Whitetail deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and dove are major wildlife species, and hunting leases are a major source of income for many landowners in this area.
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) shares vegetative dominance with gulf cordgrass (Spartina spartinae). Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Hartweg’s paspalum (Paspalum hartwegianum), and marshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens) make up a portion of the reference community. High plant production contributed to an almost continuous cover of litter over the soil, resulting in good soil organic matter conditions. Plant communities at this southerly latitude often lack cool-season species, however, gulf cordgrass continues to grow throughout the year and provides green forage during the winter for livestock and some wildlife species.
A striking difference exhibited by this community as compared to most prairie communities is the relative unpalatability of gulf cordgrass. Gulf cordgrass is a long-lived, perennial warm-season bunchgrass resistant to grazing because of its tough, spiny leaves and high lignin content. Community degradation occurs initially in the interspaces between the gulf cordgrass plants where the more palatable little bluestem grows. Palatable plants (little bluestem, seacoast bluestem, switchgrass) are grazed before gulf cordgrass and are frequently overgrazed to the point they lose vigor and decrease in the community.
One overriding factor exists in this community; the periodic inundations by either fresh or salt water. The excess salinity resulting from salt-water inundations can completely remove the historic species other than gulf cordgrass. Growth can also be severely limited due to plants drowning during flooding or burial with sediment and plant material. Under continued heavy grazing, lack of fire, and partial reduction of gulf cordgrass, marsh elder (Iva frutescens), Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) will increase on the northern portion of the site while mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana) may increase on the southern portion of the site. Once established, extensive brush management may be required to restore the site back to a Mid/Tallgrass Prairie State.
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
T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with introduction of non-native species |
---|---|---|
R2A | - | Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals and removal on non-native species |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Prairie
Dominant plant species
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
gulf cordgrass (Spartina spartinae), grass
Community 1.1
Mid/Tallgrass Prairie
The reference plant community is a fire maintained, open grassland with gulf cordgrass and little bluestem accompanied by lesser amounts of switchgrass, Hartweg’s paspalum, seashore saltgrass, marshhay cordgrass and traces of bushy sea oxeye. Warm-season grasses are prolific throughout. Forbs and woody species make up a minor component of this community. Variations in salinity and soil moisture cause local variations in the plant community. In low-lying, highly saline areas, gulf cordgrass may occur in pure stands. Areas with less salinity in the soil will have higher plant diversity. Cordgrasses reproduce vegetatively by rhizomes and are resilient to disturbance. However, once gulf cordgrass is eliminated, it is hard to reestablish. Reseeding is not an option for this site because most of the native species found on this site produce sterile seeds. To reestablish these species transplanting is possible for reestablishment. Heavy grazing pressure will quickly suppress little bluestem leading to a dominance of Gulf cordgrass. Gulf cordgrass becomes highly palatable to livestock when burned; however, it is unpalatable when not burned frequently. Not only does fire help to control woody plant species within this plant community, but it also helps to maintain a significant component of little bluestem when properly grazed.
Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 7218 | 9281 | 11343 |
Forb | 392 | 504 | 616 |
Shrub/Vine | 235 | 303 | 370 |
Tree | – | – | – |
Total | 7845 | 10088 | 12329 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX7606, Tall/Midgrass Prairie Community. Prairie Community composed of warm-season tall and midgrasses..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
State 2
Prairie Shrubland
Dominant plant species
-
Jesuit's bark (Iva frutescens), shrub
-
baccharis (Baccharis), shrub
Community 2.1
Prairie Shrubland
Once woody invasive plants increase to a canopy cover greater than 15 percent, a threshold has been crossed to the Prairie Shrubland Community (2.1). Honey mesquite and huisache are the most common invaders in the southern portion of the MLRA, while marsh elder, Chinese tallow, and baccharis occur in the northern portion. This community results from the lack of effective brush control such as fire or mechanical treatment. Improper grazing management can accelerate this transition. Once it has crossed into this community, extensive energy output is required to transition this state back to the Mid/Tallgrass Prairie Community (1.1). Understory species are dominated by gulf cordgrass and forbs. Forbs may increase along with shrub species. The understory of this transition in the early stages will be gulf cordgrass. As the canopy cover increases, the understory gradually decreases in production and bare ground increases underneath the canopy. Browsing animals, such as goats and deer can find fair food value if browse plants have not been grazed excessively and are within reach. Forage quantity and quality for cattle is low due to the decline in understory forage production. An integrated approach of mechanical and/or chemical treatment of brush species followed with a regular prescribed burn schedule is a viable treatment option for restoring to reference conditions. Before woody plant density becomes excessive, individual plant treatment may be a viable option. Reseeding with little bluestem, switchgrass, and yellow Indiangrass may be an option if Gulf cordgrass has been eliminated from the site. It will be difficult to restore this community once it has been overly degraded. Cordgrass will need to repopulate from remnant plants or adjacent communities.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Introduction of invasive species propagules triggers the transition towards the Prairie Shrubland State (2). Species composition of invasive shrub species of more than 15 percent indicates the transition. Inappropriate grazing management combined with lack of fire and brush management drives this transition, especially during extended drought periods.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Treatment of invasive species combined with proper grazing management can drive restoration of the Mid/Tallgrass Prairie Community (1.1). This will require substantial energy input. Mechanical and/or chemical vegetation treatments will be required in conjunction with brush control. The driver of this restoration pathway is proper grazing management combined with fire and brush management.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | Mid/Tallgrasses | 5884–9247 | ||||
little bluestem | SCSCS | Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium | 2802–6725 | – | ||
gulf cordgrass | SPSP | Spartina spartinae | 2802–6725 | – | ||
2 | Mid/Tallgrasses | 785–1121 | ||||
switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 785–1121 | – | ||
saltmeadow cordgrass | SPPA | Spartina patens | 785–1121 | – | ||
Hartweg's paspalum | PAHA3 | Paspalum hartwegianum | 224–560 | – | ||
3 | Shortgrasses | 549–975 | ||||
saltgrass | DISP | Distichlis spicata | 224–560 | – | ||
shoregrass | MOLI | Monanthochloe littoralis | 224–560 | – | ||
annual rabbitsfoot grass | POMO5 | Polypogon monspeliensis | 224–560 | – | ||
marsh bristlegrass | SEPA10 | Setaria parviflora | 224–560 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
4 | Forbs | 392–616 | ||||
aster | ASTER | Aster | 392–616 | – | ||
bushy seaside tansy | BOFR | Borrichia frutescens | 392–616 | – | ||
ragweed | AMBRO | Ambrosia | 0–112 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
5 | 224–370 | |||||
willow baccharis | BASA | Baccharis salicina | 224–370 | – | ||
Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 224–370 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
The Coastal Prairie communities support a wide array of animals. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Attwater’s pocket gophers are abundant and have an important impact on the ecology of the site. The badger is present but not abundant in locations at the southern extent of the site. Locally unique species alligators and bullfrogs.
The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Two important endangered species occur in the area, the whooping crane and Attwater’s prairie chicken. Many other species of avian predators including northern harriers, ferruginous hawks, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, kestrels, and, occasionally, swallow-tailed kites utilize the vast grasslands. Many species of grassland birds use the site, including blue grosbeaks, dickcissels, eastern meadowlarks, several sparrows, including, vesper sparrow, lark sparrow, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and Le Conte’s sparrow.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented was derived from the Range Site Descriptions, NRCS clipping data, literature, field observations, and personal contacts with range-trained personnel.
Other references
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Contributors
Fred Smeins, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Kimberly Haile, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc, Belgrade, MT
Jack Alexander, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc, Belgrade, MT
Approval
Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023
Acknowledgments
Reviewers:
Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX
Shanna Dunn, RSS, NRCS, Corpus Christi, TX
Mark Moseley, RMS, NRCS, Boerne, TX
Tim Reinke, RMS, NRCS, Victoria, TX
Mike Stellbauer, RMS, NRCS, Bryan, TX
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) | Mike Stellbauer, Zone RMS, NRCS, Bryan, TX |
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Contact for lead author | 979-846-4814 |
Date | 01/23/2006 |
Approved by | Bryan Christensen |
Approval date | |
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Not uncommon. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Less than 20 percent bare ground randomly distributed throughout. -
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):
Small to medium-sized litter may move short distances during intense storms. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface is resistant to erosion. Stability class range is expected to be 4 to 6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is 40 to 80 inches with colors from very dark gray to dark gray and generally subangular blocky structure. SOM is less than 1 percent. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This coastal prairie site has high canopy, basal cover and density with small interspaces should make rainfall impact negligible. This site has well-drained soils, deep with level to gently sloping (0 to 3 percent). -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. -
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:
Warm-season tallgrassesSub-dominant:
Warm-season midgrasses Perennial ForbsOther:
Warm-season annual grasses Annual ForbsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Grasses due to their growth habit will exhibit some mortality and decadence, though very slight. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter is primarily herbaceous. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
7,000 pounds for below average moisture years and 11,000 pounds for above average moisture years. -
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 invasive species include honey mesquite and huisache. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing except for periods of prolonged drought conditions, heavy natural herbivory, and intense fires.
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with introduction of non-native species |
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R2A | - | Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals and removal on non-native species |