Ecological site group DX035X01HESG01
Black Mesa-Navajo Mtn-Saline/Sodic Soils
Last updated: 09/01/2021
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Black Mesa Navajo Mountain
- Saline/Sodic soils
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.
Physiography
This site occurs in the drainage or bottom positions on the landscape that have the potential to flood following storm events. This are deep to very deep, saline-sodic soils on terraces, valley floors, alluvial flats and swales that benefit from run-in moisture from adjacent uplands. The soil surface texture generally range from clay loam to clayey textures, but it does not include soils with shrink/swell clays at the surface. The soils are saline-sodic.
Climate
Winter summer moisture ratios range from 70:30 to 60:40. Late spring is usually the driest period, and early fall moisture can be sporadic. Summer rains fall from June through September; moisture originates in the Gulf of Mexico and creates convective, usually brief, intense thunderstoms. Cool season moisture from October though May tends to be frontal; it originates in the Pacific and the Gulf of California and falls in widespread storms with longer duration and lower intensity. Precipitation generally comes as snow from December through February. Accumulations above 12 inches are not common but can occur. Snow usually lasts for 3-4 days, but can persist much longer. Summer daytime temperatures are commonly 95-100 F and, on occasion, exceed 105 F. Winter air temperatures can regularly go below 10 F and have been recorded below -20 F.
Soil features
Soils are deep to very deep and well-drained. They are formed from alluvium derived from sandstone, shale, and siltstone. The soil surface texture generally range from loam to silty clay loams, but some sites may have clayey textures. Subsurface horizon textures are generally clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, and may have stratified loamy soils. The soil is slightly to strongly effervescent in the surface and subsurface profile. Available water capacity is high. Soils are moderately to strongly alkaline (pH 7.9-8.6) and are affected by soluble salts.
Vegetation dynamics
The dominant aspect of this site is a grass-shrub mix dominated by western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, fourwing saltbush with scattered black greasewood. Other important grass species include Indian ricegrass, James' galleta, and squirreltail. The plant species most likely to increase or invade on this site are cheatgrass, Russian thistle, annual weeds, broom snakeweed, Greene rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, and black greasewood.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Keith Crossland, Vic Parslow, Jeff Fenton, Harry Hosler
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