Ecological site group DX035X01IESG05
Little Colorado River Basin-Limey Uplands soils
Last updated: 10/12/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Little Colorado River Basin
- Limy
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 on moderately deep to very deep, calcareous, well drained soils on fan terraces, mesas, and plateaus. Surface textures range from extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam to loam. Slopes are generally 1-15%, but there may be steeper spots within the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture.
Climate
50-60% of moisture falls as rain Jul-Sep and is the most effective moisture for plant growth. The remaining moisture comes as snow during the winter.
Mean temperature for the hottest month (Jul) is 72 F; for the coldest month (Jan) is 32 F. Extreme temperatures of 105 F and -28F have been recorded. Long periods with little or no effective moisture are relatively common.
Cool season plants begin growth in early spring and mature early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious Jul-Sep.
Soil features
Soils on this site are moderately deep to deep. These soils formed in alluvium derived from mixed sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Surface textures range from extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam to loam. Subsoil textures range from gravelly sandy clay loam to extremely gravelly loam. Reaction ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.0 to 8.4). Lime content averages 15 to 50% in the soil profile. Calcium carbonate effervescence is high on the soil surface.
Vegetation dynamics
The reference state is best represented by a grassland plant community with scattered shrubs. With enough disturbance the grass community is diminished and shrubs become more prominent on this site.
The major grasses in this grassland community are blue grama, black grama and James' galleta. The shrub component is represented by winterfat, rubber rabbitbrush and fourwing saltbush.
Disturbance decreases native perennial grasses and shrubs increase. The shrubs that are most likely to incrase on this site are broom snakeweed, Greene's rabbitbrush and rubber rabbitbrush.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Correlated Map Unit Components
22341148, 22341202, 22396786
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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