Ecological site group DX035X01IESG19
Little Colorado River Basin-sandstone or sandy loam moderately deep or deeper soils (low elevation)
Last updated: 10/25/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Little Colorado River Basin
- Sandstone or sandy loam
- Moderately deep and deeper soils
- Low elevation, MAST >54 degrees F
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 ecological site occurs in an upland position on gently sloping plains or alluvial fans. It neither benefits significantly from run-in nor experiences excessive runoff of moisture.
Climate
50-60% of moisture falls as rain from July through September and is the most effective moisture for plant growth. The remaining moisture comes as snow during the winter.
Mean temperatures for the hottest month (July) is 72 degrees F; for the coldest month (January) is 32 degrees F. Extreme temperatures of 105 degrees F and -26 degrees F have been recorded. Long periods with little or no effective moisture are relatively common.
Cool season plants begin growth in early spring and mature in the early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and grow from July through September.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep with no plant root restricting layers. Surface horizons have textures of sandy loam to fine sandy loam about 4 to 10 inches thick. Subsurface horizons have textures ranging from clay to sandy loam. There may be thin strata of finer and/or coarser textures. The pH ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline (pH 6.6 to 8.4). Water erosion hazard is moderate and the wind erosion hazard is severe.
Vegetation dynamics
The reference state plant community is composed primarily of warm season mid-grasses and short grasses with a small percentage of cool season grasses and half-shrubs. Dominant grasses include blue grama, black grama, sand dropseed and galleta. Dominant shrubs include fourwing saltbush and Greene's rabbitbrush. Natural climatic variation result in changes in the amount of and ratio of both individual plants and warm season versus cool season plants, especially grasses.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Correlated Map Unit Components
22396653, 22396649, 22999839, 22999846, 22999851
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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