Soil-Vegetation Patterns in the Central Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico
Moir WH. 1979. Soil-Vegetation Patterns in the Central Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico. The American Midland Naturalist. 102(2):317-331
Major vegetation types between 1520-2010 m elevation and their related soils and land forms in the central Peloncillo Mountains are described. Piedmont desert grassland (dominated by low shrubs, species of Bouteloua, and other grasses) is wide-spread on both erosional and depositional soils of foothills and lower elevations. Madrean oak woodlands (dominated by evergreen species of Quercus) are found on depositional soils. At higher elevations are interior chaparral (dominated by evergreen sclerophyll shrubs) and pinyon-juniper woodlands (Pinus cembroides, Juniperus deppeana, J. monosperma). The former, mostly of southerly sites, occupy droughty soils on either stable or erosional surfaces; the latter, on northerly sites, are identified with erosional soils. At subgroup and family classification levels mollisols, aridisols and entisols are related to vegetational pattern. Soil drainage, water storage capacity, depth to bedrock, and degree of stability are important features of each soil. Successional sequences on steeper slopes are hypothesized on the basis of changing soil properties. A rock land vegetation comprises the ultimate desertification of the landscape. Erosion control appears to be the most serious resource management problem.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Moir, William
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Bouteloua, Central Peloncillo Mountains, desert grassland, Ecology (Plant), interior chaparral, Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus monosperma, Madrean oak woodland, New Mexico, Pinus cembroides, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Soil Science, vegetation patterns