U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Range Management Research: Las Cruces, NM
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Comprehensive Publications
                    Research SummarySearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Las Cruces, New Mexico Range Management Research Docs





- Landscape Toolbox
- Long Term Agricultural Research
- EcoTrends
- Long Term Ecological Research
- Ecological Site Descriptions
- Monitoring & Assessment
- Southwest Climate Hub
- Land Potential Knowledge System
- National Ecological Observatory Network
- JournalMap
- Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM)
- Data Catalogs

Introduction (1)headline bar This decision tool presents recommendations of a long-term study of soil and plant community resistance to, and capacity to recover from, three common types of activities:- Off-road vehicle traffic ("Track")- Ground troop activities ("Infantry")- Livestock, wildlife and recreational horse use ("Livestock") The study included three gypsic soils:-Highly gypsic soils ("Dune Margin")-Partially gypsic soils ("Transition")-Marginally gypsic soils ("Outcrop")representative of much of the land area covered by Holloman Air Force Base. Using the decision tool: There are two ways to use this tool. Either select the soil where training activities are planned and compare the impacts of different activities or select the type of activity, and compare soils. You can toggle between the two approaches by simply clicking on the soil photo or the activity photo. Training OFF ROAD VEHICLE TRAFFIC: "TRACK"Off-road vehicle traffic ("Track") -Track disturbance was tested by driving a WWII-vintage jeep back and forth across test sites at speeds between 5 and 10 kph. Each point on each treated plot was run across twice by two wheels for a total of four wheel passes. Tire inflation pressure was kept standardized at approximately 15 psi. Track type training should be used with caution wherever it is located since it has the highest and longest lasting impact on all types of soil.To choose a soil on which to train with vehicles, click on the picture below.GROUND TROOP ACTIVITIES: "INFANTRY"Ground troop activities ("Infantry") - Infantry disturbance was tested by crossing booted soldiers across sites a fixed number of times ensuring that every point had been disturbed (either having been stepped on or had soil directly kicked onto it) at least once. The number of times the soldiers passed across each plot was standardized during treatment. Infantry training is generally low impact and can be repeated at relatively high frequency at appropriate sites.To choose a soil on which to train Infantry, click on the picture below.Livestock, wildlife and recreational horse use ("Livestock") - Livestock disturbance was tested by riders guiding horses back and forth across test sites ensuring that every point had been disturbed (either having been stepped on or had soil directly kicked onto it) at least once. The number of times the horses passed across each plot was standardized during treatment. Livestock training is generally low impact and can be repeated at relatively high frequency at appropriate sites.To choose a soil on which to train with Livestock, click on the picture below.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov