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 Range Management Research: Las Cruces, NM
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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

Ecological Site Descriptions Development Resourcesheadline bar Here we provide some initial resources for those interested in developing ecological site descriptions. Formal protocols are being developed, so we include these resources for the benefit of those who are involved in ongoing efforts. Following Bestelmeyer et al., (2009) and Moseley et al., (2010), we provide dataforms that can be used in vegetation and soil inventory. The sampling units we have used are 20 x 20 m (400m2) plots with a soil pit at the center. The Low Intensity Traverse form can be used to gather large numbers of samples across a project area and develop initial ecological site concepts. The Medium Intensity Plant Inventory can be used to collect quantitative data on vegetation using either ocular estimation of cover and/or production, line point intercept (LPI), or both. In high cover, high diversity environments, LPI is often preferred, whereas ocular estimates are useful in low cover and patchy environments and to record species that are rare at a site. Procedures for High Intensity Inventory are discussed in the Soil Change Guide and are used to provide detailed characterizations of an ecological state, often the reference state and community phase of an ecological site. The Medium or High Intensity Soil Characterization form can be used to collect information about the soil profile alongside vegetation data. Finally, the Medium or High Intensity Pedoderm and Pattern Classes form is used to gather information about soil surface properties in conjunction with vegetation and soil profile measurements. A link to the Rangeland/ESD development database aka Database for Inventory Monitoring and Assessment (DIMA) is provided because there are forms in the database that accommodate data produced using these dataforms. Information about monitoring and assessment methods useful for ESD development (including LPI) is provided in Monitoring and Assessment resources and instructions for the use of the Pedoderm and Pattern Classes is provided in the Field Guide. We also provide some links to additional resources pertaining to climate, soils, and vegetation classification that can be used in ESD development.  ***Data forms for ESD development*** Low Intensity Traverse (v. 3.0)
Medium Intensity Plant Inventory
Production (optional)
High Intensity Inventory - refer to Soil Change Guide, Appendix 3
Medium or High Intensity Soil Characterization
Medium or High Intensity Pedoderm and Pattern Classes (v. 3.0) Rangeland/ESD development database aka Database for Inventory Monitoring and Assessment(DIMA) (MS Access)WARNING: ESD data forms have been updated (6/1/2011). These updates have not yet been incorporated into the database. Monitoring and Assessment resources (also contains dataforms) A Field Guide to Pedoderm and Pattern Classes Pedoderm and Pattern Class Workshop - slides in pdf Rangelands, Special Issue: Ecological Sites - Volume 32, Issue 6 (December 2010) PRISM climate data National and International Vegetation Classification and data access NRCS Soil Data Mart


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