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Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands

Ecoregion in Chihuahuan Desert in NM, TX, Chihuahua, Coahuila

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The Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands occur in areas of fine-textured soils, such as silts and clays, that have a higher water retention capacity than coarse-textured, rocky soil. The grasslands occur in areas of somewhat higher annual precipitation (10 to 15 inches) than the Chihuahuan Basins and Playas (24a), such as elevated basins between mountain ranges, low mountain benches and plateau tops, and north- facing mountain slopes. Grasslands were once more widespread, but heavy grazing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was unsustainable, and desert shrubs invaded where the grass cover became fragmented. In grassland areas with lower rainfall, areal coverage of grasses may be sparse, 10% or less. Some areas are now mostly shrubs as grasslands continue to decline due to erosion, drought, and climatic change. Typical grasses are black, blue, and sideoats grama, dropseeds, bush muhly, and tobosa, with scattered creosotebush, and prickly pear and cholla cacti.

— EPA

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