Soil-Vegetation Correlations in Riparian and Emergent Wetlands, Lyon County, Nevada.

Abstract : As part of a national study, vegetation associated with known hydric and nonhydric soil series was sampled in Lyon County, Nevada. Weighted averages and presence/absence averages were calculated for vegetation in each soil series using the method developed by T.R. Wentworth and G.P. Johnson at North Carolina State University. The wetland indicator status for each plant species was determined using the Wetland Plant List developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This technique was effective in delineating nonhydric from hydric soils in a disturbed condition, but where soils were flooded as a result of downstream impoundments, vegetation on all soils developed wetland vegetation. Independent measures of groundwater hydrology were also verified on the study sites and used to verify the hydric nature of soils. Relations of soils and vegetation on salinity were also discussed in relation to moisture gradients in emergent wetlands.