Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R035XA118AZ
Sandy Upland 10-14" p.z.
Accessed: 11/14/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 035X–Colorado Plateau
This ecological site occurs in Common Resource Area 35.1 - the Colorado Plateau Mixed Grass Plains
Elevations range from 4800 to 6700 feet and precipitation averages 10 to 14 inches per year. Vegetation includes Stipa species, Indian ricegrass, galleta, and blue grama, fourwing saltbush, winterfat, and cliffrose. The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province and is characterized by a sequence of flat to gently dipping sedimentary rocks eroded into plateaus, valleys and deep canyons. Sedimentary rock classes dominate the plateau with volcanic fields occurring for the most part near its margin.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Artemisia filifolia |
Herbaceous |
(1) Achnatherum hymenoides |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in an upland position as gently rolling plains and mesas. It neither receives a significant amount of run-in moisture nor experiences an excess of runoff moisture.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Plain
(2) Mesa |
---|---|
Flooding frequency | None |
Elevation | 4,800 – 6,300 ft |
Slope | 15% |
Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
50-60% of moisture falls as rain Jul-Sept and is the most effective moisture for plant growth. The remaining moisture comes as snow during the winter.
Mean temperatures for the hottest month (Jul) is 72 degrees F; for the coldest month (Jan) is 32 degrees F. Extreme temperatures of 105 degrees F and -26 degrees F have been recorded. Long periods with little or no effective moisture are relatively common.
Cool season plants begin growth in early spring and mature in the early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and grow from July through September.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) | 160 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (average) | 180 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 13 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
It neither receives a significant amount of run-in moisture nor experiences an excess of runoff moisture.
Soil features
Soils on this site are deep and well-drained with no plant root restricting layers. The surface texture ranges from sand to course sandy loam. The substratum is loamy fine sand, loamy sand or sand. The soil ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline (pH 6.6 to 8.4). Permeability is rapid and the soil can absorb all the moisture the climate supplies but has a very low available water capacity.
Typical taxonomic units include:
Coconino County Central (AZ631) Soil Map Units - 25-Mespun;
Navajo County Central (AZ633) Soil Map Unit - 45-Pensom;
Apache County Central (AZ635) Soil Map Units - ER2-Eroded Land, PSB-Sheppard, SMB-Sheppard;
Little Colorado River(AZ707)Soil Map Unit- 30-Mespun; 30-Mespun limy substratum; 31-Mido;49-Santrick;
Navajo Mountain(AZ711)Soil Map Units- 5-Pensom moderately deep; 22-Mespun, 21-Mespun 23-Mespun, 24-Mespun;24-Mespun limy substratum;21-Bispen;27-Mido, 65-Mido;23-Santrick, 48-Santrick; 55-Shoegame family;
Chinle(AZ713) Soil Map Units- 39-Pinavetes;
Fort Defiance Area (AZ715)Soil Map Units - 15-Pinavetes family,
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture |
(1) Coarse sand (2) Sand (3) Coarse sandy loam |
---|---|
Family particle size |
(1) Sandy |
Drainage class | Well drained to somewhat excessively drained |
Permeability class | Moderately rapid to rapid |
Soil depth | 40 – 60 in |
Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5% |
Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2.5 in |
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
2% |
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.6 – 8.4 |
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15% |
Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The historical climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as grazing, fire, or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air-dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity Index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air-dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.
The State and Transition model shows the most common occurring plant communities likely to be encountered on this ecological site. This model may not show every possible plant community, but only those that are most prevalent and observed through field inventory. As more data is collected and research is available, these plant communities may be revised, removed, and even added to reflect the ecological dynamics of this site.
State and transition model
Figure 4. 35.1 Sandy upland S&T model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
Communities 1, 5 and 2 (additional pathways)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The refence state includes the Historic Climax Plant Community. This plant community (1.1) is composed primarily of cool season and warm season grasses with a small percentage of forbs and scattered large and half shrubs. Minor amounts (<5%) of introduced annuals may be present in this state.
Community 1.1
Native Perennial Grassland with Scattered Shrubs (HCPC)
This plant community is composed primarily of cool and warm season grasses with a small percentage of forbs and scattered large and half shrubs. Dominant grasses include Indian ricegrass, needle and thread, blue grama, black grama, sand dropseed and galleta. Dominant shrubs include sand sagebrush, winterfat and fourwing saltbush. Trees may be present, but are widely scattered across the landscape. Natural disturbances, such as fire, maintain the native grassland with a light overstory of woody vegetation.
Figure 6. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 245 | 370 | 490 |
Shrub/Vine | 50 | 80 | 105 |
Tree | 25 | 40 | 50 |
Forb | 10 | 15 | 25 |
Total | 330 | 505 | 670 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover | 0-2% |
---|---|
Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-7% |
Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-12% |
Forb basal cover | 1-4% |
Non-vascular plants | 0% |
Biological crusts | 0-25% |
Litter | 20-35% |
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0-5% |
Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
Bedrock | 0% |
Water | 0% |
Bare ground | 25-55% |
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3511, 35.1 10-14" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer, most growth occurs during the summer rainy season. .
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5102, 35.1 10-14" p.z. blue grama. Growth occurs mostly in summer and early fall during the rainy season..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5213, 35.1 10-14" p.z. winterfat. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer. Seed stalk extension and seed set occurs in summer..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Shrubland with Native Grasses
This plant community is characterized by a mix of shrubs and a well developed understory of perennial grasses and forbs. Common shrubs include fourwing saltbush, sand sagebrush, mormon tea, winterfat, rabbitbrush along with other native shrubs. The understory is a mix of cool season and warm season grasses and smaller amounts of forbs. Common grasses include Indain ricegrass, bluegrama, needle and thread, dropseeds, galleta and other native grasses. Junipers may be present, but occur scattered across the landscape. Shrub canopy is usually less than 25%.
Community 1.3
Sand sagebrush with Native Grasses
This plant community is characterized by an increase of sand sagebrush with a well developed understory of perennial grasses. This plant community phase is maintained by some soil disturbance and sand sage's ability to thrive after surface disturbance. This also includes other shrubs such as rabbitbrush, Culter's mormon tea, sand buckwheat, snakeweed, fourwing saltbush and/or other native shrubs. The understory is mixture of cool and warm season grasses such as needle and thread, blue grama, Indian ricegrass, sand dropseed, sandhill muhly and other native grasses. Shrub canopy is usually less 25% with an occasional scattered juniper.
Community 1.4
Active Dunes with Native Shrubs
This plant community is characterized by areas of bare ground with scattered shrubs and grasses. Vegetation cover is highly variable and tends to be patchy on more active dunes. The canopy is dominated by shrubs, such as sand sagebrush, sand buckwheat, Cutler's mormon tea, dune broom, frosted mint, Bigelow rabbitbrush as well as other native shrubs. Dominate grasses include Indian ricegrass, sand dropseed, spike dropseed, giant dropseed, sandhill muhly as well as other native grasses. Bare ground ranges from 60 to 90% with large connected bare areas common.
Community 1.5
Grassland with Mormon tea
This plant community is characterized by a dominance of Cutler's mormon tea, Indian ricegrass, blue grama and dropseeds. This plant community can result from a combination of drought and/or unmanaged grazing.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Increases insect/wildlife herbivory, drought, lack of natural fire
Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3
Insect/wildlife herbivory, drought, lack of natural fire, increase soil surface disturbance (soil deposition from wind or water).
Pathway 1.1c
Community 1.1 to 1.5
Drought, insect herbivory, unmanaged grazing, lack of fire.
Pathway 1.2b
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Fire to remove shrubs, favorable moisture.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.3
Drought, insect herbivory, lack of fire. Increased bare ground, along with frequent soil surface disturbance favors the increase of sand sagebrush.
Pathway 1.2c
Community 1.2 to 1.4
Prolonged drought with frequent soil surface disturbance and reduced perennial herbaceous cover.
Pathway 1.2d
Community 1.2 to 1.5
Drought, herbivory, unmanaged grazing, lack of fire.
Pathway 1.3b
Community 1.3 to 1.2
Reduced disturbance, favorable moisture, available seed source for perennial grasses provides increased soil stability allowing grasses to establish.
Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.4
Prolonged drought with frequent soil surface disturbance and reduced perennial herbaceous cover.
Pathway 1.4a
Community 1.4 to 1.3
Reduced soil disturbance, favorable moisture allows for increased soil stabilty and an increase of large shrubs (sand sagebrush, fourwing saltbush, rabbitbrush) and perennial grasses.
Pathway 1.5c
Community 1.5 to 1.1
Managed grazing with Rest, reduced soil disturbance, favorable moisture allows for increased soil stabilty and an increase of large shrubs (fourwing saltbush, rabbitbrush, sand sagebrush) and perennial grasses.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Grazing |
---|
Pathway 1.5a
Community 1.5 to 1.2
Reduced disturbance, favorable moisture, seed source for shrubs and grasses, managed grazing.
Pathway 1.5b
Community 1.5 to 1.3
Reduced disturbance, favorable moisture, seed source for perennial grasses, managed grazing.
State 2
Sand Sagebrush State
This plant community is dominated by sand sagebrush with other shrubs present. Perennial grasses are sub-dominant with scattered forbs and occasionally scattered junipers.
Community 2.1
Sand Sagebrush Overstory
This plant community is dominated by sand sagebrush. Other shrubs present are sand buckwheat, Mormon tea and rabbitbrush. Perennial grasses are sub-dominant with scattered forbs and occasionally scattered junipers. Grasses are mainly dropseeds, sandhill muhly, blue grama threeawns and galleta. Non-native annuals, such as cheatgrass or Russian thistle are present as are other introduced annuals. Shrub canopy is usually greater than 25 percent, with sand sagebrush the dominant component and most productive. Reduced competition from perennial grasses, increased bare ground, unmanaged grazing and drought conditions favor sand sagebrush persistence. Bare ground ranges between 60-80 percent with large connected bare patches common.
State 3
Juniper State
This plant community has an increased overstory of juniper (>10% cover) with a mixed shrub understory and few perennial grasses.
Community 3.1
Juniper Overstory
This plant community has an increase in juniper canopy greater than 10% with a mixed shrub understory. Grass cover is generally low, but forb cover is highly variable depending on climatic events. Bare ground ranges between 50-80 percent with large connected bare patches common. Common herbaceous vegetation includes Indian ricegrass, sandhill muhly, blue grama, sand dropseed with other native grasses and forbs. Shrubs include Mormon tea, snakeweed, sand sage, rabbitbrush, sand buckwheat along with other native shrubs. Non-native annuals, such as cheatgrass and Russian thistle are present along with other introduced annuals.
State 4
Annuals State
This plant community is characterized by a dominance of non-native and native annual forbs with half shrubs and few annual grasses. Some perennial grasses and forbs may be present in smaller amounts.
Community 4.1
Invasive Annual Forbs
This plant community is characterized by dominance of non-native and native annuals forbs with half shrubs, annual grasses. Some perennial grasses and forbs may be present in smaller amounts. Russian thistle is the most prevelant annual forb and very productive on this site. Other common annuals include croton, stickseed, woolly plantain, buckwheats, wire lettuce, false buffalograss, cheatgrass and scorpionweed.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Dominance of sand sagebrush and increased composition of non-native species from lack of fire, unmanaged grazing, and other frequent ground disturbance.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Juniper establishment on site. Reduced competition from perennial grasses and shrubs, lack of fire, unmanaged grazing, juniper seed source available from adjacent sites coupled with increased bare ground allow for seedling establishment and encroachment. Favorable precipitation may increase seedling establishment even with moderate grass or shrub cover.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4
Prolonged drought, unmanaged grazing, along with severe and frequent soil surface disturbance occurs. Soil stability is reduced and soils are subject to active soil erosion, blowouts and mounding. Low perennial herbaceous cover, along with large connected areas of bare ground are common. This allows for invasion of annuals and the increase of less desirable shrub species.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Reduced soil surface disturbances that maintain sand sage persistence. This site may return to a shrubland/grassland (1.2 or 1.3) with prescribed grazing, favorable moisture and a pernnial grass seed source. This pathway is also possible with woody species control (chemical or mechanical) and re-seeding to accelerate grass establishment.
Conservation practices
Brush Management | |
---|---|
Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment | |
Prescribed Grazing | |
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Juniper establishment on site. Reduce competition from perennial grasses and shrubs, lack of fire, unmanaged grazing, juniper seed source available from adjacent sites coupled with increased bare ground allow for seedling establishment and encroachment. Favorable precipitation may increase seedling establishment even with moderate grass or shrub cover.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4
Prolonged drought, unmanaged grazing, along with severe and frequent soil surface disturbance occurs. Soil stability is reduced and soils are subject to active soil erosion, blowouts and mounding. Low perennial herbaceous cover, along with large connected areas of bare ground are common. This allows for invasion of annuals and the increase of less desirable shrub species.
Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 1
Juniper control through fire or mechanical methods, managed grazing and a seed source for grass re-establishment.
Conservation practices
Brush Management | |
---|---|
Prescribed Grazing | |
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2
Juniper control through fire or mechanical methods, managed grazing and a seed source for grass re-establishment.
Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 1
This restoration pathway would require extensive inputs. Improved soil stability with perennial grass re-seeding or available seed source,non-native invasive weed control, favorable moisture, and managed grazing with rest could allow for the increase of perennial grass and shrubs. This pathway could take several years to decades to occur without significant inputs.
Conservation practices
Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment | |
---|---|
Range Planting | |
Prescribed Grazing | |
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2
This restoration pathway would require extensive inputs. Improved soil stability with perennial grass re-seeding or available seed source, non-native invasive weed control, favorable moisture, and managed grazing with rest could allow for the increase of perennial grass and shrubs. This pathway could take several years to decades to occur without significant inputs.
Conservation practices
Range Planting | |
---|---|
Prescribed Grazing | |
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | Cool season dominant grasses | 105–260 | ||||
Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 50–130 | – | ||
needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 25–55 | – | ||
squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 25–50 | – | ||
2 | Warm season dominant grasses | 50–105 | ||||
blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 25–80 | – | ||
black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 25–55 | – | ||
3 | Other grasses | 25–80 | ||||
alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 15–50 | – | ||
James' galleta | PLJA | Pleuraphis jamesii | 10–35 | – | ||
4 | Misc. grasses | 25–55 | ||||
spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 0–20 | – | ||
sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–20 | – | ||
mesa dropseed | SPFL2 | Sporobolus flexuosus | 0–20 | – | ||
Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–10 | – | ||
threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 0–10 | – | ||
sandhill muhly | MUPU2 | Muhlenbergia pungens | 0–10 | – | ||
Grass, annual | 2GA | Grass, annual | 0–5 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
5 | All forbs | 10–25 | ||||
Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–8 | – | ||
globemallow | SPHAE | Sphaeralcea | 4–7 | – | ||
Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–6 | – | ||
Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 2–5 | – | ||
pale evening primrose | OEPA | Oenothera pallida | 0–5 | – | ||
Wright's bird's beak | COWR2 | Cordylanthus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–5 | – | ||
hoary tansyaster | MACA2 | Machaeranthera canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
fineleaf hymenopappus | HYFI | Hymenopappus filifolius | 0–5 | – | ||
flatspine stickseed | LAOC3 | Lappula occidentalis | 0–2 | – | ||
pepperweed | LEPID | Lepidium | 0–2 | – | ||
sanddune linanthus | LIAR2 | Linanthus arenicola | 0–2 | – | ||
shortstem lupine | LUBR2 | Lupinus brevicaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
sand verbena | ABRON | Abronia | 0–2 | – | ||
whitemargin sandmat | CHAL11 | Chamaesyce albomarginata | 0–2 | – | ||
rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–2 | – | ||
whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
touristplant | DIWI2 | Dimorphocarpa wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
small wirelettuce | STEX | Stephanomeria exigua | 0–2 | – | ||
longbeak streptanthella | STLO4 | Streptanthella longirostris | 0–2 | – | ||
annual Townsend daisy | TOAN | Townsendia annua | 0–2 | – | ||
phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–2 | – | ||
woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–2 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
6 | Dominant shrubs | 25–70 | ||||
fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 7–30 | – | ||
jointfir | EPHED | Ephedra | 7–20 | – | ||
sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 7–20 | – | ||
winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 5–15 | – | ||
7 | Misc. shrubs | 25–50 | ||||
rabbitbrush | CHRYS9 | Chrysothamnus | 0–15 | – | ||
snakeweed | GUTIE | Gutierrezia | 0–15 | – | ||
pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 0–10 | – | ||
yucca | YUCCA | Yucca | 0–10 | – | ||
common dunebroom | PAFI4 | Parryella filifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
broadbeard beardtongue | PEAN4 | Penstemon angustifolius | 0–5 | – | ||
sand buckwheat | ERLE9 | Eriogonum leptocladon | 0–5 | – | ||
rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAB2 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. bigelovii | 0–5 | – | ||
prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 0–5 | – | ||
Tree
|
||||||
8 | Trees | 25–55 | ||||
oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–25 | – | ||
twoneedle pinyon | PIED | Pinus edulis | 0–25 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is favorable for grazing throughout most of the year except when snow cover restricts availability of forage. With unmanaged grazing during winter and spring, the relatively scarce cool season grasses are replaced by rabbit brush, snakeweed and lower value forbs and grasses. Planned grazing systems adapt well to use on this site.
The potential plant community produced by this site provides food for those species of wildlife that utilize grass as a major portion of their diet. When vegetative retrogression occurs, unpalatable shrubby species increase and some wildlife species may be benefit.
Recreational uses
Site is located on gently rolling plains and mesa tops which lend themselves to activities such as horseback riding, wildlife observation and hunting.
Following good winter moisture a variety of spring and summer flowers which are particularly noticeable. It has good aesthetic appeal when not severely disturbed.
Winters are cold, however, relatively mild spring, fall and summer months are attractive to recreationists.
Other products
Personal firewood cutting when the tree canopy exceeds 15%.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Navajo County, AZ | |
---|---|
General legal description | Petrified Forest, Painted Desert National Park. |
Location 2: Apache County, AZ | |
General legal description | LDS Stake Ranch near St Johns(top of mesa). |
Other references
Updates and revisions for this ESD were conducted as part of a 2007-2012 Interagency Technical Assistance Agreement between the Bureau of Indian Affairs–Navajo Region and the NRCS-Arizona.
Contributors
Ken Gishi
Larry D. Ellicott
Steve Barker
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) | Ken Gishi, Dean Schlichting, Dan Carroll |
---|---|
Contact for lead author | State Rangeland Management Specialist, NRCS-Arizona State Office, Phoenix, AZ |
Date | 11/13/2008 |
Approved by | Steve Cassady |
Approval date | |
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None. The sandy surface textures and well drained nature of the soils should preclude the presence of rills. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
A very few scattered water flow patterns may be present on steepest slopes. Water Flow patterns on these soils are commonly 1 to 2 meters long, generally occupying < 5% of the ground cover. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Uncommon. If present pedestals typically less than 1” in height often associated with deposition areas and water flow patterns. Terracettes are absent. This site has potential for significant developement of biological crust. Well developed biological crust should bot be confused with pedastals. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground averages 35-55%. Drought may cause an increase in bare ground. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Wind scoured areas, blowouts, and/or depositional areas are mostly uncommon in well vegetated herbaceous plant communities(1.1 & 1.2). However, in certain plant communities (1.3 & 1.4) some deposition and wind scour may occur, especially during droughts, due to high wind erosion hazard of the soil. Sites dominated by sand sage and juniper are most likely to suffer from excessive blowouts and depositions -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most herbaceous and fine woody litter will be transported by wind and in water flow pathways, while a small percentage stays in place. Coarse woody litter and duff will accumulate under shrub and tree canopies. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Expected soil aggregate stability ranges from 2 to 4. Under canopies the range is 3 to 4 and 2 to 3 in the interspaces. When well vegetated, these soils have a moderate to high resistance to water erosion, but only a low resistance to wind erosion. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is loose granular, with a weak physical crust. Surface thickness range from 3-6 inches. Color is variable depending on parent material. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This grassland community consists of about 70 percent grasses, 25 percent shrubs and 5 percent composition of forbs and promotes infiltration and reduces runoff. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
cool season grasses (35-45%) > warm season grasses (30-40%)Sub-dominant:
shrubs (15-25%)Other:
Forbs (5-10%) > Trees (1-5%)Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
In a normal year up to 10% of grasses and shrubs die off. During and after drought years there can be from 10 to 20% die off of shrubs and grasses. Severe winter droughts affect shrubs, trees and cool season grasses the most. Severe summer droughts affect the warm season grasses the most. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Within plant interspaces litter ranges from 10 to 20% cover, while under shrub and tree canopies it ranges from 25 to 60% cover with depths from 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
250-350 pounds per acre (dry weight) in drought years, 450-550 pounds per acre in normal years, 600-700 pounds per acre in wet years. -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Mormon tea, Broom snakeweed, sand sagebrush and rabbitbrush are all native to the site, but have the ability to increase and dominate the area after disturbance. Oneseed juniper (JUMO) is native to the site, but has the ability to increase and dominate the site after unmanaged grazing and/or fire exclusion. Introduced annuals that have the ability to increase and dominate the site after unmanaged grazing and/or ground disturbance include cheatgrass and Russian thistle -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants native to this site are adapted to the climate and are capable of producing seeds, stolons and rhizomes except during the most severe droughts.
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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