Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R035XB203AZ
Clay Loam Upland 6-10" p.z. Saline
Accessed: 12/21/2024
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 35.2 - the Colorado Plateau Shrub – Grasslands
Elevations range from 3800-5800 feet and precipitation averages 6 to 10 inches per year. Vegetation includes shadscale, fourwing saltbush, Mormon tea, blackbrush, Indian ricegrass, galleta, blue grama, and black grama. The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic 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) Atriplex canescens |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Sporobolus airoides |
Physiographic features
Site located in an upland position on alluvial fans, stream terraces and fan remnants.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Alluvial fan
(2) Stream terrace (3) Fan remnant |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) |
| Flooding frequency | None to rare |
| Elevation | 3,800 – 5,800 ft |
| Slope | 15% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The 35.2 Colorado Plateau Cold Desert Shrub - Grassland common resource area has a very dry and windy climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The annual precipitation averages between 6 and 10 inches. The soil moisture regime is typic-aridic and the soil temperature regime is mesic. A slight majority of the precipitation arrives during the late fall, winter, and early spring. This winter season moisture originates in the Pacific Ocean and arrives as rain, or sometimes snow, during widespread frontal storms of generally low intensity. The majority of the snow (average range of 1 to 17 inches) falls from December through February, but rarely lasts more than a few days. A seasonal drought occurs from late May through early July. Summer rains occur from July through September during brief intense local thunderstorms. The rain is sporadic in intensity and location. The moisture originates from the Gulf of Mexico in the early summer and the Gulf of California in the late summer/early fall. Windy conditions are common year round, but the winds are strongest and most frequent during the spring.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 180 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 207 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 10 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
Soil features
Soils on this site are deep. Surface textures are predominantly Clay loam to Clay (non-shrinking). Subsurface textures are typically Clay loam, Clay, Silty clay, Sandy clay loam, Sandy loam. Geologic formation: Mancos shale, Moenkopi, Mesa Verde group.
Parent material is alluvium from sandstone, shale, and mudstone. Available water capacity: moderate to high. Hazard of erosion by water: slight to moderate - wind: moderate to high. Soil moisture regime: Typic aridic Soil temperature regime: mesic.
Major Taxonomic units included:
SSA-633 Navajo County Central Part - MU 46 Penzance;
SSA-711 Navajo Mountain Area MU's 51 Massadona, 58 Typic haplocambids;
SSA-713 Chinle Area MU 12 Gotho & Chromic Haplotorrents;
SSA-715 Fort Defiance Area (AZ-NM) MU's 58 Burnswick, 88 Polacca, 94 95 & 96 Redlands.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
sandstone and shale
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Clay loam (2) Sandy clay (3) Silty clay |
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to slow |
| Soil depth | 40 – 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
5 – 10 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
9% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
6 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
13 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.4 – 9 |
Ecological dynamics
An ecological site is not a precise assemblage of species for which the proportions are the same from place to place or from year to year. In all plant communities, variability is apparent in productivity and occurrence of individual species. Spatial boundaries of the communities; however, can be recognized by characteristic patterns of species composition, association, and community structure. The historic climax plant community for this ecological site has been described by sampling relict or relatively undisturbed sites and/or reviewing historic records. The historic climax plant community is the plant community that evolved over time with the soil forming process and long term changes in climatic conditions of the area. It is the plant community that was best adapted to the unique combination of environmental factors associated with the site.
Natural disturbances, such as drought, fire, grazing of native fauna, and insects, are inherent in the development and maintenance of these plant communities. The effects of these disturbances are part of the range of characteristics of the ecological site. Fluctuations in plant community structure and function caused by the effects of natural disturbances help establish the boundaries and characteristics of an ecological site. They are accounted for as part of the range of characteristics of the ecological site. Recognizable plant community phases are identified in the reference state of the ecological site. Some sites may have a small range of variation, while others have a large range. Some plant community phases may exist for long periods of time, while others may only occur for a couple of years after a disturbance.
Deterioration of the plant community, hydrology, or soil site stability on an ecological site can result in crossing a threshold or potentially irreversible boundary to another state, or equilibrium. This can occur as a result of the loss of soil surface through erosion, the loss of the stability of the site due to disturbances that cause active erosion on the site, increases in the amounts and/or patterns or runoff from rainstorms, changes in availability of surface and subsurface water, significant changes in plant structural and functional types, or the introduction of non-native species. When these thresholds are crossed, the potential of the ecological site to return to the historic climax plant community can be lost, or restoration will require significant inputs . There may be multiple states possible for an ecological site, determined by the type and or severity of disturbance.
The known states and transition pathways for this ecological site are described in the state and transition model. Within each state, there may be one or more known plant community phases. These community phases describe the different plant community that can be recognized and mapped across this ecological site. The state and transition model is intended to help land users recognize the current plant community on the ecological site, and the management options for improving the plant community to the desired plant community.
Plant production data provided in this site description is standardized to the air-dry weight of one year's growth. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State and Transition Model – R035XB203AZ
More interactive model formats are also available.
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More interactive model formats are also available.
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The reference state and the reference (climax) plant community was determined by study of relict areas or areas protected from excessive disturbances. Trends in plant communities from unmanaged grazed areas to managed grazed areas, seasonal use pastures and historic accounts have also been used. The dominant aspect of this site is a mid and short grassland with scattered mixed shrubs with a small percentage of forbs.
Community 1.1
Alkali sacaton - Galleta/ Fourwing saltbush
The reference plant community is made up primarily of mid and short grasses mixed (70-80%) with scattered shrubs (15-25%) and a relatively small percentage of annual and perennial forbs (1-5%). Dominant plants include fourwing saltbush, mound saltbush, alkali sacaton, and galleta. Disturbances can result in a slight decrease in the amount of cool season perennial grasses and palatable shrubs, like fourwing saltbush and winterfat. With unmanaged grazing, warm season grasses increase along with shrubs such as, shadscale, greasewood and mound saltbush. Plant species most likely to invade or increase on this site when it deteriorates are Galleta, shadscale, mound saltbush, black greasewood, Russian thistle and Annual forbs. Unmanaged grazing during the winter and spring periods will decrease the cool season grasses, which are replaced by warm season, lower forage value grasses and shrubs
Figure 5. 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 | 300 | 405 | 465 |
| Shrub/Vine | 80 | 110 | 145 |
| Forb | 10 | 17 | 25 |
| Total | 390 | 532 | 635 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 3-10% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 15-25% |
| Forb foliar cover | 2-5% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 15-35% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0-2% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 35-55% |
Table 7. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-5% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 5-12% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-3% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 0% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 0% |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3521, 35.2 6-10" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer. Most growth in this CRA occurs in the spring using stored winter moisture..
| 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 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5203, 35.2 6-10" p.z. alkali sacaton. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer, goes dormant in the fall..
| 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 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ5211, 35.2 6-10" p.z. fourwing saltbush. Growth begins in spring and continues through the summer. Seed stalk extension occurs in summer with seed set in the fall..
| 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 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Alkali sacaton/ Shadscale - Fourwing saltbush
This plant community is dominated by alkali sacaton with a mixture of other native grasses, shrubs and forbs. The plant community composition is mostly perennial grasses (65-85%), followed by annual forbs and grasses (5-20%) and lesser amount of shrubs (5-15%). This plant community has a moderate resistance to water erosion and moderate to high resistance to wind erosion.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
This pathway occurs when drought and unmanaged grazing reduce cool season grasses and highly palatable shrubs.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1
This pathway occurs whith favorable precipitation, managed grazing and time without frequent soil disturbance.
State 2
Native/ Invasive Annuals State
This state is a result of the loss of biotic integrity and hydrologic function of the site. This plant community is characterized by an invasion of annual forbs and grasses with perennial grasses and shrubs. These sites will generally have a disturbed surface with high amounts of bare ground. Bare ground can range up to 80%. Annual composition by weight typically ranges from 25-90% in these plant communities.
Community 2.1
Galleta - Alkali sacaton/ Shadscale - Mound saltbush with Invasive Annuals
This plant community is characterized by a increased annual forbs and grasses with a mix of perennial grasses, shrubs and lesser amounts of perennial forbs. Warm season bunch grasses, especially galleta, increase along with saltbushes. Cool season grasses may be severely reduced or absent in this plant community. Common grasses include galleta, alkali sacaton, sand dropseed, Indian ricegrass and annual grasses. Common shrubs include shadscale, mound saltbush, fourwing saltbush, snakeweed, rabbitbrush and cacti.
Community 2.2
Shadscale - Mound saltbush with Invasive Annuals
This plant community is characterized by increased annual forbs and scattered shrubs with lesser amounts of perennial grasses and forbs. Cool season grasses may be severely reduced or absent in this plant community. Common grasses in small amounts include galleta, alkali sacaton, sand dropseed, Indian ricegrass and annual grasses. Common shrubs include shadscale and/or mound saltbush, along with snakeweed, rabbitbrush and cacti.
Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2
This pathway occurs with unmanaged grazing/frequent surface disturbance, reduced perennial herbaceous cover, increase runoff, development of rills and flow patterns.
Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1
This pathway occurs when there is favorable precipitation, alluvial deposition/change in site hydrology favors the establishment of perennial grasses.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Establishment of Invasive Annuals, Unmanaged Grazing, Soil surface disturbance, Drought
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Grasses | 385–470 | ||||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 110–170 | – | ||
| James' galleta | PLJA | Pleuraphis jamesii | 80–110 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 30–60 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 0–30 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 0–25 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–25 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 5–25 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 5–25 | – | ||
| Fendler's threeawn | ARPUF | Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana | 0–10 | – | ||
| Grass, annual | 2GA | Grass, annual | 0–10 | – | ||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 2 | Forbs | 10–30 | ||||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–18 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–6 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| mealy goosefoot | CHIN2 | Chenopodium incanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| bighead dustymaiden | CHMA | Chaenactis macrantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| American bugseed | COAM8 | Corispermum americanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's bird's beak | COWR2 | Cordylanthus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| thicksepal cryptantha | CRCR3 | Cryptantha crassisepala | 0–5 | – | ||
| nodding buckwheat | ERCE2 | Eriogonum cernuum | 0–5 | – | ||
| divergent buckwheat | ERDI5 | Eriogonum divaricatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| flatspine stickseed | LAOC3 | Lappula occidentalis | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–5 | – | ||
| cleftleaf wildheliotrope | PHCR | Phacelia crenulata | 0–5 | – | ||
| gypsum phacelia | PHIN | Phacelia integrifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| scarlet globemallow | SPCO | Sphaeralcea coccinea | 0–5 | – | ||
| gooseberryleaf globemallow | SPGR2 | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| spear globemallow | SPHA | Sphaeralcea hastulata | 0–5 | – | ||
| small-leaf globemallow | SPPA2 | Sphaeralcea parvifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| heartleaf twistflower | STCO6 | Streptanthus cordatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| small wirelettuce | STEX | Stephanomeria exigua | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wooton's sandpuffs | TRCAW2 | Tripterocalyx carneus var. wootonii | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 3 | Shrubs | 80–160 | ||||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 30–60 | – | ||
| shadscale saltbush | ATCO | Atriplex confertifolia | 5–25 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 5–25 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–17 | – | ||
| Bigelow sage | ARBI3 | Artemisia bigelovii | 0–10 | – | ||
| mound saltbush | ATOB | Atriplex obovata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Greene's rabbitbrush | CHGR6 | Chrysothamnus greenei | 0–10 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–10 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAB2 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. bigelovii | 0–10 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–10 | – | ||
| plains pricklypear | OPPO | Opuntia polyacantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| greasewood | SAVE4 | Sarcobatus vermiculatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Whipple cholla | CYWH | Cylindropuntia whipplei | 0–5 | – | ||
| Torrey's jointfir | EPTO | Ephedra torreyana | 0–5 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing during any period of the year by cows and calves, stocker cattle, sheep and horses. Prescribed grazing systems can benefit this site by allowing rest periods for the cool season species.
The potential plant community provides a variety of food and cover plants for wildlife. When the vegetation complex retrogresses then unpalatable shrub species increase and the site becomes less usable as a foraging area for some species. Grazing practices that encourage cool season grass species are beneficial to antelope, cottontails and rodents. Shrubs that provide both food and cover should be maintained.
Recreational uses
Site is located on gently sloping plains and mesa tops which lend themselves to activities such as horseback riding, wildlife observation and hunting.
This site has a variety of spring and summer flowers which are particularly noticeable after good moisture periods. It has good aesthetic appeal when not severely disturbed.
Winters are cold, however, relatively mild spring, fall and summer months are attractive to recreationists
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Navajo County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T20N R15E S2 |
| General legal description | State Location: Sections 2 & 3, T20N, R15E 10 Miles North of Winslow along Hwy 71. |
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
Kenneth 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 | 10/19/2010 |
| Approved by | Byron Lambeth |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None expected. Some rill formation is possible, especially on the steeper slopes, due to the loamy surface textures, moderately slow permeability, and medium runoff. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some minor water flow patterns present, due to the moderately slow permeability and medium runoff characteristics of the soil. Water flow patterns usually less than 6 feet in length with 5-15 percent cover. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Short pedestals are common on long lived perennial half shrubs and grasses, ranging in height from up to 1-2 inches; terracettes are uncommon. Some terracettes may form, especially on the steeper slopes, due to the moderately slow permeability and medium runoff characteristics. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground averages about 35-55%. Drought may cause a temporary increase in bare ground. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None present on this site. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None present on this site. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Herbaceous fines mainly transported by wind and in water flow pathways. Coarser herbaceous and woody litter will remain under shrub canopies. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface textures are mostly fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam and clay loam and when well vegetated soils have a moderate resistance to water erosion and a moderate to high resistance to wind erosion. Soil-site aggregate stability ratings should average 3-4 under camopies with a range of 1-5. The aggregate stability ratings should average 2-3 under plant canopies with a range of 1-3. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is mostly granular (weak to moderate; fine) and some platy (weak to moderate; thin to strong). Surface thickness is mostly 2 to 4 inches, but ranges up to 8 inches. Color is variable depending upon parent material with hues of 5YR to 10YR. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
This site is characterized by mid and short grasses with scattered shrubs. The plant community composition (by weight) consists of about 70-80% grasses, 15-20% shrubs, 1-5% forbs and 0-1% succulents. Canopy cover ranges from 25 to 40 percent, with most cover provided by grasses. Basal cover range from 10-15%. WHen well vegetated this site is moderately effective at capturing and storing precipitation. High grass cover and moderate litter cover aids in reducing raindrop impact and promoting infiltration. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Some soils will have a well developed shallow argillic horizon on this site that feels like a compacted layer, but is not. -
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:
warm season bunchgrasses >>Sub-dominant:
warm season colonizing grasses > shrubs > cool season bunch grasses >Other:
forbs > cacti(trace)Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All plant functional groups are adapted to survival in all but the most severe droughts. Sever winter droughts affect shrubs most. Severe summer droughts affect grasses the most. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Average annual total production on this site is expected to be 500 to 600 lbs/ac in a year of average annual production. -
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:
Broom snakeweed, Greene rabbitbrush, Whipple cholla, Black greasewood, shadscale and sixweeks fescue occur naturally on this site, but can increase with disturbance. Nonnative plants that have the potential to invade this site are cheatgrass, ripgut brome and Russian thistle. Native annuals that have the potential to invade this site with disturbance are Crypthantha, mealy goosefoot, whitestem blazingstar, woolly plantain, foxtail barley and flatspine stickseed. -
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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