Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XB226AZ
Loamy Swale 16-20" p.z.
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): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.2 - Middle Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 4000 to 5500 feet and precipitation averages 16 to 20 inches per year. Vegetation includes turbinella oak, Wright silktassel, hollyleaf buckthorn, desert buckbrush, one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, pinyon, algerita, sugar sumac, prairie junegrass, blue grama, curly mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, muttongrass, cane beardgrass, plains lovegrass and bullgrass. The soil temperature regime ranges from thermic to mesic and the soil moisture regime is aridic ustic. This unit occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.
Classification relationships
Similar site to TES (Terrestrial Ecosystem Sites) map unit no's. 463 and 481 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
R038XB202AZ |
Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z. |
---|---|
R038XB209AZ |
Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z. |
R038XB215AZ |
Clayey Hills 16-20" p.z. |
R038XB225AZ |
Clayey Swale 16-20" p.z. |
Similar sites
R041XC311AZ |
Loamy Swale 12-16" p.z. |
---|---|
R038XB225AZ |
Clayey Swale 16-20" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Mogollon Transition zone south of the Rim in central Arizona.
This site is in a bottom position. It benefits significantly from extra moisture recieved as runoff from, adjacent, upland areas.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Alluvial flat
(2) Flood plain (3) Swale |
---|---|
Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) |
Flooding frequency | Rare to occasional |
Ponding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) |
Ponding frequency | None to rare |
Elevation | 4,400 – 5,600 ft |
Slope | 3% |
Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 16 to 20 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the western part of the area to 45/55% in the eastern part. Summer rains fall July through September; and are from high-intensity convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from 5 to 35 inches per year and can occur from November through April. Snow seldom persists for more than a week. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 51 to 60 degrees F ( thermic temperature regime). Daytime temps in the summer are commonly in the low 90's. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April. The actual precipitation, avaliable moisture and temperature varies, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) | 180 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (average) | 240 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 20 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are deep (60 inches), loamy throughout, and well drained. They are formed in mixed alluvium from a variety of sources. The surface textures are sandyloam to siltloam. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches. Runoff is moderate on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight unless heavy traffic causes trailing and compaction.
Soil series mapped under this site include: SSA675 San Carlos IR area MU's 51 Lanque.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture |
(1) Sandy loam (2) Loam (3) Silt loam |
---|---|
Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
Drainage class | Well drained to moderately well drained |
Permeability class | Moderately rapid to moderate |
Soil depth | 60 in |
Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5% |
Surface fragment cover >3" | 2% |
Available water capacity (0-40in) |
4.8 – 9.2 in |
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
1 – 15% |
Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.6 – 8.2 |
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
1% |
Ecological dynamics
The native plant community is a warm season grassland (canopy cover of 50 to 70%) with an important component of cool season grasses that fluctuate with climate. Cool and warm season annual grasses and forbs are well represented in the flora. Half shrubs and perennial forbs are an important group also. Periodic wildfires occured every 10 to 15 years; June through August, and controlled shrubs and succulents invading from adjacent, shallow soil, areas. In the absence of fire for long periods of time; shrubs, trees and cacti can dominate the site. The interactions of drought, fire and grazing can result in a loss of perennial grass cover. In these situations annuals, both native and non-native, can dominate the plant community. Non-native annuals can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State & Transition Model, Loamy Swale 16-20" pz.
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
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Native Grassland State
Community 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
The historic, native, plant community is a grassland dominated by blue grama, sideoats grama, mat muhly, creeping muhly, tobosa and vine mesquite. Prairie junegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail are an important in the plant community, but can diminish to low levels after severe winter - spring drought. Shrubby buckwheat is an important half-shrub in the plant community. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occuring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
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 | 900 | 1850 | 2500 |
Forb | 50 | 150 | 500 |
Shrub/Vine | 10 | 50 | 100 |
Total | 960 | 2050 | 3100 |
Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover | 0% |
---|---|
Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 0-3% |
Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 12-25% |
Forb foliar cover | 0-2% |
Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
Biological crusts | 0-1% |
Litter | 35-60% |
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0-5% |
Surface fragments >3" | 0-1% |
Bedrock | 0% |
Water | 0% |
Bare ground | 15-20% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
---|---|---|---|---|
<0.5 | – | – | 0-5% | 0-5% |
>0.5 <= 1 | – | 0-5% | 2-20% | 1-10% |
>1 <= 2 | – | 0-2% | 40-65% | 0-10% |
>2 <= 4.5 | – | 0-2% | – | 0-10% |
>4.5 <= 13 | – | 0-2% | – | – |
>13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
>40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
>80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
>120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3812, 38.2 16-20" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and 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 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
State 2
Native Annuals State
Community 2.1
Native Annual Forb and Grass Plant Community
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and / or fire. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the plant community. If this plant community persists for long periods of time; the seed-bank of native perennial grasses can diminish to a point where artificial reseeding will be necessary to return to a native potential plant community
State 3
Shrub Dominated, Eroded State
Community 3.1
Shrub Dominated, Eroded Plant Community
Rill and gully erosion can rapidly drain extra water from the site. Shrubs like; mesquite, wait a bit mimosa, catclaw acacia and turbinella oak; and succulents like prickly pear and cholla can increase, and trees like one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, redberry juniper and pinyon pine, can invade from adjacent, shallow soil, areas, to dominate the site in the absence of fire. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the understory. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established.
State 4
Exotic Invaded State
Community 4.1
Exotic forb and grass invaded state
Non-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, kochia, tumble pigweed, russian thistle, tumble mustard, yellow starthistle, wild oats and filaree, can invade and dominate areas of the site with very low perennial grass cover. Perennial forbs like russian knapweed and leafy spurge could invade and, perhaps, dominate this site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs.
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 | mid grasses | 600–1200 | ||||
sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 200–600 | – | ||
cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 50–200 | – | ||
green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 25–200 | – | ||
deergrass | MURI2 | Muhlenbergia rigens | 0–150 | – | ||
big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–150 | – | ||
tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–100 | – | ||
plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 25–100 | – | ||
spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 0–50 | – | ||
2 | short grasses | 200–400 | ||||
blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 100–300 | – | ||
vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 100–300 | – | ||
creeping muhly | MURE | Muhlenbergia repens | 10–150 | – | ||
mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 10–100 | – | ||
3 | cool season grasses | 50–400 | ||||
squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 10–200 | – | ||
prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 10–200 | – | ||
western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 0–50 | – | ||
4 | misc. perennial grasses | 10–100 | ||||
Orcutt's threeawn | ARSCO | Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana | 0–50 | – | ||
spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–50 | – | ||
spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–50 | – | ||
threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 0–25 | – | ||
Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–25 | – | ||
curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–25 | – | ||
sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–25 | – | ||
sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–20 | – | ||
black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–20 | – | ||
hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–20 | – | ||
Arizona wheatgrass | ELAR7 | Elymus arizonicus | 0–20 | – | ||
common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 0–15 | – | ||
slender muhly | MUTE4 | Muhlenbergia tenuifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
muttongrass | POFE | Poa fendleriana | 0–10 | – | ||
muttongrass | POFEL | Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula | 0–10 | – | ||
poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–10 | – | ||
5 | annual grasses | 25–400 | ||||
Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 10–200 | – | ||
mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 10–200 | – | ||
Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 5–200 | – | ||
prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 5–100 | – | ||
needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–50 | – | ||
sticky sprangletop | LEVI5 | Leptochloa viscida | 0–50 | – | ||
sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–50 | – | ||
feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–50 | – | ||
witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–50 | – | ||
tufted lovegrass | ERPE | Eragrostis pectinacea | 0–50 | – | ||
desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–50 | – | ||
little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 0–50 | – | ||
small fescue | VUMI | Vulpia microstachys | 0–50 | – | ||
Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–50 | – | ||
sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 5–50 | – | ||
canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–25 | – | ||
delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–25 | – | ||
littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–25 | – | ||
sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–25 | – | ||
Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–25 | – | ||
Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–25 | – | ||
Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–15 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
6 | perennial forbs | 25–100 | ||||
largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 1–50 | – | ||
Missouri gourd | CUFO | Cucurbita foetidissima | 0–50 | – | ||
Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 0–50 | – | ||
Arizona gumweed | GRAR2 | Grindelia arizonica | 0–25 | – | ||
showy goldeneye | HEMU3 | Heliomeris multiflora | 0–25 | – | ||
Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–25 | – | ||
Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 0–25 | – | ||
desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 0–25 | – | ||
copper globemallow | SPAN3 | Sphaeralcea angustifolia | 0–25 | – | ||
Rusby's globemallow | SPRU2 | Sphaeralcea rusbyi | 0–25 | – | ||
brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–25 | – | ||
coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 1–25 | – | ||
bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 1–25 | – | ||
weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–25 | – | ||
fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 1–25 | – | ||
whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–20 | – | ||
leastdaisy | CHAET2 | Chaetopappa | 0–15 | – | ||
longstalk greenthread | THLO | Thelesperma longipes | 0–15 | – | ||
tepary bean | PHAC | Phaseolus acutifolius | 0–15 | – | ||
Greene's bird's-foot trefoil | LOGR4 | Lotus greenei | 0–15 | – | ||
Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–15 | – | ||
vetch | VICIA | Vicia | 0–10 | – | ||
rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–10 | – | ||
Texas bindweed | COEQ | Convolvulus equitans | 0–10 | – | ||
onion | ALLIU | Allium | 0–10 | – | ||
Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–10 | – | ||
scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–10 | – | ||
ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–10 | – | ||
plainsmustard | SCHOE2 | Schoenocrambe | 0–10 | – | ||
twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–5 | – | ||
sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–5 | – | ||
Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 0–5 | – | ||
brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–5 | – | ||
Braun's rockcress | ARPE3 | Arabis perstellata | 0–5 | – | ||
Watson's dutchman's pipe | ARWA | Aristolochia watsonii | 0–5 | – | ||
beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 0–5 | – | ||
southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–5 | – | ||
desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–5 | – | ||
Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–5 | – | ||
orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–5 | – | ||
canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–5 | – | ||
7 | annual forbs | 25–400 | ||||
common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 1–200 | – | ||
longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–100 | – | ||
longleaf false goldeneye | HELOL | Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia | 0–100 | – | ||
camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 1–100 | – | ||
San Pedro matchweed | XAGY | Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides | 0–100 | – | ||
goldeneye | VIGUI | Viguiera | 0–50 | – | ||
Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 1–50 | – | ||
creamcups | PLCA5 | Platystemon californicus | 0–50 | – | ||
crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 1–50 | – | ||
spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–50 | – | ||
carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–50 | – | ||
aster | ASTER | Aster | 0–50 | – | ||
New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 2–50 | – | ||
Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–50 | – | ||
Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–25 | – | ||
lambsquarters | CHAL7 | Chenopodium album | 0–25 | – | ||
aridland goosefoot | CHDE | Chenopodium desiccatum | 0–25 | – | ||
western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–25 | – | ||
milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–25 | – | ||
miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–25 | – | ||
California goldfields | LACA7 | Lasthenia californica | 0–25 | – | ||
California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
Thurber's pepperweed | LETH2 | Lepidium thurberi | 0–25 | – | ||
foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–25 | – | ||
coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–25 | – | ||
trefoil | LOTUS | Lotus | 0–25 | – | ||
desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–25 | – | ||
woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–25 | – | ||
New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
cudweed | GNAPH | Gnaphalium | 0–25 | – | ||
miniature lupine | LUBI | Lupinus bicolor | 0–25 | – | ||
Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–25 | – | ||
hollowleaf annual lupine | LUSU3 | Lupinus succulentus | 0–25 | – | ||
tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–25 | – | ||
manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–25 | – | ||
Canada cocklebur | XASTC | Xanthium strumarium var. canadense | 0–25 | – | ||
sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–15 | – | ||
purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–15 | – | ||
desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–15 | – | ||
Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–15 | – | ||
Goodding's bladderpod | LEGO2 | Lesquerella gooddingii | 0–15 | – | ||
shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–15 | – | ||
wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–15 | – | ||
bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–10 | – | ||
sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–10 | – | ||
spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–10 | – | ||
grassleaf lettuce | LAGRA | Lactuca graminifolia var. arizonica | 0–10 | – | ||
American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–10 | – | ||
New Mexico fleabane | ERNE3 | Erigeron neomexicanus | 0–10 | – | ||
sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–10 | – | ||
annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–10 | – | ||
sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–10 | – | ||
ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–10 | – | ||
phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–10 | – | ||
evening primrose | OENOT | Oenothera | 0–10 | – | ||
green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–10 | – | ||
Arizona mousetail | MYCU | Myosurus cupulatus | 0–5 | – | ||
Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–5 | – | ||
spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–5 | – | ||
croton | CROTO | Croton | 0–5 | – | ||
cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–5 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
8 | shrubs | 0–50 | ||||
catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–25 | – | ||
rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–25 | – | ||
catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–25 | – | ||
velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–25 | – | ||
Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–25 | – | ||
skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–15 | – | ||
currant | RIBES | Ribes | 0–15 | – | ||
Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 0–15 | – | ||
pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–15 | – | ||
algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–15 | – | ||
fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–15 | – | ||
sugarberry | CELA | Celtis laevigata | 0–10 | – | ||
heartleaf goldeneye | VICO | Viguiera cordifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
toothleaf goldeneye | VIDE3 | Viguiera dentata | 0–5 | – | ||
9 | half shrubs | 10–50 | ||||
bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 1–50 | – | ||
broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–25 | – | ||
yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 1–25 | – | ||
Coville's bundleflower | DECO4 | Desmanthus covillei | 0–15 | – | ||
prairie acacia | ACAN | Acacia angustissima | 0–15 | – | ||
10 | succulents | 0–25 | ||||
walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–25 | – | ||
sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–25 | – | ||
cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–25 | – | ||
soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–15 | – | ||
Whipple cholla | CYWH | Cylindropuntia whipplei | 0–15 | – | ||
chaparral yucca | HEWH | Hesperoyucca whipplei | 0–10 | – | ||
spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–5 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round and is easily traversed by all classes of livestock. the site is very susceptible to sheet, rill and gully erosion in overgrazed areas, old roads, cattle trails and concentration areas like bed grounds, water-lots and salt grounds.
The site has good habitat diversity for grassland wildlife species. Where it is adjacent to hill sites, with tree species or chaparral, it is a foraging area for elk.
Hydrological functions
This site produces runoff when soils are moist. Surfaces can be easily compacted by traffic and high densities of livestock when soils are moist. Normal depth of soil freezing in the winter is 5 to 6 inches. This will not break up compacted layers deeper than that. Compacted surfaces will produce much more runoff than surfaces with good tilth and structure. The extra water the site recieves is easily channelled by trails and wheel ruts to form rills and gullies.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and backpacking.
Wood products
None
Other products
There is some native harvest of foods like wild onion, sunflower and thistle.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
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.
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Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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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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