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Ecological site F039XA134AZ

Limestone Upland 17-22" p.z. (PIPO)

Last updated: 9/05/2019
Accessed: 04/25/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 039X / Ecological site F039XA134AZ

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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.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 039X–Mogollon Transition North

AZ 39.1 Mogollon Plateau Coniferous Forests

Elevations range from 7000 to 12,500 feet and precipitation averages 20 to 35 inches per year. Vegetation includes ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Arizona walnut, sycamore, Douglas fir, blue spruce, Arizona fescue, sheep fescue, mountain muhly, muttongrass, junegrass, pine dropseed, and dryland sedges. The soil temperature regime ranges from mesic to frigid and the soil moisture regime ranges from typic ustic to udic ustic. 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.

Associated sites

F039XA110AZ	Limestone Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, JUDE2)
F039XA135AZ	Basalt Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, QUGA)
R039XA138AZ	Clay Loam Upland 17-22 p.z.

F039XA110AZ

Limestone Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, JUDE2)

F039XA135AZ

Basalt Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, QUGA)

R039XA138AZ

Clay Loam Upland 17-22 p.z.

Similar sites

F039XA110AZ	Limestone Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, JUDE2)
R039XA105AZ	Shallow Loamy 17-22" p.z.

F039XA110AZ

Limestone Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, JUDE2)

R039XA105AZ

Shallow Loamy 17-22" p.z.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Pinus ponderosa
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Festuca arizonica (2) Muhlenbergia montana

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on the shoulders and backslopes of limestone plateaus and hills. Areas of rock outcrop generally occur in association with the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from adjacent areas.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Plateau (2) Hill
Elevation	6,000 – 8,000 ft
Slope	5 – 15%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

About 40% of the moisture in this Common Resource Area (CRA), or Land Resource Unit (LRU) comes as rain from June to September. The remainder comes from October to May as snow or light rain. Extreme temperatures of 97 and -37 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. Some moisture is usually received every month.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	168 days
Freeze-free period (average)	120 days
Precipitation total (average)	22 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

Soils mapped on this site are very shallow to shallow and are slightly effervescent throughout. The surface soil has a depth of about 4 inches and is of low susceptibility to erosion. The subsoil and underlying layers have moderate permeability. This site cannot absorb all the moisture the climate supplies. Course fragments average 35 to 50 percent of the soil volume.
Taxonomic unit mapped on this site is: from SSA-695 Kaibab NF Area MU 11-Huachuca family.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Very flaggy loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Soil depth	10 – 20 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	35 – 50%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	0.09 – 0.12 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	1%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	2
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	7.9 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	35 – 50%

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.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Ponderosa Pine and Mature Alligator Juniper

2. Dominant Alligator Juniper

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Historic Climax Plant Community

State 1
Ponderosa Pine and Mature Alligator Juniper

Ponderosa Pine and Mature Alligator Juniper

Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community

This plant community is a woodland of ponderosa pine with an understory of grasses and forbs.

Figure 3. 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	380	405	430
Tree	22	34	45
Forb	4	13	22
Shrub/Vine	4	13	22
Total	410	465	519

Figure 4. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3911, 39.1 17-22" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, 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	5	10	10	10	20	20	20	5	0	0

State 2
Dominant Alligator Juniper

Dominant, immature alligator juniper.

Transition T1
State 1 to 2

Excessive disturbance

Restoration pathway R1
State 2 to 1

Colonization of Ponderosa Pine

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Cool Season Grasses/grasslike			380–420
	Arizona fescue	FEAR2	Festuca arizonica	0–212	–
	mountain muhly	MUMO	Muhlenbergia montana	0–94	–
	pine dropseed	BLTR	Blepharoneuron tricholepis	0–86	–
	Ross' sedge	CARO5	Carex rossii	0–40	–
	squirreltail	ELELE	Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides	0–4	–
	Fendler's threeawn	ARPUF	Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana	0–4	–
2	Warm Season Grasses			0–8
	blue grama	BOGR2	Bouteloua gracilis	0–4	–
	little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	0–4	–
Forb
3	Forbs			4–22
	pussytoes	ANTEN	Antennaria	0–4	–
	sandwort	ARENA	Arenaria	0–4	–
	thistle	CIRSI	Cirsium	0–4	–
	redroot buckwheat	ERRA3	Eriogonum racemosum	0–4	–
	spurge	EUPHO	Euphorbia	0–4	–
	pingue rubberweed	HYRI	Hymenoxys richardsonii	0–4	–
	cinquefoil	POTEN	Potentilla	0–4	–
	ragwort	SENEC	Senecio	0–4	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Shrubs			4–22
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNAN5	Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa	4–22	–
Tree
5	Trees			22–45
	ponderosa pine	PIPO	Pinus ponderosa	22–45	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Suitability for grazing by livestock is good before canopy exceeds 50%. Cattle, sheep, goats and horses can use this site in summer and early fall. Management considerations include use of Prescribed Grazing, water developments and reseeding grass following harvest operations for forage and to reduce erosion, grazing should not damage young trees.
Site factors affecting wildlife:
Water: Frequently found in scattered natural wetlands and springs.
Cover: good for most species.
Food: Good potential except where grazing is unmanaged.
Other: Snowfall causes shifts in wildlife populations.

Recreational uses

Summers are cool and pleasant but winters are harsh and cold.
Hunting, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, photography and wildlife observation are favorite activities.

Wood products

Being developed.

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: Coconino County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T21N R5E S13
General legal description	Bellemont, AZ 7 1/2" Quad; NE1/4, SW1/4, Sec 13, T21N, R5E, Camp Navajo (Navajo Depot)

Contributors

Karlynn Huling
Larry D. Ellicott

Approval

Scott Woodall, 9/05/2019

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)
Contact for lead author
Date
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage 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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet