Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XB203AZ
Clayey Upland 8-12" p.z.
Last updated: 4/09/2021
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.2 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Desert Shrubs
Elevations range from 2600 to 4000 feet and precipitation ranges from 8 to 12 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, palo verde, catclaw acacia, soaptree yucca, creosotebush, whitethorn, staghorn cholla, desert saltbush, Mormon tea, burroweed, snakeweed, tobosa, black grama, threeawns, bush muhly, dropseed, and burrograss. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.
Associated sites
| R041XB202AZ |
Clayey Swale 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XB204AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 8-12" p.z. |
| R041XB223AZ |
Basalt Hills 8-12" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R040XA104AZ |
Clayey Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC304AZ |
Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Pleuraphis mutica |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the lowest elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on rolling low ridges, fan terraces, mesas and gently sloping lava flows; usually associated with basalt and andesite mountains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Lava flow
(2) Fan piedmont (3) Mesa |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 2,600 – 4,000 ft |
| Slope | 1 – 15% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Precipitation ranges from 8-12 inches annually. More than half falls during Jul-Sep in brief, but often heavy, thunderstorms. The rest of the moisture comes as light rain or snow that falls slowly for a day or more, but rarely lasts more than a day. May and June are normally the driest months. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild throughout most of the year. Freezing temperatures are common at night Dec-Feb; brief 0 F may be observed some nights. During June, July & August, some days may exceed 100 F.
In years of average or greater winter precipitation, annual grasses and forbs occur abundantly in the interspaces.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 240 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) |
Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep and clayey textured. They have thin (1-2 inch) surface horizons that range from clayloam to silty clay in texture. They exhibit strong vertic soil properties. They can have well developed covers of surface gravels and cobbles. Surface soils (10 inches) are non-calcareous, but some soils have calcic horizons below the argillic horizon.
Soil series mapped on areas of this site include Vekol, Guest and Stellar (un-flooded). THIS SITE is NOT CURRENTLY CORRELATED to a SOIL in ANY SSA in AZ
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
basalt
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly clay loam (2) Clay loam (3) Loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to slow |
| Soil depth | 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 15% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 1% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
7.5 – 9.6 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
1% |
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
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
Native Tobosa Grassland
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The native potential plant community on this site is grassland with a scattering of desert shrubs and cacti. Annual forbs and grasses, of both winter and summer seasons, are very important in the plant community in their respective (wet) seasons. Tobosa is the dominant perennial grass. The cover of shallow rooted grass species, like curly mesquite, fluctuate widely from wet to dry years.
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 | 210 | 450 | 695 |
| Forb | 5 | 50 | 175 |
| Shrub/Vine | 2 | 5 | 30 |
| Total | 217 | 505 | 900 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 0% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 2-5% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 1-5% |
| Litter | 20-60% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-35% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-15% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-65% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 0-1% | 10-20% | 1-15% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 0-2% | 10-25% | 1-10% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 0-1% | 10-20% | 0-2% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 0-1% | 0-5% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | – | – | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 4. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4121, 41.2 7-12" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the late winter to early spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the May through June drought, 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 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
State 2
Annual Forbs & Grasses
Community 2.1
Annuals
This state occurs where the cover of tobosa has been depleted due to the interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing. Native and non-native annual grasses and forbs. Tobosa will not recruit back into the plant community because it lacks seed persistence in the soil seed bank. Other causes for this state could include cultivation for irrigation and subsequent abandonment, and burning during severe drought resulting in high mortality of tobosa.
State 3
Mesquite, tobosa
Community 3.1
Mesquite, tobosa
This state occurs where mesquite has invaded and increased in the plant community. Mesquite cover ranges from 2 to 10%, and trees are well established and will sprout readily after fire. Tobosa cover is still intact and production is high.
State 4
Eroded, with or w/o mesquite
Community 4.1
Eroded
This state occurs where the interaction of fire, drought and continuous grazing has depleted the cover of tobosa and caused compaction and trailing. Other causes, on a limited scale, include the diversion of overland flow and concentration of runoff by roads, culverts and borrow ditches. Rill and gully erosion has left a drainage
Transition T1B
State 1 to 2
continuous heavy grazing (managing for annuals), burning (to freshen tobosa) plus CHG, hay mowing, cultivation and abandonment
Transition T1A
State 1 to 3
proximity to seed source, introduction of seeds
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Prescribed grazing/no grazing, seeding or planting of tobosa and vine mesquite, mechanical land treatment (ripping, contouring)
Transition T2A
State 2 to 4
continuous heavy grazing, interruption of overland flow, diversion of runoff; severe soil compaction from traffic (livestock or equipment)
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
Brush management, prescribed grazing/no grazing
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
continuous heavy grazing coupled with drought and/or burning
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2
mechanical control of rills and gullies, prescribed grazing/no grazing
Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 3
Brush management, seeding or planting of tobosa, mechanical control of rills and gullies, prescribed grazing/no grazing
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 | Dominant Perennial Grass | 200–400 | ||||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 200–400 | – | ||
| 2 | Miscellaneous Perennial Grasses | 5–75 | ||||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–30 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 5–20 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–10 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–10 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–10 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–10 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–10 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–10 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–10 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–5 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 0–20 | ||||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–15 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–2 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–2 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 5–200 | ||||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 1–100 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–100 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 1–50 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–30 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–25 | – | ||
| sticky sprangletop | LEVI5 | Leptochloa viscida | 0–25 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–25 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–20 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–20 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–15 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–10 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–10 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–5 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–5 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial Forbs | 5–25 | ||||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 1–10 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–5 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–5 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 1–5 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Pedro daisy | LAPO4 | Lasianthaea podocephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPIP4 | Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–1 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemargin sandmat | CHAL11 | Chamaesyce albomarginata | 0–1 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–1 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 0–1 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| poreleaf dogweed | ADPO2 | Adenophyllum porophyllum | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–1 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 0–150 | ||||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–20 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–20 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–20 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–20 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–15 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–15 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–15 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–15 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–10 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–10 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–10 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–5 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–5 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–5 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–5 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–5 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–2 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy desertsunflower | GECA2 | Geraea canescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–2 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's globemallow | SPCO2 | Sphaeralcea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| tumblemustard | THELY3 | Thelypodiopsis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| common woolly sunflower | ERLA6 | Eriophyllum lanatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Miscellaneous Shrubs | 0–10 | ||||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–5 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–1 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 0–1 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Half shrubs | 1–10 | ||||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–2 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–1 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Succulents | 1–10 | ||||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–2 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–2 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–2 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–1 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–1 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site produces some perennial forage for livestock. Tobosa is very poor quality forage when cured and only fair forage when green. In wet (El Nino) winters the site produces a tremendous amount of annual forbs and grasses, all of which are excellent forage. The site is home to a variety of small mammals and grassland bird species and their associated predators. It is mainly a foraging area for larger mammals like mule deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
These soils are heavy textured and good producers of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, wildlife observation, photography, rock hounding and bird watching.
Other products
Red clay for pot making. Herbs like grass nuts, wild onions and hog potatos.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Approval
Curtis Talbot, 4/09/2021
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 | 04/09/2021 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| 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):
-
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):
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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:
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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:
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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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