Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XB215AZ
Sandy Loam Upland 8-12" p.z.
Last updated: 4/12/2021
Accessed: 12/22/2024
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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 41 represents the most northern extent of the Sierra Madre Occidental, or in English, the “mother mountains of the west.” The Sierra Madre Occidental is a massive, rugged mountain system that runs northwest from the Rio Grande de Santiago, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, through the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, and ending in Arizona and New Mexico. Through Mexico, this mountain system runs parallel to the Pacific coast and, as it crosses into the United States and confronts the tectonic folding and rifting of the Basin and Range Physiographic Province, the land mass geographically breaks into smaller, isolated mountain ranges, called “sky islands.” The centralizing theme for this MLRA can be summed up as a series of inland islands extending from their mainland, the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded by a sea of desert grassland. To the west, the Madrean Archipelago bounds the Sonoran Basin and Range where several sky islands in southern Arizona grade into Sonoran Desert basins; to the north it bounds the contiguous mountains and geology of the Mogollon Transition area; and to the east, in New Mexico, it bounds the geology of the Rio Grande Rift. MLRA 41 is primarily a rangeland subdivision with small amounts of irrigated cropland. It encompasses approximately 13M acres.
LRU notes
Land Resource Unit 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.
Classification relationships
USDA-NRCS Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin: Western Range and Irrigated Region D; Major Land Resource Area 41, Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range; Land Resource Unit 41-3, Semi-Desert Grassland; Ecological Site Sandy Loam Upland, 8"-12" p.z.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ecological Regions of North America: Level I, Region 12, Southern Semi-Arid Highlands; Level II, 12.1 Western Sierra Madre Piedmont, Level III, Ecoregion 79 Madrean Archipelago, 79a, Apachian Valleys and Low Hills.
USDA-USFS Ecological Subregions: Sections of the Conterminous United States: Section 321 Basin and Range; Section 321A, Basin and Range Section.
Ecological site concept
Sandy Loam Upland, 8”-12” p.z., ecological site is found on gently sloping uplands with deep soils. An argillic horizon is below 4”-16” of sandy loam textured soils. While surface soils are non-calcareous (upper 10 inches), calcic horizons may be found below the argillic horizon.
Associated sites
| R041XB210AZ |
Loamy Upland 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XB205AZ |
Shallow Hills 8-12" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R040XA118AZ |
Sandy Loam Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC319AZ |
Sandy Loam Upland 12-16" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) yucca elata |
| Herbaceous |
(1) muhlenbergia porteri |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the lowest elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on fan terraces and gently sloping uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Valley
(2) Fan piedmont |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 792 – 1,219 m |
| 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 (characteristic range) | 164-185 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 191-226 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 279-305 mm |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 151-186 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 172-228 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 254-330 mm |
| Frost-free period (average) | 172 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 203 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 279 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) FT THOMAS 2 SW [USC00023150], Pima, AZ
-
(2) SAFFORD AGRICULTRL CTR [USC00027390], Safford, AZ
-
(3) SAN SIMON [USC00027560], San Simon, AZ
-
(4) BOWIE [USC00020958], San Simon, AZ
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are deep and loamy textured. They have thick (4-16 inch) surface horizons that are sandyloam in texture, over an argillic horizon. Surface soils (10 inches) are non-calcareous, but some soils have calcic horizons below the argillic horizon. Although several soil series are correlated in map unit components to this ecological site, Bucklebar soil series is most representative of Sandy Loam Upland, 8-12” p.z..
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Sandy loam (2) Very gravelly sandy loam (3) Gravelly sandy loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate to moderately slow |
| Soil depth | 152 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5 – 40% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 0 – 5% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
16.51 – 20.83 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 25% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
7 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5 – 55% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 5% |
Ecological dynamics
Sandy Loam Upland, 8"-12" pz, ecological site is a mixed shrubland with a perennial grass understory. Plant community variation occurs both along the precipitation gradient (from low end of the precipitation zone to the high) and with depth to argillic horizon. Perennial grass composition, basal cover, and distribution are affected. At the lower end of the precipitation gradient (and with thin surface horizon over argillic), bare areas increase in diameter and connectivity, tobosa grass dominates perennial grasses; while at the high end of the precipitation gradient (and with increased depth to argillic), bush muhly and black grama dominate and bare areas are less commonly connected. Several species of perennial grasses, sand dropseed and three-awns for example, come in and out of the plant community as weather patterns fluctuate between wet and dry cycles. Drought is the primary natural disturbance on this ecological site. As human-driven disturbances disrupt this site, 3 alternative states arise: State 2, Non-native Grass; State 3, Large Shrub-Annuals, and State 4, Large Shrub-Eroded.
State and transition model
Figure 8. State and Transition Model, Sandy Loam Upland, 8"-12" p.z.
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 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native Grass-Shrub
Native Grass-Shrub State has two Community Phases that fluctuate with dry/wet weather cycling. The Reference Plant Community (CP1.1) is a an open community of perennial grasses and desert shrubs and cacti. Annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer wet seasons, are very important in the plant community in their respective (wet) seasons. Tobosa, black grama and bush muhly are the dominant perennial grasses, with lesser amounts of perennial mid-grasses such as threeawns and dropseeds. The cover of some shallow rooted grass species, like curly mesquite and Rothrock grama fluctuate widely from wet to dry years. Climate fluctuations, cycling of wet winters, favors shrub growth thus allowing the shrub dominance in CP1.1; extended drought will contract both perennial grass and shrub canopy covers, transitioning the community phase to CP1.2. Natural fire may occasionally occur in this LRU but is not thought to have recurred with a frequency to shape this plant community.
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The native potential plant community on this site is a mixture of perennial grasses and desert shrubs and cacti. Annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, are very important in the plant community in their respective (wet) seasons. Black grama and bush muhly are the dominant perennial grasses, with lesser amounts of threeawns. The cover of shallow rooted grass species, like Rothrock grama fluctuate widely from wet to dry years. Lehmann lovegrass can invade and persist in this plant community, but will fluctuate (in amounts) with climate and not become dominant.
Figure 9. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 168 | 308 | 734 |
| Forb | 8 | 45 | 191 |
| Shrub/Vine | 50 | 112 | 157 |
| Tree | 17 | 39 | 112 |
| Total | 243 | 504 | 1194 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-2% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 1-5% |
| Litter | 15-65% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-35% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-5% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 10-80% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (m) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.15 | – | 1-5% | 1-15% | 1-15% |
| >0.15 <= 0.3 | – | 5-10% | 5-20% | 1-10% |
| >0.3 <= 0.6 | – | 1-5% | 5-10% | 0-5% |
| >0.6 <= 1.4 | – | 1-5% | 0-2% | 0-1% |
| >1.4 <= 4 | 1-5% | 0-2% | – | – |
| >4 <= 12 | 0-2% | – | – | – |
| >12 <= 24 | – | – | – | – |
| >24 <= 37 | – | – | – | – |
| >37 | – | – | – | – |
Community 1.2
Shrub-Suffrutescent Grass
State 2
Non-Native Grass
Non-Native Grass State, is a cyclic large shrub-annual forbs / large shrub-Lehmann lovegrass plant community. Community Phase 2.1 persists for about 10 years following brush management combined with range seeding. The restoration from State 3, prescribed grazing without brush management, will result in CP 2.2 with Lehmann lovegrass in the soil seedbank. The prevalence of Lehamnn lovegrass within the soil seedbank no longer requires range seeding. Once a soil seedbank is established, LL will persist in the plant community while its basal cover varies widely with climate, elevation, depth of surface soil over argillic. Lehmann lovegrass only dominates the entire plant community in CP 2.1, after brush management and seeding, but it will dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community once established. Lehmann lovegrass production does not exceed 400# / ac during Non-Native lovegrass cycles.
Community 2.1
Non-Native Grass
This state occurs where Lehmann, and in some cases Boers, lovegrass has been seeded; usually in combination with mechanical mesquite control. The cover of Lehmann lovegrass varies widely with climate, ranging from 1-5% canopy in dry years up to 20-40% canopy in years with wet summers. Lehmann never dominates the plant community on this site but does dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community once established.
Community 2.2
Shrubs-Annuals
Figure 10. Sandyloam Upland 8-12" pz.
This state occurs where mesquite has increased from 2 to 10% canopy and, with other shrubs, dominates the plant community. Native perennial grasses (suffrutescent) and forbs are absent from the plant community. Native and non-native annuals are very important in the plant community in their respective (wet) seasons.
Community 2.3
Srubs-Non-Native Grass
State 3
Large Shrub-Annuals
Large Shrubs-Annuals, comes about after years of heavy grazing. Suffrutescent grasses are confined to tightly protected areas within shrub and cactus canopies leaving large bare areas as inter-shrub spaces.
Community 3.1
Mesquite, Lehmann lovegrass
This state occurs where Lehmann, and in some cases, Boer lovegrass has been seeded. This usually occurs in combination with mechanical control of mesquite. Lehmann lovegrass ranges from about 5% cover in dry years to 40% cover in wet summers. It never dominates the plant community but will dominate the herbaceous layer.
State 4
Large Shrub, Eroded
Large Shrubs, Eroded, has active, accelerated erosion. This state occurs where mesquite canopy is heavy (15-25%) and the interaction of drought and continuous grazing has resulted in severe sheet, rill and, in some cases, gully erosion on the site. These areas are usually near historic watering locations and are characterized by soil compaction due to trailing and heavy livestock traffic.
Community 4.1
Mesquite, annuals
This state occurs where mesquite and other shrubs dominate the plant community and native and non-native annuals dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community. Native perennial grasses and forbs have been removed from the plant community. Repeated fires can develop this plant community.
State 5
Mesquite, erosion
Community 5.1
Mesquite, erosion
This state occurs where mesquite canopy ranges from 15-25% and severe sheet, rill and, in some cases, gully erosion has occurred. This state usually occurs near historic water locations and is characterized by soil compaction due to trailing and heavy livestock traffic.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 3
yearlong, heavy livestock grazing without native grass management
Transition T2A
State 2 to 4
yearlong, heavy livestock grazing
Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 1
None known
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2
prescribed grazing, non-native seed introduction, brush management
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
yearlong, heavy livestock grazing without native grass management
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2
brush management, mechanical land treatment, seeding, prescribed grazing
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant Perennial Grasses | 112–336 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 28–140 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 28–112 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 1–56 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 1–28 | – | ||
| 2 | Miscellaneous Perennial Grasses | 17–84 | ||||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 0–28 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 1–22 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 1–17 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 1–17 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 1–17 | – | ||
| mesa dropseed | SPFL2 | Sporobolus flexuosus | 0–11 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–11 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 1–11 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–11 | – | ||
| sand muhly | MUAR2 | Muhlenbergia arenicola | 0–11 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–6 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–6 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–6 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–6 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–6 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–6 | – | ||
| false Rhodes grass | TRCR9 | Trichloris crinita | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 22–146 | ||||
| Santa Rita threeawn | ARCAG | Aristida californica var. glabrata | 6–56 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 6–56 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 1–28 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–28 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 1–28 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–6 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–6 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–6 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 17–168 | ||||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–56 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 6–56 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 6–56 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–28 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–22 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 1–22 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 1–22 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–17 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–17 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–11 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–6 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–6 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–6 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–6 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–6 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–6 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 2–22 | ||||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 1–6 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–6 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 1–6 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–6 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–6 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 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 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 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 | 6–168 | ||||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–28 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–28 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–28 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–22 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–22 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–22 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–22 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–22 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–17 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–17 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–17 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–17 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–17 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–11 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–11 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–11 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–11 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–11 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–11 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–6 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–6 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–6 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–6 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–6 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–6 | – | ||
| ivyleaf morning-glory | IPHE | Ipomoea hederacea | 0–6 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–6 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–6 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–6 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–6 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–6 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–6 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–6 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–2 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–2 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 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 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| Coulter's globemallow | SPCO2 | Sphaeralcea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| common woolly sunflower | ERLA6 | Eriophyllum lanatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 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 | Dominant shrubs | 8–56 | ||||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 6–17 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 1–17 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–11 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 0–11 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–11 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 0–6 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–6 | – | ||
| 8 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 0–11 | ||||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–1 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–1 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–1 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–1 | – | ||
| Gray's feverfew | PACO11 | Parthenium confertum | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Half shrubs | 13–56 | ||||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 11–45 | – | ||
| shortleaf baccharis | BABR | Baccharis brachyphylla | 6–17 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–11 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 1–11 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–11 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 1–11 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–6 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–6 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–1 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 12–34 | ||||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 6–17 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 6–17 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–6 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–2 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–2 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFA | Echinocereus fasciculatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 11 | Dominant trees | 17–112 | ||||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 17–56 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 1–56 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site produces some perennial forage for livestock. It wet (El Nino) winters it 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 birds and their associated predators. It is mainly a foraging area for larger mammals like mule deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
These soils are coarse to medium textured and poor producers of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, wildlife observation, photography, rock hounding and bird watching.
Wood products
Limited mesquite wood for campfires and firewood.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Approval
Curtis Talbot, 4/12/2021
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) | Wilma Renken, Dan Robinett, Larry Humphrey |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | USDA-NRCS Tucson MLRA Soil Survey Office |
| Date | 12/12/2012 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills have formed out of water flow paths in recent past. They are 10-30 feet in length and continuous with flow paths. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow paths occupy 10% of the surface area. Steeper sections have flow paths which are continuous and smaller flow paths are discontinuous and 10-20 feet in length. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are common on all longer lived grasses and sub-shrubs and are from 1-2 inches in height. Terracettes are uncommon on the site except in water flow paths where they occur at 10-20 foot intervals in smaller flow paths. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare soil is 10-80%, gravel ranges from 5-35% and basal cover of live perennial grasses is 1-2%. Bare areas are 3-5’ in diameter and generally connected. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Both fine and coarse litter size-classes are moving moderate distances (10-20 feet) in water flow paths, between vegetation patches, and on areas with increased slope. All litter size-classes are staying in place within vegetation patches and flat areas. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Values from a soil slake test ratings were 2-3s from outside canopy and were 4-6s from under canopy. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A horizon is 7 inches thick with a weak sub-angular blocky structure. Colors are 7.5 YR 5/4 dry and 7.5 YR 3/4 moist. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial grass canopy cover ranges from 3-20%; sub-shrub cover 1-5%; tree cover 5-7%; succulents 1-2%; annuals are highly variable. The patch-distribution of perennial grass cover plays the primary role in slowing sheet flow run-off coming from bare areas and allowing infiltration. As tree cover increases on the site, surface water flow becomes more continuous, therefore, resulting in decreased infiltration. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present, average depth of penetration from an ARS field penetrometer with a 2.2 kg. sliding hammer is 8.5 cm. The argillic horizon could be mistaken for compacted layer. -
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:
Dom.Per.grasses (black grama, bush muhhly) > Per.3-awns > Misc.Per.Grasses = Ann.Grass >>Sub-dominant:
Dom.Trees > Half Shrubs = Succulents = Dom.Shrubs (4-wing saltbush, catclaw) = Forbs >> Misc.Shrubs.Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Plant mortality strongly affected by weather patterns; >20% mortality on perennial grasses and sub-shrubs can occur during short-term drought. Mortality on trees (<10%) is steady. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
From the ESD, litter cover can be from 15-65% on this site. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
217 lbs/ac. in a below average year; 550 lbs/ac. in an average year; 1065 lbs/ac. in an above average year. -
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:
Mesquite (mesquite canopy should be less than 5% on this site). Other invasive species present include both Lehmann and Boer lovegrass. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Moderately impaired by drought on perennial grass and sub-shrub species.
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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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