Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XB216AZ
Clayey Slopes 8-12" p.z.
Last updated: 8/06/2020
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
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
| R041XB203AZ |
Clayey Upland 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XB204AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 8-12" p.z. |
| R041XB207AZ |
Limy Slopes 8-12" p.z. |
| R041XB210AZ |
Loamy Upland 8-12" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XC303AZ |
Clayey Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA103AZ |
Clayey Slopes 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Opuntia phaeacantha |
| 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 ridges, fan terraces and hill-slopes.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Ridge
(2) Fan piedmont (3) Hill |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 792 – 1,219 m |
| Slope | 15 – 45% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
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 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 moderately deep to deep and clayey textured. They are gravelly to very gravelly in the soil profile. They have thin (1-2 inch) surface horizons that range from sandyloam to loam in texture. They lack vertic soil properties. They usually 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: SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU 10 Eba; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 27 & 28 Contention; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU 35 Contention; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU 86 Eba.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Cobbly sandy loam (3) Very gravelly loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to slow |
| Soil depth | 64 – 152 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 20 – 60% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 20% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
10.67 – 19.05 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 10% |
| 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) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
30 – 60% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 10% |
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
Figure 4. State and Transition, Clayey Slopes 8-12" 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
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Figure 5. Clayey Slopes 8-12" pz. soil profile
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. Tobosa is the dominant perennial grass. The cover of some shallow rooted grass species like curly mesquite, fluctuate widely from wet to dry years.
Figure 6. 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 | 146 | 336 | 588 |
| Forb | 7 | 56 | 196 |
| Shrub/Vine | 22 | 95 | 168 |
| Tree | – | – | 6 |
| Total | 175 | 487 | 958 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-2% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-5% |
| Litter | 10-60% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 30-50% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 1-15% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-60% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (m) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.15 | – | 1-5% | 1-20% | 1-20% |
| >0.15 <= 0.3 | – | 2-5% | 5-10% | 1-15% |
| >0.3 <= 0.6 | – | 2-5% | 5-10% | 1-5% |
| >0.6 <= 1.4 | – | 5-15% | 0-2% | 0-2% |
| >1.4 <= 4 | 0-2% | 1-5% | – | – |
| >4 <= 12 | – | – | – | – |
| >12 <= 24 | – | – | – | – |
| >24 <= 37 | – | – | – | – |
| >37 | – | – | – | – |
State 2
Annuals
Community 2.1
Annuals
This state occurs where native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the plant community. Perennial grasses and forbs have been removed due to the interaction of drought, fire and continuous grazing. Repeat fires near residential areas can cause this state. Non-native annual species include red brome, filaree, cheatgrass and purslane.
State 3
Shrubs, tobosa
Community 3.1
Shrubs, tobosa
This state occurs where native shrubs and succulents have increased from 10 to 20% canopy. Dominant shrubs and succulents include catclaw, prickly pear, mesquite, whitethorn and cholla species. tobosa is still present on the site in adequate amounts and curly mesquite still fluctuates with climate.
State 4
Eroded
Community 4.1
Eroded
This state exists where severe sheet, rill and, in some cases, gully erosion has ocurred. It is usually associated with historic water locations and, or road and trail construction across the slope. The state is characterized by soil compaction and concentration of runoff by trailing of livestock or vehicles; or by heavy livestock traffic.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Continuous Heavy Grazing (managing for annuals), burning (to freshen tobosa) plus CHG. Reduction of A Horizon, Organic Matter and litter. Soil is compacted, greatly reducing infiltration and increasing runoff.
Transition T1B
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 tobobsa. Soil ripping, contouring, and/or mulching.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 4
Continuous Heavy grazing, interruption of overland flow, diversion of runoff, roads. Severe soil compaction from traffic (livestock and equipment).
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
Herbicide or mechanical means to remove shrubs. Prescribed Grazing/No Grazing.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
Continuous Heavy Grazing coupled with drought and burning, low grass cover. Reduction of A Horizon, Organic Matter and litter. Soil is compacted with sheet, rill and gully erosion. Persistently reduced infiltration, greatly reduced runoff, and very limited recruitment of perennial grasses.
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2
Mechanical control of rills and gullies. Prescribed Grazing/No Grazing, ripping compacted areas.
Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 3
Mechanical/Herbicide treatment of shrubs, Prescribed Grazing/No Grazing, seeding or planting of tobosa, maintenance treatments for shrubs, sheet, rill and gully erosion control.
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 Grass | 112–224 | ||||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 112–224 | – | ||
| 2 | Miscellaneous Perennial Grasses | 19–140 | ||||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 6–112 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 11–56 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 1–22 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 1–22 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–11 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–11 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–6 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–6 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–6 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–6 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–6 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–6 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–2 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–1 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 11–112 | ||||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 6–28 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–28 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 6–28 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–17 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–17 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–6 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–6 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 1–112 | ||||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–28 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–28 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–28 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–22 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–22 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–22 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–22 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–11 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–11 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–11 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–6 | – | ||
| desert fescue | VUMIM | Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–6 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 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 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 6–28 | ||||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 1–11 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–6 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 1–6 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–6 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 1–6 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–6 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 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 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 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 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 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 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 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 | 1–168 | ||||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–56 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–28 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–22 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–22 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–22 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–22 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–17 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–17 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–17 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–17 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–17 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–17 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–11 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–11 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–11 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–11 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–11 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–11 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–6 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 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 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–6 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–6 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–6 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–6 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–6 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–6 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–6 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–6 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy desertsunflower | GECA2 | Geraea canescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–2 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| tumblemustard | THELY3 | Thelypodiopsis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's globemallow | SPCO2 | Sphaeralcea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| common woolly sunflower | ERLA6 | Eriophyllum lanatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 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 | Dominant shrubs | 11–78 | ||||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–45 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 6–17 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 0–11 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 1–11 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 1–11 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–6 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–6 | – | ||
| 8 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 0–11 | ||||
| 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 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Half shrubs | 6–56 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 1–17 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–17 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–17 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 1–17 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 0–11 | – | ||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 1–6 | – | ||
| shortleaf baccharis | BABR | Baccharis brachyphylla | 1–6 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 6–22 | ||||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–17 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–17 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–6 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–6 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–2 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–2 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFA | Echinocereus fasciculatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–1 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 11 | Occasional tree | 0–6 | ||||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–6 | – | ||
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 a good foraging area for larger mammals like mule deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
These soils are heavy textured and with steep slopes are very good producers of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, wildlife observation, photography, rock hounding and bird watching.
Wood products
Limited mesquite wood for campfires.
Other products
Red clay for pot making. Herbs like wild onions, grass nuts and herbaceous sage.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Approval
Scott Woodall, 8/06/2020
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 | 12/22/2024 |
| Approved by | Scott Woodall |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
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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:
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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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