Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XC305AZ
Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
Last updated: 4/12/2021
Accessed: 04/25/2024
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 41-3, Southern Arizona Semidesert Grassland. Elevations range from 3200 to 5000 feet and precipitation ranges from 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, catclaw acacia, netleaf hackberry, palo verde, false mesquite, range ratany, fourwing saltbush, tarbush, littleleaf sumac, sideoats grama, black grama, plains lovegrass, cane beardgrass, tobosa, vine mesquite, threeawns, Arizona cottontop and bush muhly. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic 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 Clay Loam Upland, 12"-16" 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
Clay Loam Upland, 16”-20” p.z., ecological site is found on gently sloping uplands with deep soils. An argillic or clay cambic horizon is below a clay loam textured surface soil. Soil does not exhibit shrink-swell characteristics typical of vertic soils.
Associated sites
| R041XC304AZ |
Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC313AZ |
Loamy Upland 12"-16" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XB204AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA120AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
| R041XA109AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) calliandra eriophylla |
| Herbaceous |
(1) pleuraphis mutica |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on old fan terraces and old stream terraces. It is always in an upland position.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Fan piedmont
(2) Stream terrace (3) Plain |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 3,200 – 5,000 ft |
| Slope | 1 – 15% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this land resource unit ranges from 12-16 inches yearly in the eastern part with elevations from 3600-5000 feet, and 13-17 inches in the western part where elevations are 3300-4500 feet. Winter-Summer rainfall ratios are 40-60% in the west and 30-70% in the east. Summer rains fall July-September, originate in the Gulf of Mexico and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originate in the Pacific and Gulf of California, and falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow rarely lasts more than one day. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild. Freezing temperatures are common at night from December-April; however temperatures during the day are frequently above 50 F. Occasionally in December-February, brief 0 F temperatures may be experienced some nights. During June, July and August, some days may exceed 100 F.
Cool season plants start growth in early spring and mature in early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious July-September. Warm season grasses may remain green throughout the year.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 220 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These are deep soils that have formed in clayey alluvium of mixed origin. Surface textures range from gravelly sandy-loam (less than one inch thick over an argillic horizon) to clay loam. Sub-soils are clayey, with mixed minerology, and lack vertic properties (soil cracking and churning). They are not calcareous in the upper 15 inches. They can have calcic horizons at moderate depths (20 to 40 inches). Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair to good. Soil surfaces are dark colored.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal & Southern Gila counties MU 91 Saddlebrook; SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU 37 Selevin; SSA-664 San Simon area MU's 19 Forrest & Whitehouse, 37 Signal, 45 Whitehouse; SSA-665 Willcox area MU's FrA & FrB Forrest, TwA Tubac; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 39 Eloma & 79 Elgin; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU's BhD Bernadino, EbC Eba GrVSL, SnD Signal; SSA-669 Pima county Eastern part MU 4 Arivaca; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 6 Banshee, 13 Forrest, 57 Elgin, 59 Eloma SL, 60 Eloma and 97 Libby; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham Nation MU 7 Selevin.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Very gravelly clay loam (2) Clay loam (3) Gravelly sandy loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate to slow |
| Soil depth | 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5 – 45% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
4.8 – 9.6 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
1 – 25% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.6 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5 – 45% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Ecological dynamics
Clay Loam Upland, 12"-16" p.z., is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. Most of the major perennial grass species on the site are well dispersed throughout their plant community. However, tobosa, vine mesquite, and curly mesquite tend to occur in patches on this site. These patches appear to be well dispersed and are variable in size. Perennial forbs are well represented on the site, as well as a few species of low shrubs. Natural fire was important in the development of the potential plant community. The aspect is open grassland.
Four alternate states are identified for this ecological site. State 2, Mesqute, Natives, comes about from years of yearlong livestock grazing at light-moderate intensity; livestock preferences for certain perennial grasses over others impact preferred species and removal of fine fuel extends natural fire intervals. State 3, Mesquite, Annuals, arises from years of high intensity livestock grazing; perennial native grasses are removed from plant community. State 4, Dense Mesquite, comes about from intense livestock grazing coupled with drought. State 5, Cultivated Non-Natives, is a restoration state following a combination of conservation practices; this state must be maintained with prescribed grazing and periodic brush management. Heavy livestock grazing will remove the seeded species and return the project area to State 3 or State 4.
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 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native Mid-Grassland
Community 1.1
Historical Climax Plant Community
The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including the historic climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic climax plant community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper management. The potential plant community on the site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. Most of the major perennial grass species on the site are well dispersed throughout their plant community. However, tobosa, vine mesquite, and curly mesquite tend to occur in patches on this site. These patches appear to be well dispersed and are variable in size. Perennial forbs are well represented on the site, as well as a few species of low shrubs. The aspect is open grassland.
Figure 4. 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 | 460 | 750 | 1050 |
| Forb | 32 | 50 | 220 |
| Shrub/Vine | 10 | 60 | 140 |
| Tree | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Total | 502 | 865 | 1425 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 6-25% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 1-10% |
| Litter | 10-60% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-45% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-5% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 15-25% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-5% | 10-30% | 0-5% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 1-5% | 10-20% | 0-2% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 0-3% | 10-20% | 0-2% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 0-1% | 1-5% | – |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-1% | – | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4134, 41.3 12-16" p.z. other sites. Growth begins in the spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the May through June drought, most growth occurs during the summer rains..
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 35 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Shrub-Grass
Community 1.3
Annuals-Grass
Pathway P1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
drought
Pathway P1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3
fire
Pathway P2.1a
Community 1.2 to 1.1
above average rain period
Pathway P1.2b
Community 1.2 to 1.3
fire
Pathway P1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.1
average rainfall, wet summers
Pathway P1.3b
Community 1.3 to 1.2
average rainfall, wet winters
State 2
Mesquite, native grass
With continuous grazing, palatable perennial grasses like plains lovegrass, blue, black and sideoats grama decrease and species like tobosa and curly mesquite increase. Severe drought can reduce short grasses to very low levels. Drought - fire combinations can reduce perennial grass cover and allow annual herbs to become dominant for a short time (2-4 years) until grasses can recover. Due to heavy surface soil textures, this site can be a inefficient user of intense summer rainfall when the perennial grass cover has been removed or greatly reduced. Mesquite, when present on the site, tends to be shrubby due to the presence of clay horizons at shallow depths.
Community 2.1
Mesquite, native grass
Figure 6. Clayloam Upland 12-16" pz. mesquite, tobosa
Mesquite increases in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Native perennial grasses maintain dominance with good grazing management, and with mesquite canopy levels from 2 to 10%. Tobosa, curly mesquite and blue grama are dominant and the site remains stable as long as basal cover does not drop below 7 or 8%. Snakeweed and burroweed cycle with climate but never gain dominance. Lehmann lovegrass can invade the site in this state, but is not well adapted to the heavy soil textures and will not dominate the under-story. It will seldom exceed 5 to 15% canopy levels and will die during severe drought on this site. Some soil compaction has occurred due to livestock traffic, but hydrologic processes are not impaired.
State 3
Mesquite, annual grasses and forbs
Community 3.1
Mesquite, annual grasses and forbs
Figure 7. Clayloam Upland 12-16" pz. mesquite, shrubs, annua
Mesquite and other large shrubs have increased and are dominant with canopies from 10 to 15%. Native and non-native annual grasses and forbs, cool and warm season, dominate the under-story. Snakeweed and burroweed cycle with climate but remain co-dominant with annual species. Native perennial grasses are largely gone due to the interactions of drought, fire and continuous heavy grazing pressure. Tobosa may remain in remnant amounts but cover is very low and not well enough dispersed to recover. Usually soil compaction, from livestock traffic, and the loss of herbaceous cover has resulted in sheet and rill erosion on this site. Hydrologic relationships have changed to increase the ratio of runoff to infiltration.
State 4
Dense mesquite, cacti and other shrubs
Community 4.1
Dense mesquite, cacti and other shrubs
Mesquite continues to increase up to canopy levels of 25%. Other shrubs and succulents, especially prickly pear, dominate the under-story. Soil compaction, due to heavy livestock traffic, and loss of herbaceous cover has resulted in sheet, rill and gully erosion. Hydrologic relationships have changed to greatly increase the ratio of runoff to infiltration. In severe situations, cool season moisture is able to infiltrate the soil and the plant community is made up of mostly cool season plant species and cacti.
State 5
Cultivated, non-native perennial grasses
Community 5.1
Cultivated, non-native perennial grasses
This is a man made pasture of various introduced grasses including old world bluestems like, yellow, turkistan and King Ranch; and African lovegrasses like, Boer, Lehmann, Wilman and Cochise. It can be created from any of the mesquite states. Mesquite and other shrubs are bulldozed; brush is placed in rills and gullies, and non-native grasses are seeded. Root plowed areas are rough enough to eliminate most runoff for long periods of time (15 to 20 years) depending on grazing management. The African lovegrasses will not persist for long periods of time on this site and will die out in drought. The yellow bluestems appear to be more persistent on the site. Mesquite will reinvade areas of this state and will need maintenance treatments (every 10 to 15 years)of herbicides or mechanical methods to maintain a grassland aspect.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
seed introduction/proximity
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
yearlong, heavy grazing
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
brush management, prescribed grazing
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
yearlong heavy grazing coupled with drought or burning
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4
yearlong heavy grazing with drought or fire
Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 1
none known; see R3A
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
yearlong heavy grazing
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 5
non-native seed introduction, brush management, prescribed grazing
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 5
brush management, mechanical land treatment, seeding, prescribed grazing
Transition T5A
State 5 to 3
yearlong heavy grazing, mortality of seeded species, absence of brush management maintenance
Transition T5B
State 5 to 4
yearlong, heavy grazing with drought
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | mid grasses | 350–500 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 180–280 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 140–210 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 20–150 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 10–100 | – | ||
| 2 | short grasses | 70–200 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 20–150 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 20–100 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 10–100 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 20–75 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–50 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–50 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 0–25 | – | ||
| 3 | miscellaneous perennial grasses | 10–100 | ||||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 0–50 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 1–35 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–30 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–30 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–30 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–30 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–25 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–25 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 0–25 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 1–25 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–20 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–20 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–20 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–15 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| creeping muhly | MURE | Muhlenbergia repens | 0–10 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 0–10 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 0–5 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–5 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | perennial threeawns | 16–100 | ||||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 5–35 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 5–35 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 5–35 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 1–25 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–25 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–15 | – | ||
| Havard's threeawn | ARHA3 | Aristida havardii | 0–15 | – | ||
| Wooton's threeawn | ARPA9 | Aristida pansa | 0–15 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–10 | – | ||
| 5 | annual grasses | 17–150 | ||||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 0–35 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 1–35 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–35 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 5–35 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 5–35 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 1–35 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 1–35 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–35 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–25 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 1–25 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–15 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPE | Eragrostis pectinacea | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–15 | – | ||
| sticky sprangletop | LEVI5 | Leptochloa viscida | 0–15 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–15 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–15 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 1–15 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–10 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–10 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | perennial Forbs | 15–70 | ||||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 5–20 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 0–15 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–15 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–15 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–15 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–15 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–15 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 1–15 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 1–15 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 1–10 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–10 | – | ||
| spreading snakeherb | DYSCD | Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens | 1–10 | – | ||
| tufted evening primrose | OECA10 | Oenothera caespitosa | 1–10 | – | ||
| slimleaf bean | PHAN3 | Phaseolus angustissimus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Wright's cudweed | PSCAC2 | Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 1–10 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILU | Vicia ludoviciana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–5 | – | ||
| Greene's bird's-foot trefoil | LOGR4 | Lotus greenei | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–5 | – | ||
| lyreleaf greeneyes | BELY | Berlandiera lyrata | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–5 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 0–5 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–5 | – | ||
| small matweed | GUDE | Guilleminea densa | 1–5 | – | ||
| Arizona snakecotton | FRAR2 | Froelichia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–5 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–5 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–5 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–3 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–2 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–2 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy fournwort | TENE | Tetramerium nervosum | 0–2 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 0–2 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–2 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–2 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–2 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| Watson's dutchman's pipe | ARWA | Aristolochia watsonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–2 | – | ||
| rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 0–2 | – | ||
| Trans-Pecos thimblehead | HYWI | Hymenothrix wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
| Wright's thimblehead | HYWR | Hymenothrix wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| jewels of Opar | TAPA2 | Talinum paniculatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's wrinklefruit | TECO | Tetraclea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| copper zephyrlily | ZELO | Zephyranthes longifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| false springparsley | PSEUD4 | Pseudocymopterus | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Pedro daisy | LAPO4 | Lasianthaea podocephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf stoneseed | LIIN2 | Lithospermum incisum | 0–1 | – | ||
| 7 | annual forbs | 17–150 | ||||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 1–50 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 1–35 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–35 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 1–35 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 1–35 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 1–35 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 1–35 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 1–35 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–35 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 7–35 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 7–35 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 7–35 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 7–35 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 7–35 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 7–35 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 7–35 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 7–35 | – | ||
| creeping muhly | MURE | Muhlenbergia repens | 7–35 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 7–35 | – | ||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 7–35 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 7–35 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 7–35 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 7–35 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 7–35 | – | ||
| Texas fluffgrass | TRTE2 | Tridens texanus | 7–35 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 1–25 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 1–25 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–25 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–25 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 1–25 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 1–15 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–15 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–15 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–15 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–15 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–15 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–15 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–15 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–15 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–15 | – | ||
| curlytop gumweed | GRNUA | Grindelia nuda var. aphanactis | 0–15 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–15 | – | ||
| manystem woolly sunflower | ERMU6 | Eriophyllum multicaule | 0–15 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 1–15 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 1–15 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–15 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–15 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–15 | – | ||
| miner's lettuce | CLPEP | Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata | 0–10 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–5 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–5 | – | ||
| fivewing spiderling | BOIN | Boerhavia intermedia | 0–5 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–5 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| aster | ASTER | Aster | 0–5 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 1–5 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 1–5 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–5 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–5 | – | ||
| phlox | PHLOX | Phlox | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–5 | – | ||
| hollowleaf annual lupine | LUSU3 | Lupinus succulentus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Thurber's morning-glory | IPTH | Ipomoea thurberi | 0–5 | – | ||
| plains flax | LIPU4 | Linum puberulum | 0–5 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–5 | – | ||
| oneseed bur cucumber | SIAN | Sicyos angulatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| golden crownbeard | VEEN | Verbesina encelioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona blanketflower | GAAR2 | Gaillardia arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| sacred thorn-apple | DAWR2 | Datura wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | dominant half shrubs | 5–55 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 5–35 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–15 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–5 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| 9 | succulent shrubs | 2–35 | ||||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–10 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMAM | Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra | 0–10 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–10 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 1–10 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–10 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–10 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–10 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona pencil cholla | CYAR14 | Cylindropuntia arbuscula | 0–5 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–5 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–5 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–5 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| Santa Rita pricklypear | OPSA | Opuntia santa-rita | 0–5 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–2 | – | ||
| beehive cactus | CORYP | Coryphantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| hedgehog cactus | ECHIN3 | Echinocereus | 0–2 | – | ||
| rainbow cactus | ECPEP | Echinocereus pectinatus var. pectinatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| little nipple cactus | MAHE2 | Mammillaria heyderi | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | increaser half shrubs | 2–25 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–20 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 1–20 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–10 | – | ||
| 11 | miscellaneous shrubs | 0–25 | ||||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–10 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–10 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–10 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 0–10 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–5 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–5 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–5 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–5 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–2 | – | ||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–2 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert-thorn | LYCIU | Lycium | 0–1 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | trees | 0–15 | ||||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–10 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–5 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–5 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing at any season by all classes of cattle. Clayey soils release moisture to plants slowly making for a long summer green season. Care must be taken to avoid overuse of palatable perennial grasses in attempts to utilize tobosa grass on the site. Areas of this site are often associated with large areas of Clayey Upland ecological site, dominated by tobosa grass. In these situations, livestock concentrate on areas of this site before using tobosa areas. Fencing and grazing systems are needed to adequately manage the plant community which consists of nearly equal amounts of palatable perennial grasses and the very unpalatable, tobosa grass. Dark colored soils with good organic matter and quantities of exchangeable bases produce good quality herbaceous forage. Protein will be deficient in the winter on this site.
Water developments are very important to wildlife species on this site. Being open grassland, this site is home to a variety of small herbivores, birds, and their associated predators. With the exception of antelope, larger wildlife species use this site mainly as a foraging area.
Hydrological functions
Heavy soil textures at the surface reduce the infiltration of high intensity, summer rainfall. The site is very sensitive to loss of perennial grass cover and runoff greatly increases under these circumstances. These soils can compact easily when moist and further reduce the effectiveness of warm season moisture in penetrating the soil.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, photography and bird-watching.
Wood products
Mesquite remains shrubby on this site due to clayey soil textures at the surface. Mesquite offers little more than fuel wood for campfires or branding fires and nothing big enough for posts or stays.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 3 in excellent condition, 8 in good condition and 8 in fair condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Cochise County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T23S R27E S4 |
| General legal description | Douglas International Airport |
| Location 2: Cochise County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T13S R22E S33 |
| General legal description | Warbonnet Ranch |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Steve Barker
Unknown
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, Dave Womack, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carrillo |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | USDA-NRCS Tucson MLRA Soil Survey Office |
| Date | 07/22/2013 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None present on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Uncommon; probably cover no more than 2-5% of area; discontinuous, 2-20 feet in length. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Accumulated pedestals are 1 inch tall and are common on perennial grass plants. The presence of terracettes depends on slope; terrecettes are very uncommon on low slopes (1-2%) and become common, with heights between 1-2 inches, as slopes increase (3-6%). -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Estimated from 200 points at 55%. This site is characterized by perennial grass patches alternating with bare areas 10-20 feet in diameter. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None present on this site. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None present on this site. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
All litter size classes staying in place. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
No slake test done; expect values of 1-2 in bare ground areas and 4-6 in canopy areas. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Thin (1/8 inch) rain drop compacted laminar layer, weak granular; Color is 10YR5/4 Dry, 10YR3/4 Moist; A horizon to 2 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Cover estimated from 200 points was: Canopy 9%, Basal 9%, Litter 8%, and Gravel 18%; 85% of canopy cover is perennial grasses and 13% is subshrubs and 2% shrubs & succulents. Cover is relatively well dispersed throughout site,with bare patches 10-20 feet wide dispersed throughout site. Bare areas tend to shed water into the grassy areas. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present on this site. Penetrometer tests with weight dropped 5 times at a distance from top of weight to top of impact ring = 2.24 feet were: average = 2.91 inches, s.d = 0.40 inches. Subsurface argillic horizon may be mistaken for compaction. -
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:
Perennial grass >>Sub-dominant:
subshrubs > annual forbs > shrubs > perennial
forbs > succulentsOther:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
20% basal mortality (prior years mortality not well evidenced). -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
600 lbs/acre unfavorable precipitation, 1,000 lbs/acre normal precipitation, 1,500 lbs/acre favorable precipitation. -
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:
Snakeweed, burroweed -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected even following several years of prolonged drought period for region.
Print Options
Sections
Font
Other
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.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.