Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XC334AZ
Limy Upland 12-16" p.z. Gypsum
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.3 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Semidesert Grasslands
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. 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.
Ecological site concept
Limy Upland, Gypsum, ecological site is found on an upland landscape position, generally on pediments or fan piedmonts. All moisture for the plant community is received from precipitation. Terrain is gently sloping. Soils are shallow to a root-restricting layer (often a petrocalcic pan aka caliche). Soils are calcareous with gypsum present. Gyspum (calcium sulfate) is highly soluble making soil extremely vulnerable to accelerated erosion. It can be found either throughout the soil profile or within sub-surface horizons. Representative soil series representative are: Bella, Graveyard, Gulch, Kaboom, Reeup, Vana, and Whitecliff.
Associated sites
| R041XC305AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC308AZ |
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC313AZ |
Loamy Upland 12"-16" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XA105AZ |
Limy Upland 16-20" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XB208AZ |
Limy Upland 8-12" p.z. |
| R040XA111AZ |
Limy Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) larrea tridentata |
| Herbaceous |
(1) muhlenbergia porteri |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on pediments, fan terraces and hill-slopes. Slope aspect is not site differentiating.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Pediment
(2) Fan piedmont (3) Hill |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 975 – 1,524 m |
| Slope | 1 – 40% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area 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, originates 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) | 406 mm |
Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
Soils on this site are variable. They are all calcareous throughout, light colored in the surface and low in organic matter. They formed on mixed gravelly and/or loamy alluvium and conglomerate. Some soils are deep; some soils have cemented lime pans or conglomerate at shallow depths. Soil surfaces are usually well covered with gravels or pan fragments. Plant-soil moisture relationships are poor.
Soil series mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal & Southern Gila counties MU's 57 Kimrose, 77 Kimrose family, 88 Stonghold; SSA-664 San Simon area MU's 11 Cave & Durorthids, 19 & 30 Kimbrough; SSA-665 Willcox area MU's Ca Cave, Ka Karro, KbE Kimbrough, KhE Kimbrough variant; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 6 Blakeney family, 6 & 56 Luckyhills, 11 Andrada, 33 Courthouse & Perilla, 55 Gulch and 64 Pedregosa; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU's Ca calciorthids, Cn Cave GrSL, KbC Kimbrough; SSA-669 Pima county Eastern part MU 65 Kimrose family; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 7 Bella FSL, 8 Blakeney & Luckyhills, 18 Andrada, 21 Buntline CL, 76 Graveyard, Grizzle CoSL, 89 Kaboom & Reeup, 91 Zapalote, 97 Gulch, 98 Luckyhills SL, 99 Luckyhills & Mcneal, 104 Major FSL, Mcneal GrSL, 110 Mcneal Grsl saline-sodic, 113 Buntline, 118 Pedregosa GrVFSL, 119 Pedregosa & Tombstone, 135 Surge, 136 Mule & Southerland, 142 Tombstone GrVFSL, 149 Vana FSL and 150 Vana; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham Nation MU 7 Kimrose.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
|---|---|
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately rapid to moderate |
| Soil depth | 25 – 152 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5 – 45% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 0 – 8% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
1.78 – 10.67 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
10 – 45% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 8 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
7.9 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5 – 45% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 8% |
Ecological dynamics
Desert Shrub-Grassland State: Reference plant community aspect is shrubland. Shrubs (creosote, white-thorn acacia, and tarbush) and subshrubs (ratany and mariola) dominate the plant community. The herbaceous understory is mostly perennial grasses (three-awns, black grama, bush muhly). A diverse mixture of succulents, perennial forbs and annuals are also well represented. Natural fires limit shrub dominance by periodically top-killing them. Shrub canopy returns to dominate the community within a ten years of fire. Unmanaged grazing will restrict perennial grasses to the protection of shrub canopy.
Grassland State: Chemical brush management will remove shrubs and succulents from plant community; non-native perennial mid-grasses (Lehmann lovegrass) will assume dominance. Native perennial grasses may remain within community but will be rapidly grazed out if not managed.
Eroded State: Plant community is absent due to adverse changes in soil hydrology (limited infiltration, excessive run-off). Soil disturbance will trigger unstoppable erosion. Mechanical soil disturbances can include brush management, mechanical land treatments (ie, ripping), cultivation, road cuts, construction, heavy use zone by cattle (ie, supplement or water trough site), trenching, recreational vehicle use.
State and transition model
Figure 3. State and Transition, Limy Upland 12-16" 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 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Figure 4. Limy Upland 12-16" pz. HCPC
The potential plant community on this site is a diverse mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs and perennial grasses and forbs. Most of the major perennial grasses on the site are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Black grama occurs in patches which are small in size and appear to be well dispersed over large areas of the site. The aspect is shrub-land. Cryptogam cover (moss, lichen) can be considerable in the plant community, but diminishes as the surface cover of gravel increases. With continuous heavy grazing, the palatable perennial grasses and forbs are replaced by increases in the large woody perennials (creosote bush, white thorn, and tar bush). Natural fire may have been important in maintaining a balance between herbaceous and woody species on the site, but fire free intervals were much greater than those of more productive sites, due to the length of time needed for fuels to accumulate. Also, fuel continuity is poor in areas of this site due to slope and aspect. In addition, the major perennial grasses; bush muhly and black grama, have shrub-like characteristics (perennial culms and branching), and accumulate much old dead material and may take several years to recover to pre-fire conditions. North aspects have more perennial grass than south aspects. Shrubs will resume dominance within ten years after fire.
Figure 5. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrub/Vine | 252 | 420 | 549 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 78 | 196 | 336 |
| Forb | 12 | 34 | 179 |
| Tree | – | – | 11 |
| Total | 342 | 650 | 1075 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 2-3% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-3% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 1-25% |
| Litter | 10-20% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-45% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-8% |
| Bedrock | 0-1% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 15-55% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (m) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.15 | – | 0-5% | 0-3% | 0-1% |
| >0.15 <= 0.3 | – | 1-5% | 1-5% | 1-5% |
| >0.3 <= 0.6 | – | 5-10% | 5-15% | 0-5% |
| >0.6 <= 1.4 | – | 10-30% | 0-5% | – |
| >1.4 <= 4 | 0-1% | 1-10% | – | – |
| >4 <= 12 | – | – | – | – |
| >12 <= 24 | – | – | – | – |
| >24 <= 37 | – | – | – | – |
| >37 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4133, 41.3 12-16" p.z. limy upland and limy fan sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer, most growth occurs during the summer rainy season..
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
State 2
Perennial grass, root-plowed
Community 2.1
Perennial grass, root-plowed
This state occurs where the site has been root-plowed and seeded to Lehmann, Boer lovegrass or native species like sideoats grama. On some soils, root-plowing can breakup subsurface cemented pans and increase rooting depth. This treatment will usually results in grass dominance for 10 to 15 years with proper grazing or no grazing. With continuous grazing shrubs will resume dominance within 5 or 6 years. In nearly all cases the large shrubs will resume dominance but some species of native perennial herbs and half shrubs will be lost and non-native species can invade the site.
State 3
Native perennial grass, herbicide
Community 3.1
Native perennial grass, herbicide
This state occurs where the site has been treated with a herbicide to kill creosote, tarbush and whitethorn. Native perennial grasses will become dominant with proper grazing or no grazing and persist for 10 to 15 years. With continuous grazing shrubs will resume dominance in 5 to 6 years. In most cases the herbicides will remove native half shrubs and perennial forbs from the plant community. The large shrubs will reinvade from seed and quickly resume dominance of the plant community. The treatment may allow invasion of non-native species if a seed source is present.
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 suffrutescent grasses | 34–135 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 22–112 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 11–90 | – | ||
| 2 | Dominant short grasses | 11–56 | ||||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 11–34 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 11–34 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–22 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 1–11 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–11 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–11 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 22–56 | ||||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 11–45 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 1–17 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–11 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–11 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–11 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–6 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–6 | – | ||
| Havard's threeawn | ARHA3 | Aristida havardii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Wooton's threeawn | ARPA9 | Aristida pansa | 0–6 | – | ||
| 4 | Miscellaneous perennial grasses | 6–34 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–17 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–11 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–11 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–11 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–6 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 0–6 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–6 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–6 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 0–6 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–6 | – | ||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 0–6 | – | ||
| southwestern needlegrass | ACEM4 | Achnatherum eminens | 0–6 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–6 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–2 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 5 | Annual grasses | 6–56 | ||||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–22 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–22 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–22 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–22 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–11 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–11 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–11 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–11 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–6 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–6 | – | ||
| prairie false oat | TRIN5 | Trisetum interruptum | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–6 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–6 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–6 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–6 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–2 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–2 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | Perennial Forbs | 11–67 | ||||
| leatherweed | CRPOP | Croton pottsii var. pottsii | 6–22 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 6–22 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 6–22 | – | ||
| clammy groundcherry | PHHE5 | Physalis heterophylla | 1–17 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–11 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–11 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–11 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 1–11 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 6–11 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–11 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–6 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 0–6 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–6 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 0–6 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–2 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–2 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–2 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–2 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–2 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading snakeherb | DYSCD | Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Palmer's Indian mallow | ABPA | Abutilon palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–1 | – | ||
| copper zephyrlily | ZELO | Zephyranthes longifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| 7 | Annual forbs | 1–112 | ||||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–34 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–34 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–22 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–22 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 1–22 | – | ||
| staggerweed | STAR | Stachys arvensis | 0–22 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCAA | Streptanthus carinatus ssp. arizonicus | 0–22 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–22 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–17 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–11 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 1–11 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–11 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–11 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–11 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–11 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–11 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–11 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–11 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–11 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–11 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–11 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 0–6 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–6 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–6 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–6 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–6 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–6 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–6 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–6 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–6 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–6 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| plains flax | LIPU4 | Linum puberulum | 0–2 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–2 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| manystem woolly sunflower | ERMU6 | Eriophyllum multicaule | 0–2 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–2 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–2 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 0–2 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona blanketflower | GAAR2 | Gaillardia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | Dominant shrubs | 168–336 | ||||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOC | Acacia constricta var. constricta | 22–224 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 11–224 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATRT | Larrea tridentata var. tridentata | 45–224 | – | ||
| viscid acacia | ACNE4 | Acacia neovernicosa | 0–112 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–112 | – | ||
| 9 | Dominant half shrubs | 56–112 | ||||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 22–67 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 11–56 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 11–56 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–39 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICAC | Tiquilia canescens var. canescens | 0–34 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–34 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 0–34 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 6–28 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–17 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 1–11 | – | ||
| 10 | Sub dominant large shrubs | 22–67 | ||||
| Rio Grande saddlebush | MOSC | Mortonia scabrella | 0–22 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 6–22 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–17 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–17 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 1–11 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–11 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–11 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–11 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–11 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 1–11 | – | ||
| Wislizenus' senna | SEWI3 | Senna wislizeni | 0–11 | – | ||
| 11 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 6–34 | ||||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–11 | – | ||
| devil's cholla | GRKU | Grusonia kunzei | 0–11 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–11 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMAM | Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra | 0–6 | – | ||
| Santa Rita pricklypear | OPSA | Opuntia santa-rita | 0–6 | – | ||
| desert-thorn | LYCIU | Lycium | 0–6 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–6 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–6 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–6 | – | ||
| desertbroom | BASA2 | Baccharis sarothroides | 0–6 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–6 | – | ||
| javelina bush | COER5 | Condalia ericoides | 0–6 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–6 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–6 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–6 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Utah fendlerbush | FEUTC | Fendlerella utahensis var. cymosa | 0–6 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–6 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFA | Echinocereus fasciculatus | 0–6 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–6 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–6 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSPS2 | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus var. sphaerocephalus | 0–6 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–6 | – | ||
| Kearney's sumac | RHKE | Rhus kearneyi | 0–6 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–6 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–6 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| nightblooming cereus | PEGR3 | Peniocereus greggii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–2 | – | ||
| redspine fishhook cactus | ECER2 | Echinomastus erectocentrus | 0–2 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–2 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–2 | – | ||
| little nipple cactus | MAHE2 | Mammillaria heyderi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Scheer's beehive cactus | COROS | Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Bisbee spinystar | ESVIB | Escobaria vivipara var. bisbeeana | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 0–11 | ||||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–11 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–11 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–6 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Droughty and calcareous soils make for a short green season for warm season forage species. High soil pH may make essential nutrients less available for plant growth. Bush muhly and black grama retain perennial culms and form clumps or thatch which contains green through the winter. These species plus several shrubby browse species make the site suitable for use in the cool season. Except for the brief green period in the summer rainy season, the forage quality will be lacking for cows with calves. Areas of this site in complex with non-calcareous sites will not receive any appreciable grazing use until the areas of other sites are overused. In these cases, fences and grazing systems are needed to adequately manage such areas.
This site produces little in the way of wildlife forage. It is mainly home to small herbivores and a foraging area to other species which live on associated bottom sites. Water developments are very important to wildlife on the site.
Hydrological functions
These soils are coarse textured, but may have lime cemented layers at shallow depths which limit infiltration.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, photography, camping, hiking and bird-watching.
Wood products
none
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 9 in excellent condition, 11 in good condition and 7 in fair condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Pima County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T17S R17E S11 |
| General legal description | Empirita Ranch |
| Location 2: Pinal County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T8S R18E S20 |
| General legal description | Campstool Ranch |
| Location 3: Cochise County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T19S R22E S29 |
| General legal description | Tombstone - Fairbanks Highway ROW |
| Location 4: Cochise County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T17S R22E S17 |
| General legal description | Fourr Ranch |
Contributors
Wilma J Renken
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) | Dave Womack, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carillo |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | NRCS Tucson Area Office |
| Date | 03/04/2005 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Flow paths common at least 10% of the area; 30-40 feet long, discontinuous. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals common on all shrubs. Terracettes uncommon -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-50% -
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):
Herbaceous litter in vicinity of flow paths moves in flow paths. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Expect balues 1-3 in bare areas and 4-6 in grass and shrub canopies. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak granular; color is 7.5YR4/4 dry, 7.5YR3/3 moist; thickness to 11 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Canopy 15-25%, basal 5-10%, litter 5-20%,; 50-60% of canopy cover is shrubs, 10-20% is subshrubs, 10-20% is perennial grasses. Cover is well dispersed throughout the site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None -
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:
large shrubs > perennial grasses > subshrubs > perennial forbs > annually grasses & forbs > succulentsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
75-80% mortality of desert zinnia. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
350 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation; 600 lbs/ac normal precipitation; 900 lbs/ac 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:
Lehmann lovegrass, creosote, whitethorn, mesquite, prickly pear, burroweed, wait-a-bit. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected due to regional prolonged drought.
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.