Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R077EY053TX
Gravelly 16-24" PZ
Last updated: 9/12/2023
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): 077E–Southern High Plains, Breaks
MLRA 77E occurs along moderately sloping breaks and steep escarpments associated with dissecting river systems and erosional margins of the Southern High Plains. Soil temperature regime is thermic and soil moisture regime is ustic bordering on aridic. Loamy and sandy soils are generally well drained, range from shallow to deep, and developed in lower Ogallala Formation sediments.
Classification relationships
This ecological site is correlated to soil components at the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) level which is further described in USDA Ag Handbook 296.
Ecological site concept
This site occurs on very deep gravelly loams and gravelly sandy loam soils on uplands. Up to 35% of the soil surface may be covered with gravels. Additionally, the soil profile may contain up to 40% gravels. The reference vegetation consists of intermixed midgrasses and shortgrasses and forbs with occasional tallgrasses and few shrubs. Grazing activities and fire frequency may affect the plant community composition. However, on these sites, the slope percent and slope aspect may also play a large role in determining the plant community.
Associated sites
| R077EY055TX |
Hardland Slopes 16-24" PZ Nearly level to moderately steep fine-loamy calcareous soils on higher side slope positions. Dominantly shortgrass community with some midgrasses, forbs, and few woody species. |
|---|---|
| R077EY061TX |
Mixedland Slopes 16-24" PZ Very gently to moderately steepl sloping, very deep coarse-loamy soils on adjacent hillslopes. Tallgrasses and midgrasses dominate with forbs, and few shrub species. |
| R077EY063TX |
Sand Hills 16-24" PZ Very sandy soils on adjacent undulating to steep dune topography with a mixture of tall and midgrasses, forbs, and few shrub species and bare ground. |
| R077EY064TX |
Sandy 16-24" PZ Undulating to rolling loamy sand soils on adjacent positions. Dominantly tallgrasses, forbs, and few shrubs. |
| R077EY057TX |
Limy Upland 16-24" PZ Gently sloping to moderately sloping loamy soils with highly calcareous subsoils on higher side slopes. Short and mid-grass dominate and with few tall grasses, perennial and annual forbs, and few woody species present. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
The site occurs on gently sloping to steep hillslopes of gravelly lower Ogallala parent materials along the Canadian and Cimarron Rivers. It also occurs as chains of low hills and steep knobs. This site is classified as upland and occurs where major river systems have incised into the Ogallala formation. These are the Dissected High Plains, where the sloping back cutting erosional surfaces are slowly carving away into the flat High Plains landscapes above.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Hillslope profile |
(1) Backslope |
|---|---|
| Landforms |
(1)
Plains
> Hillslope
(2) Plains > Knob (3) Plains > Low hill |
| Runoff class | Medium to high |
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 2,000 – 4,500 ft |
| Slope | 3 – 30% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)
| Runoff class | Low to high |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 2,000 – 4,500 ft |
| Slope | 3 – 30% |
Climatic features
Climate is a cold semi-arid steppe (Koppen-Geiger classification BSk). Summers are hot and winters are cold. Temperature extremes are common. Humidity is generally low, evaporation is high, and short-term droughts are common. Average annual wind speed is 12 mph with highest winds in early spring. The prevailing wind direction is south. Summertime brings strong high pressure systems that build into heat domes with highs in the upper 90 to mid-100 degree F range. Evaporation in summer is high and open pan evaporation exceeds 6 feet per year. Early autumn temperatures are mild, with Canadian and Pacific cold fronts bringing cold air in mid-autumn throughout winter. Arctic air can settle in and dominate for several weeks during winter with very cold air in place for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
Most of the precipitation comes in the form of rain from May through September. Rainfall events often occur as intense showers of relatively short duration. Snowfall average is about 17 inches but is also variable from 8 to 36 inches annually. Long term droughts are likely to occur every 15 to 20 years and may last 4 to 5 years. Mean precipitation is around 21 inches but varies significantly from year to year. Rainfall amounts over the last 100 years have varied from as little as 9 inches to as much as 37 inches. The probability is about 70% that precipitation will fall between 14 to 24 inches. Growing season averages 190 days. Average first frost is around October 22, and the last freeze of the season occurs around April 15.
Table 4. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 146-164 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 184-194 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 20-24 in |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 144-176 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 180-198 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 19-26 in |
| Frost-free period (average) | 156 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 189 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 22 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) MIAMI [USC00415875], Miami, TX
-
(2) BOYS RANCH [USC00411000], Vega, TX
-
(3) CHANNING 2 [USC00411649], Channing, TX
-
(4) SANFORD DAM [USC00418040], Fritch, TX
-
(5) GATE [USC00343489], Gate, OK
-
(6) FOLLETT [USC00413225], Follett, TX
-
(7) CANADIAN [USC00411412], Canadian, TX
-
(8) GUYMON MUNI AP [USW00003030], Guymon, OK
-
(9) BEAVER [USC00340593], Beaver, OK
-
(10) MEADE [USC00145171], Meade, KS
-
(11) CLARENDON [USW00023072], Clarendon, TX
-
(12) LIPSCOMB [USC00415247], Booker, TX
-
(13) COLDWATER [USC00141704], Coldwater, KS
-
(14) REYDON 2SSE [USC00347579], Reydon, OK
Influencing water features
Moderately steep to steep slopes with rapid runoff. Overland flow from the flatter landscape positions move throughout this site to the major streams below. The site exists as a result of the formation of drainage patterns of major streams. The streams are generally located some distance below this site on the landscape.
Wetland description
Soils in this ecological site are not part of wetland ecosystems.
Soil features
Soils are mapped for each county within the MLRA. Mapunits are representations of the major soil series component(s) and named accordingly. Each Mapunit is spatially represented on a digital soils map as polygons of different shapes and sizes. Within these Mapunits, there are often minor soil series components included. These minor components are soils that occur within a Mapunit polygon but are of small extent (15% or less of the Mapunit area). However, it is difficult to separate these minor soils spatially due to the scale of soil mapping.
Ecological sites are correlated at the component level of the soil survey. Therefore, a single Mapunit may contain multiple Ecological Sites just as it may contain multiple soil components. This is important to understand when investigating soils and Ecological Sites. A soil survey Mapunit may be correlated to a single Ecological Site based on the major component; however, there may be inclusions of areas of additional Ecological Sites which are correlated to the minor components of that particular soil Mapunit.
These soils are loams to fine sandy loams that have quartzite gravel or cobbles through the profile. Soil formation is limited due to slope and geologic erosion. The exposed sediments are of lower Ogallala geology. Approximately 50% of the soil surface is covered with quartzite gravel. Soils are deep and underlain by gravelly and/or sandy material. This site occurs as series of hills or ridges and occasionally as alluvial fans in the Ogallala formation. Slopes range from 3 to 30% but most commonly have 5 to 15 % slope. The gravel ranges from pea size to 3 inches in diameter and some cobble size fragments are also present. This site is low in fertility, moderate in permeability and low in water holding capacity. Productive capacity is generally low, but diversity is good due to the variations in slope and exposure.
Representative soil components for this site include: Tascosa. Some older surveys include the Schamber series.
Table 5. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly, very gravelly loam (2) Gravelly, very gravelly sandy loam (3) Gravelly, very gravelly fine sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy-skeletal (2) Sandy-skeletal |
| Drainage class | Well drained to excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate |
| Soil depth | 40 – 80 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 40 – 50% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 3 – 10% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
0.9 – 4.3 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
5 – 60% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.1 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-40in) |
35 – 47% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-40in) |
1 – 15% |
Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community is a mixture of short, mid and tallgrasses with forbs and a few shrubs. The most significant grasses are sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), and sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus). Other species include black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda), fall witchgrass (Digitaria cognata), slim tridens (Tridens muticus), and tallgrasses such as Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) and sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii) in the most favorable exposures. Dominant forbs are primrose (Oenothera spp.), halfshrub sundrop (Calylophus serulatus), trailing ratany (Krameria lanceolata), buckwheat species (Eriogonum spp.), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), aster species (Chaetopappa ericoides), penstemons (Penstemon spp.), catclaw sensitivebriar (Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera), and annuals. Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) is the main half-shrub present. The shrubs include feather dalea (Dalea formosa), skunkbush sumac (Rhus aromatica), and soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca). Occasionally one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) will be scattered throughout the site.
The south and southwest exposures have lower production and the species present are more drought tolerant. Basal density of plants is lower on these exposures due to the shallow and gravelly soils. The northeast and east exposures have more mesic conditions and the plant community is more productive. The presence of gravel in the profile influences plant available water.
On this site, slope affects livestock accessibility and low fertility affects the palatibility of the plants. Therefore, livestock grazing has less effect on the plant community. Aspect and percent slope is the primary influencing factors on the plant community. Since this site is not normally heavily grazed, the overall ecological condition tends to be unaffected by animal use.
Hydrologically speaking, this site produces a considerable amount of runoff which finds its way to numerous small and medium sized drainages. If plant cover is a healthy grassland community, the runoff is slowed and the water quality of runoff is improved. Poor cover with significant bare soil promotes runoff and infiltration.
This is not a particularly diverse site as far as habitat for wildlife is concerned. However, grassland birds, pronghorn and mule deer inhabit the site. Mule deer frequent this site more than the other species of wildlife due to the large amounts of available forbs. Woody cover is not sufficient to provide cover on this site. Quail are found in and around this site as they need no more brush cover than actually occurs on site.
Fire played a role in the historic ecology of the site as is true for practically all of the high plains sites. The general effects of fire were to promote grasslands and suppress woody shrubs. However, the rocky soils and steep terrain of this site have much more influence on the plant community than does any external influence. The sparse vegetation and lower production probably affected fire continuity, and the lack of heat generated by natural fire may have limited the degree of damage to woody plants. In general, when burned periodically, tallgrasses tend to benefit and shrubs are suppressed for a few years. Non-sprouting juniper species are especially suppressed by fire. Some of the steeper slopes and canyon walls escape fire altogether. It takes this site longer to recover from a burn than most associated sites due to sparse plant density and dry soils.
Geologic erosion usually occurs on this site. In most cases, this site is more important for wildlife habitat than for livestock grazing. A diverse plant community benefits the animal species utilizing this site as well as promoting natural ecological processes.
State and Transition Diagram:
A State and Transition Diagram for the Gravelly (R077EY053TX) site is depicted below. Thorough descriptions of each state, transition, and pathway follow the model. Experts base this model on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.
Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the natural variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal; other vegetative states may be desired plant communities as long as the Range Health assessments are in the moderate and above category.
The biological processes on this site are complex. Therefore, representative values are presented in a land management context. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.
Composition by dry weight and percent canopy cover are provided to describing the functional groups. Most observers find it easier to visualize or estimate percent canopy for woody species (trees and shrubs).
The following diagram suggests some pathways that the vegetation on this site might take. There may be other states not shown on the diagram. This information is intended to show what might happen in a given set of circumstances. It does not mean that this would happen the same way in every instance. Local professional guidance should always be sought before pursuing a treatment scenario.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
| T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure |
|---|---|---|
| R2A | - | Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, may be coupled with rangeland seeding |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Grassland State
This is the reference or diagnostic community for the site. The description is based on early range site descriptions, clipping data, professional consensus of experienced range specialists, and analysis of field work. The reference plant community is the Midgrass/Shortgrass with Tallgrass Community. This community is a mixture of short, mid and tallgrasses with considerable forbs and a few shrubs. Sideoats grama and little bluestem with smaller amounts of hairy grama and sand dropseed are also found in this plant community. Good variety of forb species and few woody shrubs are also found on the landscape. The Shortgrass/Midgrass with Forbs Community is a shortgrass/midgrass dominant plant community with increasing amounts of drought tolerant forbs and woody plants. Yucca invasion is increasing.
Dominant plant species
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Community 1.1
Mid/Shortgrass with Tallgrass Community
Figure 8. 1.1 Mid/Shortgrass with Tallgrass Community
The reference plant community is a mixture of short, mid and tallgrasses with considerable forbs and a few shrubs. Sideoats grama and little bluestem with smaller amounts of hairy grama and sand dropseed are found on site. Good variety of forb species and few woody shrubs are also found on the landscape. Vegetative changes are most dramatic on western and eastern slopes. This plant community is believed to be present at the time of settlement.
Figure 9. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 450 | 655 | 790 |
| Forb | 72 | 105 | 126 |
| Shrub/Vine | 60 | 88 | 102 |
| Tree | 18 | 27 | 32 |
| Microbiotic Crusts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 600 | 875 | 1050 |
Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX1522, Midgrass Dominant with tall grasses, forbs, and woody plants. Midgrasses with smaller amounts of tall grass species, good variety of forb species, and a few woody shrubs..
| 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 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Shortgrass/Midgrass with Forbs Community
Figure 11. 1.2 Shortgrass/Midgrass with Forbs Community
This plant community is shortgrass/midgrass with increasing amounts of drought tolerant forbs and woody plants. Yucca invasion is increasing. Due to management practice of heavy continuous grazing, the climax plant community shifts to a Shortgrass/Midgrass community (1.2). With a change of proper grazing management, this plant community can revert back to the reference plant community (1.1). The percent slope and south and west aspect also contribute to the changes in vegetation.
Figure 12. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 350 | 500 | 650 |
| Shrub/Vine | 90 | 140 | 165 |
| Forb | 100 | 130 | 160 |
| Tree | 20 | 28 | 36 |
| Microbiotic Crusts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 560 | 798 | 1011 |
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX1523, Shortgrasses/Midgrasses/Forbs/Increasing Woody Species. Shortgrasses and midgrasses with drought tolerant forbs and increasing amounts of shrubs..
| 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 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
With heavy continuous grazing, the Mid/Shortgrass with Tallgrass Community will shift to the Short/Midgrass with Forbs Community.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
With Prescribed Grazing conservation practice, the Short/Midgrass with Forbs Community will shift back to the Mid/Shortgrass with Tallgrass Community.
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
State 2
Shrubland State
Desirable shortgrasses and midgrasses are decreasing while the shrubs such as yucca and pricklypear are increasing. Annual and drought tolerant forbs are invading the site.
Community 2.1
Shrubs Dominant with Short/Midgrass Community
Figure 14. 2.1 Shrubs Dominant with Short/Midgrass Community
Desirable shortgrasses and midgrasses are decreasing while the shrubs such as yucca and pricklypear are increasing. Annual and drought tolerant forbs are invading the site. Management practices such as not having fires, increase of brush species, and heavy continuous grazing contribute to the decline of this plant community.
Figure 15. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 300 | 450 | 600 |
| Forb | 120 | 150 | 180 |
| Shrub/Vine | 120 | 140 | 160 |
| Tree | 22 | 30 | 38 |
| Microbiotic Crusts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 562 | 770 | 978 |
Figure 16. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX1521, Degraded Shortgrass, Increase Woody Species, Visible Erosion. Low vigor shortgrass, increase of woody species, and has bare ground..
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 1 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Due to heavy continuous grazing pressure, brush invasion of yucca and pricklypear, and no fires occurring on the site, the Grassland State will transition to the Shrubland State.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
With the implementation of conservation practices including Prescribed Grazing, Prescribed Burning and Brush Management, the Shrubland State can be restored to the Grassland State.
Conservation practices
| Brush Management | |
|---|---|
| Prescribed Burning | |
| Prescribed Grazing |
Additional community tables
Table 9. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Midgrasses | 135–237 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–237 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–237 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid/Shortgrasses | 166–292 | ||||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–75 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–75 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–75 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–75 | – | ||
| ear muhly | MUAR | Muhlenbergia arenacea | 0–75 | – | ||
| streambed bristlegrass | SELE6 | Setaria leucopila | 0–75 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–75 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–75 | – | ||
| 3 | Midgrasses | 18–32 | ||||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–11 | – | ||
| silver beardgrass | BOLAT | Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana | 0–11 | – | ||
| hairy woollygrass | ERPI5 | Erioneuron pilosum | 0–11 | – | ||
| 4 | Tallgrasses | 18–32 | ||||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 0–32 | – | ||
| Indiangrass | SONU2 | Sorghastrum nutans | 0–32 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Forbs | 72–126 | ||||
| lyreleaf greeneyes | BELY | Berlandiera lyrata | 0–32 | – | ||
| yellow sundrops | CASE12 | Calylophus serrulatus | 0–32 | – | ||
| golden prairie clover | DAAU | Dalea aurea | 0–32 | – | ||
| pale purple coneflower | ECPA | Echinacea pallida | 0–32 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–32 | – | ||
| hoary false goldenaster | HECA8 | Heterotheca canescens | 0–32 | – | ||
| Chalk Hill hymenopappus | HYTE2 | Hymenopappus tenuifolius | 0–32 | – | ||
| mountain laurel | KALA | Kalmia latifolia | 0–32 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 0–32 | – | ||
| yerba de jicotea | LUER | Ludwigia erecta | 0–32 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–32 | – | ||
| sensitive plant | MIMOS | Mimosa | 0–32 | – | ||
| purple locoweed | OXLA3 | Oxytropis lambertii | 0–32 | – | ||
| Fendler's penstemon | PEFE | Penstemon fendleri | 0–32 | – | ||
| curlytop knotweed | POLA4 | Polygonum lapathifolium | 0–32 | – | ||
| Drummond's skullcap | SCDR2 | Scutellaria drummondii | 0–32 | – | ||
| stemmy four-nerve daisy | TESC2 | Tetraneuris scaposa | 0–32 | – | ||
| stiff greenthread | THFI | Thelesperma filifolium | 0–32 | – | ||
| zinnia | ZINNI | Zinnia | 0–32 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 6 | Shrubs | 60–102 | ||||
| sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 0–25 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 0–25 | – | ||
| jointfir | EPHED | Ephedra | 0–25 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–25 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–25 | – | ||
| fragrant sumac | RHAR4 | Rhus aromatica | 0–25 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 7 | Trees | 18–32 | ||||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 18–32 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is used for the production of domestic livestock and to provide habitat for native wildlife. Cow-calf operations are the primary livestock enterprise although stocker cattle are also grazed. Sustainable stocking rates have declined drastically over the past 100 years due to deterioration of the historic climax plant community.
Initial starting stocking rates will be determined with the landowner or decision maker. An assessment of current vegetation is needed to determine stocking rates. Calculations used to determine an initial starting stocking rate will be based on forage production.
This site is important to many wildlife species. Major species include bobwhite and scaled quail, muledeer, pronghorn antelope, coyote, swift fox, jackrabbit, mourning dove, hawks, owls, and badger. Being an open grassland, this site is also home to a variety of small herbivores, birds and their associated predators. Water development is very important to these and other wildlife on this site. The values of this site for food and cover requirements for specific wildlife species change with the vegetative transitions that occur from one plant community to another. Each plant community and each animal species must be considered individually.
Hydrological functions
Hydrologically speaking, this site produces a considerable amount of runoff due to the steep slopes. Runoff finds its way to numerous small and medium sized drainages. If plant cover is a healthy grassland community, the runoff is slowed and the water quality of runoff is improved. Poor cover with significant bare soil promotes runoff and infiltration.
Recreational uses
Hunting, Camping, Bird watching, Hiking, Horseback riding
Wood products
No wood products.
Other products
Some native plant seeds are collected for planting materials.
Other information
None.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
NRCS FOTG - Section II of the FOTG Range Site Descriptions and numerous historical accounts of vegetative conditions at the time of early settlement in the area were used in the development of this site description. Vegetative inventories were made at several site locations for support documentation. NRCS FOTG - Section II - Range Site Descriptions and the NRCS Clipping Data Summaries over a 20 year period were used in the process.
Other references
J.R. Bell , USDA-NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist (retired)
Natural Resources Conservation Service - Range Site Descriptions
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service - Soil Surveys & Website soil database
Rathjen, Frederick W., The Texas Panhandle Frontier, Rev. 1998, Univ. of Texas Press
Hatch, Brown and Ghandi, Vascular Plants of Texas ( An Ecological Checklist )
Texas A&M Exp. Station, College Station, Texas
Texas Tech University – Range,Wildlife & Fisheries Dept.
The site author is Clint Rollins, Range Management Specialist in Amarillo, Texas
Technical Review:
Mark Moseley, Oklahoma State Range Conservation NRCS
Homer Sanchez, State Rangeland Management Specialist
Tony Garcia, Zone Rangeland Management Specialist
Clint Rollins, Rangeland Management Specialist
Dr. Jack Eckroat, Grazing Lands Specialist Oklahoma NRCS
Justin Clary, Rangeland Management Specialist
Contributors
Clint Rollins, RMS
J.R. Bell
Steven McGowen, MLRA Office Leader, NRCS, Woodward, OK
Approval
Bryan Christensen, 9/12/2023
Acknowledgments
Site Development and Testing Plan
Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document.
Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.
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) | Stan Bradbury, Zone RMS, NRCS, Lubbock, Texas |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | 806-791-0581 |
| Date | 09/04/2007 |
| Approved by | Bryan Christensen |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Due to percent slopes, rills will be common. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Due to percent slopes, water flow patterns will be common. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Due to percent slopes, pedestals/terracettes will be common. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-15% mineral soil, low percent due to rock fragments scattered throughout soil profile. -
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):
None to slight. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Very resistant to surface erosion. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very gravelly loam, friable, low SOM. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Basal cover, density and rock fragments will make rainfall impact minimal. This site is a moderately permeable soil, runoff is medium, and available water holding capacity is medium. -
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:
Warm-season midgrasses >Sub-dominant:
Warm-season tallgrasses > Warm-season shortgrasses > Forbs >Other:
Shrubs/Vines > TreesAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Grasses due to their growth habit will exhibit some mortality and decadence, though minimal. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter is dominantly herbaceous. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
600 - 1050 pounds per acre. -
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:
Yucca, catclaw acacia, prickly pear, and juniper can become invasive. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plant species should be capable of reproduction except during periods of prolonged drought conditions, heavy natural herbivory, or intense wildfires.
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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.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
| T1A | - | Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure |
|---|---|---|
| R2A | - | Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, may be coupled with rangeland seeding |