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Conservation Service

Ecological site R150AY528TX

Claypan Prairie

Last updated: 9/20/2019
Accessed: 06/04/2023

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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.

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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): 150A–Gulf Coast Prairies

MLRA 150A is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain in Texas (83 percent) and Louisiana (17 percent). It makes up about 16,365 square miles (42,410 square kilometers). It is characterized by nearly level plains that have low local relief and are dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 165 feet (0 to 50 meters) along the interior margin. It includes the towns of Crowley, Eunice, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Houston, Bay City, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and Kingsville, Texas. Interstates 10 and 45 are in the northeastern part of the area, and Interstate 37 is in the southwestern part. U.S. Highways 90 and 190 are in the eastern part, in Louisiana. U.S. Highway 77 passes through Kingsville, Texas. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site are in the part of the area in Texas.

Classification relationships

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 150A

Ecological site concept

The Claypan Prairie is a grassland site that occurs on nearly level, lower lying areas. Drainage in this site varies. The soils are characterized by a thin layer of fine sandy loam topsoil underlain by deep clay and clay loam subsoils.

Associated sites

R150AY535TX	Southern Loamy Prairie The Loamy Prairie is adjacent and above the Claypan site. It does not have a restrictive claypan and has loamier soils with much higher production.
R150AY526TX	Southern Blackland The Blackland site is often adjacent and slightly higher in the landscape than the Claypan Prairie.

R150AY535TX

Southern Loamy Prairie

The Loamy Prairie is adjacent and above the Claypan site. It does not have a restrictive claypan and has loamier soils with much higher production.

R150AY526TX

Southern Blackland

The Blackland site is often adjacent and slightly higher in the landscape than the Claypan Prairie.

Similar sites

R150AY526TX	Southern Blackland The Blackland differs from the site by having a deeper clay soils and higher production.

R150AY526TX

Southern Blackland

The Blackland differs from the site by having a deeper clay soils and higher production.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	Not specified

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Physiographic features

The site was formed in loamy fluviomarine deposits of the Pleistocene age. They occupy nearly level flats of the Texas Coastal Plains. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent but are mainly 0 to 1 percent. Elevation ranges from 10 to 200 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Flat
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding duration	Long (7 to 30 days)
Ponding frequency	None to occasional
Elevation	10 – 200 ft
Slope	5%
Ponding depth	3 in
Water table depth	24 – 60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate of MLRA 150A is humid subtropical with mild winters. The average annual precipitation in the northern two-thirds of this area is 45 to 63 inches. It is 28 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area and 30 to 45 inches in the southwestern third of the area. The precipitation is fairly evenly distributed, but it is slightly higher in late summer and midsummer in the western part of the area and slightly higher in winter in the eastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 66 to 72 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 325 days and ranges from 290 to 365 days, increasing in length to the southwest.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	236-280 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	365 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	33-44 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	219-340 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	277-365 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	33-48 in
Frost-free period (average)	268 days
Freeze-free period (average)	347 days
Precipitation total (average)	39 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) BISHOP [USC00410805], Bishop, TX
(2) ROBSTOWN [USC00417677], Robstown, TX
(3) SINTON [USC00418354], Sinton, TX
(4) BEEVILLE CHASE NAAS [USW00012925], Beeville, TX
(5) REFUGIO 2 NW [USC00417533], Refugio, TX
(6) PORT LAVACA [USC00417183], Port Lavaca, TX
(7) VICTORIA FIRE DEPT #5 [USC00419361], Victoria, TX
(8) DANEVANG 1 W [USC00412266], El Campo, TX
(9) EL CAMPO [USC00412786], El Campo, TX
(10) COLUMBUS [USC00411911], Columbus, TX

Soil features

The representative soil features are very deep, somewhat poorly to moderately well drained with very slow permeability. Soils are nonsaline to very slight and sodicity is none to slight within the top 20 inches of the surface. Soil reaction ranges from strongly acid to neutral. Diagnostic horizons and features include an ochric epipedon typically 6 inches thick over an argillic horizon. Soils correlated to this site include: Edco, Edna, Nada, Telf, Vidauri, and Wyick.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Very fine sandy loam (3) Loam
Family particle size	(1) Fine (2) Fine-loamy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to well drained
Permeability class	Very slow to slow
Soil depth	80 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	5 – 6 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	3%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	4 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	10
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	5.1 – 7.3
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	3%

Ecological dynamics

The Coastal Prairie was described as covered by verdant wild grass, tall and coarse. In 1846, Hughes described it as a very muddy level prairie. Major midgrass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Florida paspalum (Paspalum floridanum), and brownseed paspalum (Paspalum plicatulum). Tallgrass species include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides). Bundleflower (Desmanthus spp.), sensitive briar (Mimosa nuttallii), and dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata) were perennial forbs found on this site. Annual forbs occur in relatively high numbers in high rainfall years. Woody plants are excluded by competition from grasses and periodic intense fires. Native herbaceous legumes occur throughout. Water cycles, nutrient cycling, and energy capture function effectively while litter and organic matter accumulation on the site are high. Soil crusting is usually not a problem and there is minimal bare ground.

The Claypan Prairie is a relatively stable mid/tallgrass prairie. It is a highly productive site but production varies annually among species in response to rainfall, fire, and grazing pressure. Historically, it was grazed heavily by migratory bison herds. It is assumed that the frequency of grazing by bison was correlated with fire. Long deferments were common due to infrequent visits to the Texas Coast by the large herds. Fire, both winter and summer, was a more important factor shaping these sites than grazing. Because of the mild weather and high humidity, fire may have been somewhat reliant on fine fuel loads from dormant grass that resulted from intermittent use.

Upon the arrival of Europeans, the migratory bison were extirpated, and an introduction of wild longhorn cattle occurred in the late 1700's and domestic cattle in the 1820's. This began an era of heavy grazing. Overutilization reduced and/or eliminated the tallgrass component of the grassland as well as some midgrasses. As the site is overgrazed, low panicums, other paspalums, knotroot bristlegrass (Seteria geniculata), and long-spike tridens (Tridens strictus) increased in the composition. Decreases in biomass production meant less frequent and intense fires. Continued overuse of this site by livestock and the cessation of fire allowed woody plants, primarily huisache (Acacia smallii), mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) baccharis (Baccharis halmifolia), and the exotic invader, Macartney rose (Rosa bracteata) to establish. Increases in smutgrass (Sporobulus indicus), carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis), bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), and numerous annual forbs also occur.

In addition to excessive grazing, farming to rice, corn, cotton, and grain sorghum began in the early 1900’s and had a significant influence. Not only did the loss of native plant communities occur, but changes in soils, hydrology, and topography by land leveling, ditching, and leveeing also happened. Subsequent abandonment of cropping and lack of management contributed to an invasion of woody species. Restoration of tall and midgrass communities will necessitate the use of a variety of tools. Prescribed grazing is necessary coupled with brush management and/or seeding dependent upon brush densities. Once grass production increases to a point that fuel loads accumulate, fire is a viable tool.

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

State 1
Grassland

Community 1.1
Mid/Tallgrass Prairie

The reference community is a grassland of mid and tallgrasses. Midgrasses make up over 50 percent of the composition, whereas tallgrasses contribute to 30 percent, and other grasses and forbs make up the remainder. Historically coupled with bison grazing, winter and summer fires occurred every 2 to 3 years. Annual forbs occur, but mainly in response to drought, fire, and high precipitation sequences. The introduction of large numbers of cattle, combined with the concentration of herds through fencing and water locations, reduced grass fuel loads thus reducing the occurrence of fire. Heavy grazing reduced the tallgrasses in the plant composition to be replaced by midgrasses, shortgrasses, and eventually annual forbs and grasses. The Mid/Tallgrass Prairie Community (1.1) can be maintained with proper stocking rates, prescribed grazing, and prescribed burning.

Figure 8. 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	3000	4400	5500
Forb	400	500	700
Shrub/Vine	0	0	0
Tree	0	0	0
Total	3400	4900	6200

Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX7605, Tallgrass Prairie Community. Prairie community composed of dominant warm-season tallgrasses with some warm-season midgrasses..

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	1	4	12	24	24	8	5	12	4	3	2

Community 1.2
Midgrass Prairie

This community emerges as overstocking suppresses the tallgrass components of the original community. As the taller species disappear, midgrasses such as little bluestem, brownseed paspalum, and long-spike tridens increase. Annual forbs respond to drought-wet cycles and are seasonally abundant. Reduced fuel loads contribute to reduced occurrences and intensity of fire. Continued overstocking contributes to a decline in midgrasses and are replaced by shortgrasses, forbs, and woody plants. In this community, there are usually enough remnants of the original prairie to recover once prescribed grazing is applied. The original tallgrasses will respond very favorably to the use of prescribed fire. Brush management can remove unwanted woody plants that have established.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Abusive grazing and lack of fire will transition the site to Community 1.2.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Prescribed grazing with correct stocking rates and a return of fire will transition Community 1.2 back to the reference community.

State 2
Shrubland

Community 2.1
Huisache/Mesquite Shrubland

Without changes in management, the site will eventually cross a threshold into a Huisache/Mesquite Shrubland (2.1). In some scenarios, canopy densities are 100 percent and have overlaying canopies of huisache, baccharis, and mesquite. The invasion of Macartney rose is dependent upon the proximity of a seed source. Low panicums and paspalums will be the major grass species with numerous annual forbs present. Once the shrubs have gained a foothold, grazing management alone will not restore the plant community to reference conditions. As the canopy cover reaches about 25 percent, sunlight reaching the understory plants becomes a limiting factor. Major inputs, both chemical and mechanical, are necessary to restore the Grassland State (1). Very few remnants of the original vegetation are visible at this point and a technical determination will be needed to see if enough of a seed source exists for recovery. The choice of brush control method may dictate the need for seeding. Mechanical treatment will disturb the soil to the extent seeding will probably be necessary. Repeated chemical treatment and fire over many years may restore the plant community to the desired level, but monitoring will be needed to verify that the desired plants are increasing. Continuous maintenance practices will be necessary to maintain the desired plant community.

State 3
Converted Land

Community 3.1
Converted Land

The Converted Land Community is a result of land clearing, plowing, and planting to either a native rangeland mixture, introduced pasture, or farmed as cropland. Any of the plant communities can be converted, but different degrees of expense, energy, and difficulty are required. Traditional introduced species include bermudagrass and many of Old World bluestems. The amount of production is dependent upon the chosen yield goal and subsequent fertility. Converted land will require continued maintenance will be needed to keep invading brush species and weedy plants from establishing. Prescribed grazing will be needed along with the integration of brush management, pest management, and probably prescribed fire. Once any of these maintenance practices are relaxed, an invasion of shrubs will begin.

Community 3.2
Converted Land with Woody Seedlings

This plant community emerges when there is no brush management, pest management, or when the land is abandoned to recover on its own. In most cases, there will be a sufficient supply of woody plant seeds in the soil. If the land has been cropped or planted to introduced species, there is little or no seed source of native grasses left to establish within a reasonable amount of time. Moreover, it will be difficult for the native plants to establish because of the aggressive nature of the introduced forage plants. If the shrubs are small and there is a remnant of desired plants left, selective brush management or chemical brush management can change the community to a point where appropriate management can restore the desired plants. However, if the shrubs are mature, then the use of heavy equipment for land clearing and replanting is necessary. Again, if aggressive introduced plants exist, more than likely, they will be the dominant species to recover.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

With heavy grazing and no brush control, woody species will encroach the site.

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

Seedling brush control, prescribed grazing, and possibly prescribed fire will transition the community back to 3.1.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Heavy grazing, lack of fire, and brush invasion over 25 percent canopy signal the transition to State 2.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Conversion signals this transition by preparing a seedbed and planting to pasture.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Restoration occurs when brush management reduces the canopy cover below 25 percent, prescribed grazing restores correct stocking rates, and once grasses have created enough biomass, prescribed fire returns.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Conversion signals this transition by clearing brush, preparing a seedbed, and planting to pasture.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Conversion of the site back to reference community grasses is required for restoration. Eliminating all introduced species from the site is difficult, and if enough degradation has occurred to the soils, full restoration may not be attainable.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 2

Without brush control to manage encroaching woody seedlings, the site will transition to State 2.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Midgrasses			1720–2910
	little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	1000–2000	–
	brownseed paspalum	PAPL3	Paspalum plicatulum	500–1500	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	200–500	–
2	Tallgrasses			1000–2000
	big bluestem	ANGE	Andropogon gerardii	500–1200	–
	Florida paspalum	PAFL4	Paspalum floridanum	500–1200	–
	switchgrass	PAVI2	Panicum virgatum	500–1200	–
	Indiangrass	SONU2	Sorghastrum nutans	500–1200	–
	eastern gamagrass	TRDA3	Tripsacum dactyloides	500–1200	–
3	Mixed grasses			340–620
	fall witchgrass	DICO6	Digitaria cognata	50–150	–
	Pan American balsamscale	ELTR4	Elionurus tripsacoides	50–150	–
	gulfhairawn muhly	MUFI3	Muhlenbergia filipes	50–150	–
	Texas wintergrass	NALE3	Nassella leucotricha	50–150	–
	longtom	PADE24	Paspalum denticulatum	50–150	–
	panicgrass	PANIC	Panicum	50–150	–
	crowngrass	PASPA2	Paspalum	50–150	–
	marsh bristlegrass	SEPA10	Setaria parviflora	50–150	–
	longspike tridens	TRST2	Tridens strictus	50–150	–
Forb
4	Forbs			340–620
	Forb, perennial	2FP	Forb, perennial	50–250	–
	Cuman ragweed	AMPS	Ambrosia psilostachya	50–150	–
	velvet bundleflower	DEVE2	Desmanthus velutinus	50–150	–
	button eryngo	ERYU	Eryngium yuccifolium	50–150	–
	dotted blazing star	LIPU	Liatris punctata	50–150	–
	Florida mimosa	MIQUF	Mimosa quadrivalvis var. floridana	50–150	–
	yellow puff	NELU2	Neptunia lutea	50–150	–
	lanceleaf fogfruit	PHLA3	Phyla lanceolata	50–150	–
5	Forbs			0–50
	Forb, annual	2FA	Forb, annual	0–50	–
	partridge pea	CHFA2	Chamaecrista fasciculata	0–50	–
	snow on the prairie	EUBI2	Euphorbia bicolor	0–50	–
	annual marsh elder	IVAN2	Iva annua	0–50	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The Coastal Prairie communities support a wide array of animals. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Attwater’s pocket gophers are abundant and have an important impact on the ecology of the site. The badger is present but not abundant in locations at the southern extent of the site. Locally unique species alligators and bullfrogs.

The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Two important endangered species occur in the area, the whooping crane and Attwater’s prairie chicken. Many other species of avian predators including northern harriers, ferruginous hawks, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, kestrels, and, occasionally, swallow-tailed kites utilize the vast grasslands. Many species of grassland birds use the site, including blue grosbeaks, dickcissels, eastern meadowlarks, several sparrows, including, vesper sparrow, lark sparrow, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and Le Conte’s sparrow.

Hydrological functions

Soils on this site are permeable until saturated. Even when dry, infiltration is slow. However, this site can develop cracks when dry and offer some high initial infiltration rates until the cracks seal. Soils become saturated quickly due to the impermeable layer that forms the claypan. Once soils are saturated, infiltration is slow to very slow. Due to the flat slope, rainfall stacks up and ponds on the site. The soil surface under reference conditions is highly resistant to erosion.

Recreational uses

Recreational uses include recreational hunting, hiking, camping, equestrian, and bird watching.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

The data presented in this description comes from prior range site descriptions, limited clipping data and technical interpretations from range professionals who have worked with local ranchers for many years. Vegetative data for this site was obtained from existing Range Site Descriptions and SCS-417 data. Five SCS-417’s were available for this site in three different counties.

Other references

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Contributors

Dr. C. Wayne Hanselka, RMS, Texas Agrilife Extension, Corpus Christi, TX

Approval

David Kraft, 9/20/2019

Acknowledgments

Reviewers and Technical Contributors:
Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX
Mark Moseley, RMS, NRCS, San Antonio, TX
Tim Reinke, RMS, NRCS, Victoria, TX
Mike Stellbauer, RMS, NRCS, Bryan, TX

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)	Mike Stellbauer, RMS, NRCS, Bryan, TX
Contact for lead author	979-846-0757
Date	06/08/2004
Approved by	Mark Moseley, RMS, NRCS, San Antonio, Texas
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None.
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some water flow patterns are normal on this site due to landscape position and slopes.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals or terracettes would have been very uncommon for this site when occupied by the reference community.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Expect no more than 20 percent bare ground distributed in small patches.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No gullies should be present. Drainage ways should be stable and covered with vegetation.
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None.
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
This site has slowly permeable soils. On sloping sites, small to medium sized litter will move short distances with intense storms.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface under reference conditions is resistant to erosion. Stability class range is expected to be 4 to 5.
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Greater than 13 inches thick with colors from dark brown clay loam (10YR4/3) to very dark gray clay loam (10YR3/1) and generally medium subangular blocky structures. SOM 1 to 3 percent
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Under reference conditions, the savannah of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and forbs with adequate litter and little bare ground provides for maximum infiltration and little runoff under normal rainfall events.
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 perennial midgrasses

Sub-dominant:
warm-season perennial tallgrasses cool-season perennial midgrasses

Other:
warm-season forbs trees shrubs/vines

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There should be little mortality or decadence for any functional group.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter is primarily herbaceous.
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
3,400 to 6,200 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:
Old world bluestems, common bermudagrass, mesquite, elm, huisache, eastern red cedar, and Macartney rose.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants should be capable of reproduction except during heavy natural herbivory, intense wildfires or extended drought conditions.

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R150AY528TX

Claypan Prairie

Last updated: 9/20/2019 Accessed: 06/04/2023

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 9/20/2019
Accessed: 06/04/2023