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Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA109AZ
Loamy Upland
12-16 p.z.
Last updated: 9/05/2019
Accessed: 09/25/2026
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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): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3,000 to 4,500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass, and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This MLRA occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.Ecological site concept
The Loamy Upland ecological site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. It occurs on uplands.
These soils are moderately deep to deep (30 to 60 inches), and dark colored in the surface (6 to 12 inches). They are clayey textured, gravelly to very gravelly, and well drained. They have formed in alluvium and colluvium from a variety of parent materials.Associated sites
R038XA106AZ Limy Upland 12-16" p.z.
R038XA108AZ Clayey Slopes 12-16" p.z.
R038XA126AZ Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R040XA120AZ Clay Loam Upland 10"-13" p.z.
R038XB203AZ Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z.
R041XB204AZ Clay Loam Upland 8-12" p.z.
R041XC305AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Opuntia engelmannii
(2) Calliandra eriophyllaHerbaceous (1) Bouteloua curtipendula
(2) Hilaria belangeriPhysiographic features
The Loamy Upland ecological site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. It occurs on uplands. It is on gentle slopes, fan terraces, ridgetops, and mesa tops.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan piedmont
(2) Mesa
(3) Lava flow
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3000 – 4500 ft Slope 15 – 45 % Aspect N, E, S Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter/summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40 percent in the northwest part of the area to 50/50 percent in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; are from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. The actual precipitation, available moisture, and temperature vary, depending on region, elevation, rain shadow effect, and aspect.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 210 days Freeze-free period (average) 240 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with the Loamy Upland ecological site.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep (30 to 60 inches), and dark colored in the surface (6 to 12 inches). They are clayey textured, gravelly to very gravelly, and well drained. They have formed in alluvium and colluvium from a variety of parent materials. They do not exhibit vertic soil properties (cracking and churning). Soil surfaces can be covered by gravels, cobbles, and/or stones. The erosion hazard is moderate to high where plant or gravel covers are inadequate. Typical taxonomic units mapped on this site include: SSA-627 Mohave County Southern Part MU Whitehouse-131; SSA-637 Yavapai County Western Part MU's Lonti-AbB, LmB, LnC, LoD, LpB, LsC, LtB, LuC & LvE, Balon-AlC, LuC, Wm, Wn, Wo & Wp, Poley-AeB & Wp, Showlow-ShB, Wineg-AnC, LuC, Wm, Wn, Wo & Wp; SSA-639 Black Hills-Sedona Area MU's Altar-419 & Bewearze-422; SSA-697 Mohave County Central Part MU Hosta family-58.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly clay loam
(2) Very gravelly loam
(3) Very gravelly clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 30 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 7.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 15 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 55 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is dominated by tobosa and other perennial warm-season grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs, succulents, and forbs. This includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped to maintain a balance between grasses and shrubs. The interactions of drought, fire, and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of perennial grasses, half shrubs, and suffrutescent forbs on the Loamy Upland ecological site. The lack of fire for very long periods can lead to increases in large shrubs/succulents like prickly pear, and whitethorn acacia. Trees like juniper, paloverde, mesquite, and canotia can increase as well. In some situations non-native annuals can dominate the site. These species can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species. Non-native annuals can act to increase the fire frequency of areas of the site near roads and urban areas, where the incidence of man-made fires is high.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. MLRA 38.1 (12-16"), Loamy Uplands
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 textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Tobosa - Warm Season Grass Community (HNPC)The historic native plant community is dominated by tobosa and other warm season perennial grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half-shrubs, suffrutescent forbs and succulents. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community.
Natural fires, which burned at moderate intervals in this region, helped to maintain a balance between perennial grasses and shrubs.Figure 5. 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 360 750 1100 Forb 7 50 240 Shrub/Vine 25 100 200 Tree 0 5 15 Total 392 905 1555 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 10-10% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 10-60% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 20-60% Surface fragments >3" 0-20% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-60% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 0-5% 1-10% 0-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-2% 5-10% 1-10% >1 <= 2 – 0-2% 10-20% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 0-5% 0-5% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 0-1% 0-1% – – >13 <= 40 0-1% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811 , 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
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 1 7 15 20 22 20 10 5 0 0 State 2
Short Grass StateCommunity 2.1
Short Grass CommunityTobosa is removed from the plant community over time due to the interactions of fire, continuous grazing and drought. When the canopy cover of tobosa drops below 5% and the distribution of that cover is poor (clumped) then tobosa will not be able to recover on the site. Short grasses; especially curly mesquite and including slender and hairy grama will dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community. These species fluctuate widely from drought to wet years.
State 3
Exotic Annuals Invaded StateCommunity 3.1
Exotic Annual Invaded CommunityNon-native annual grasses like red brome, wild oats, mediterranean grass (schismus) and cheatgrass can invade and dominate areas of the site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site. Repeated fires tend to remove the native shrub, grass and forb canopy.
State 4
Shrub Invaded StateCommunity 4.1
Shrub Invaded CommunityIn the absence of fire for long periods of time and with continuous grazing, shrubs like mesquite, paloverde and whitethorn acacia and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the plant community. Trees including oneseed and redberry juniper and canotia can increase also. Perennial grasses and forbs cannot recover in the face of increased shrub competition.
State 5
Eroded StateCommunity 5.1
Woody OverstoryShrubs like mesquite, paloverde and whitethorn acacia; trees like juniper and canotia; and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site. Non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years herbaceous fuels are sufficient for burning and repeat fires are especially common in areas close to residential zones and roads. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes.
Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated sheet and rill erosion under these circumstances.Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant perennial grasses 300–600 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 250–500 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50–100 – 2 Cool season grasses 1–50 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 1–50 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 50–250 curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 35–150 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–50 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–50 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5–50 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 5–50 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 1–50 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–50 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–20 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–15 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–15 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–15 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–15 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–15 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–15 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–10 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–5 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–5 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–5 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–2 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–2 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–1 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 5–200 sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–50 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–25 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–20 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–20 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–15 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–15 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–10 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–10 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–5 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–2 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–1 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–1 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–1 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–1 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–1 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 5–40 largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1–5 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–5 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–5 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–2 – Gila manroot MAGI Marah gilensis 0–2 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–2 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–2 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–2 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–1 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–1 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–1 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–1 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–1 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 0–1 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–1 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–1 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–1 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–1 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–1 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 0–1 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – Gregg's prairie clover DAGR2 Dalea greggii 0–1 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 2–200 bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–50 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–50 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–25 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 1–25 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–15 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–15 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–15 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–15 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–15 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–10 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–10 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–10 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–10 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–10 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–10 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–5 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–5 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–5 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–2 – hyssopleaf sandmat CHHY3 Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–2 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–2 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–2 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–1 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–1 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–1 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 1–50 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–10 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–10 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–1 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0–1 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–1 – 8 Miscellaneous large shrubs 1–20 catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 1–5 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–5 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0–5 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–2 – whitethorn acacia ACCOP9 Acacia constricta var. paucispina 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–1 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–1 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–1 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–1 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–1 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–1 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 15–100 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 10–60 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 1–15 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–10 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–10 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–5 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–1 – prairie acacia ACAN Acacia angustissima 0–1 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–55 cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–20 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–10 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–2 – devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 0–2 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–2 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–2 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECBO2 Echinocereus bonkerae 0–1 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–1 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–1 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–1 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–1 – Palmer's century plant AGPA3 Agave palmeri 0–1 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 2–25 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–20 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–1 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–1 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 0–15 redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–5 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–5 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 0–5 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–5 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–2 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–2 – Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The Loamy Upland ecological site is suitable for grazing year-round, and is easily traversed by livestock. Tobosa is very unpalatable and will be the last perennial grass species to be used on this site. Livestock grazing use is concentrated near trails, roads, and waters. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails, and slopes adjacent to water. The site has good habitat diversity for a variety of desert wildlife species. It is home mainly to small mammals and birds and their associated predators. It is a foraging area for larger mammals like deer and javalina. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.
Hydrological functions
The Loamy Upland ecological site has a smooth to rough surface with variable covers of gravels and stones. Due to clayey textured soils it is a good producer of runoff. It produces exceptional runoff when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
The Loamy Upland ecological site is used for hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, and photography.
Wood products
Limited fuel-wood for campfires and branding fires. In areas where mesquite or juniper has increased there may be more wood available for fuel and for fence stays.
Other products
There is some harvest of food plants like prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts, wild onions, and grass nuts. There is limited harvest of medicinal plants like Mormon tea. There is limited harvest of fibers from banana yucca. Clay is available for pot making.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Yavapai County, AZ Township/Range/Section T11N R2E S8 General legal description North side of Highway 69 right-of-way, Cordes Junction to Mayer, Yavapai County. Other references
Similar to Community type 5 of TES Map Unit # 370 on the Prescott National Forest.
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. EllicottApproval
Scott Woodall, 9/05/2019
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) Karlynn Huling Contact for lead author NRCS Flagstaff Area Office Date 05/19/2006 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Some rills may form due to loamy surface textures, slow permeability, and medium runoff, especially on steeper slopes. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns may be common due to slow permeability and medium runoff, especially on steeper slopes. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Some pedestals and terracettes may occur, but they should be very short. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground should not exceed 25 percent. The Loamy Upland ecological site has an average available water capacity of 7 inches, so it has a moderate to high potential for the production of plant cover. Sites with a cover of rock fragments will have less bare ground. Drought may cause an increase in bare ground. -
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 and fine woody litter will be transported in water flow pathways. Coarse woody litter will remain under shrub canopies. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Surface soil stability values average 5 both under plant canopies and in the interspaces. Surface textures are mostly sandy loam, loam, or sandy clay loam. Often the surface horizon is gravelly, but sometimes not. When well vegetated, these soils have a moderate to high resistance to both water and wind erosion. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is either granular (weak to moderate, fine to medium) or platy (weak, medium to thick). Surface thickness is 2 to 3 inches. Color is variable depending upon parent material. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
The Loamy Upland ecological site is characterized by a relatively even distribution of mostly grasses with a few shrubs and forbs. One area had 30 percent canopy cover with overlapping layers of plants (15 percent grass, 5 percent forbs,15 percent shrubs). Basal cover was 1 percent (grass only). Both canopy and basal cover values decrease during prolonged droughts. This type of plant community is highly effective at capturing and storing precipitation. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Due to loam and clay loam textures, these soils may be easily compacted when there are no rock fragments in the surface horizons. Some surface horizons are naturally platy. -
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:
noneSub-dominant:
warm-season bunchgrasses = warm-season colonizing grasses shrubs cool season bunchgrassesOther:
Minor: forbs Trace: cacti Agave family = annual grassesAdditional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All plant functional groups are adapted to survival in all years except during the most severe droughts. Severe winter droughts affect shrubs and trees the most. Severe summer droughts affect grasses the most. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Mostly herbaceous litter with some woody litter. Litter amounts increase during the first few years of drought, then decrease in later years. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
500 to 575 pounds per acre (dry weight) in drought years, 575 to 750 pounds per acre in median years, 750 to 850 pounds per acre in wet years. -
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:
Broom snakeweed, prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia), turbinella oak, desert ceanothus, wait-a-bit, catclaw acacia, and shrubby buckwheat are all native to the Loamy Upland ecological site, but have the potential to increase and dominate the area after heavy grazing and/or fire exclusion. Juniper (Juniperus) and pinyon pine (Pinus) species are native to neighboring sites and can invade the site after heavy grazing and/or fire exclusion. Redstem filaree, purslane (Portulaca), and spurge (Euphorbia) are exotic forbs (some species of Portulaca and Euphorbia are native) that may invade the site after heavy grazing, soil disturbance, or fire. Red brome is an exotic annual grass that may invade the site after heavy grazing, soil disturbance, or fire. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants native to the Loamy Upland ecological site are adapted to the climate and are capable of producing seeds, stolons, and rhizomes in more years except during the most severe droughts.
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