Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA128AZ
Limestone Upland
12-16" p.z.
Last updated: 9/05/2019
Accessed: 09/23/2026
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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.
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 Limestone Upland ecological site occurs on mesas and hills.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
The Limestone Upland ecological site occurs on mesas and hills.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mesa
(2) Hill
Elevation 3000 – 4500 ft Slope 2 – 60 % 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) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 290 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
This series is formed on residuum from limestone. This unit has no regular pattern. Every delineation has at least one of the major components and may have all. Each of the components, however, need not be in every delineation. The percentage varies from one area to another.
Mapped in SSA-639 Black Hills-Sedona Area MU's Pagesprings-428 and 429.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – limestone
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 5 – 11 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)0 – 2.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)40 – 60 % Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Reference Plant Community represents the natural potential plant community found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as grazing, fire, absence of fire or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air-dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity Index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air-dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.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 textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Shrub/Grass StateThe Shrub/Grass State is the Reference Plant Community. Shrub canopy is 35-45% on all aspects.
Community 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe Shrub/Grass State is the Reference Plant Community. It is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and scattered trees. A flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the Reference Plant Community.
North slopes have a mixture of grass and evergreen chaparral shrubs like turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, and redberry buckthorn. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs and succulents in the plant community. Shrub canopy is 35-45% on all aspects.Figure 3. 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 200 400 600 Shrub/Vine 300 430 470 Tree 40 60 100 Forb 30 70 90 Total 570 960 1260 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0-10% Forb foliar cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 30-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 20-30% Surface fragments >3" 20-30% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 0-10% Figure 4. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3812 , 38.2 16-20" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall..
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 5 5 15 10 10 15 20 10 5 5 0 Community 1.2
Medium Canopy Shrub CommunityShrubs increase in canopy and density to approximately 45-60% canopy in the absence of fire. Herbaceous species are present in sufficient quantity and are evenly distributed to promote fire intensities sufficient to reduce abundance of shrub species.
Community 1.3
Mixed Life Form CommunityJuniper or pinyon germinate and are present at densities of 5-10 per acre and are still small in size. One seed or redberry juniper are the juniper species. Tree canopy is approximately 5-10%. Herbaceous production is approximately 700 lbs/ac and fires are effective at killing fire sensitive juniper and pinyon.
Pathway P1
Community 1.1 to 1.2Increased shrub canopy due to passage of time without fire
Pathway P2
Community 1.2 to 1.3Fire
Pathway P3
Community 1.3 to 1.1Time
State 2
Non-Sprouting Shrub StateNon-sprouting shrubs have increased to 60-80% canopy.
Community 2.1
Non-sprouting Shrub CommunityNon sprouting shrubs have increased to 60-80% canopy. Cooler aspects are dominated by sotol and minor amounts of turbinella oak. Warmer aspects are dominated by prickly pear, ocotillo, agave, cat claw acacia, and minor amounts of wait a bit. Herbaceous species are less than 100 lbs/ac and are not well distributed on the site.
State 3
Sprouting Shrub StateSprouting shrubs have increased to 60-80% canopy.
Community 3.1
Chaparral CommunityTurbinella oak has increased to 60-80% canopy in the absence of fire for extended periods of time. Herbaceous species are less than 100 lbs/ac and are not well distributed on the site.
A restoration pathway is unlikely from this state given the ability of turbinella oak to withstand substantial fire intensities (Pase 1965) and this species prolific root sprouting ability.
State 4
Juniper-Pinyon StateJuniper and/or Pinyon have increased to 40-50% canopy in the absence of fire for very long periods of time.
Community 4.1
Juniper-pinyon CommunityJuniper and/or pinyon have increased to 40-50% canopy in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. The dominant juniper is one seed or redberry juniper. Herbaceous species are vigorous and evenly distributed in the interspaces of trees in areas where turbinella oak has not increased in the interspaces. These herbaceous species contribute to recovery of the site without the need for substantial inputs in the form of range planting.
Turbinella oak has increased to 20-30% canopy in some areas where pinyon has increased to 40-50% canopy. Herbaceous species are less than 100 lbs/ac and not well distributed on the site. It is unknown if this community can return to the reference plant community. This would only be likely with range planting applied after wildfire.Transition T1a
State 1 to 2Non-sprouting shrubs such as sotol and prickly pear germinate. In the absence of fire for prolonged periods they will grow to maturity and eventually dominate the site.
Transition T1b
State 1 to 3Sprouting shrubs, primarily turbinella oak that is the dominant shrub on other sites in this Land Resource Unit (16-20" precipitation zone), germinate. In the absence of fire for prolonged periods will grow to maturity and eventually dominate the site.
Transition T1c
State 1 to 4Trees germinate and in the absence of fire for prolonged periods grow to maturity. High densities of perennial grasses can still occupy the interspaces of trees with tree canopy as high as 45-55%. Trees are of sufficient size that most practitioners are unlikely to apply prescribed fire.
Restoration pathway R2a
State 2 to 1It is unknown if this restoration is possible. Chemical brush management is likely the only alternative to reduce shrub species given the rocky nature of these soils. Range planting would be necessary to restore the herbaceous community if brush management is effective. Range planting would have greater success in this Land Resource Unit due to the higher rainfall this site receives.
Restoration pathway R4a
State 4 to 1Extreme wildfire is likely the only restoration pathway. Trees have reached such a large size that very high temperatures and wind speeds are needed to allow fires to burn through canopies and top kill non sprouting juniper or pinyon. Very costly mechanical brush management where soils have lower amount of cobbles or boulders and gentler slopes is possible followed by burning of tree skeletons. Perennial grass canopy in the interspaces of trees is > 50% in some areas with existing plants likely providing an adequate seed source for restoration following brush management or fires. Range planting should likely only be considered where perennial grass canopy in the interspaces of trees is less than 25%; however this threshold needs additional investigation.
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant Warm Season Grasses 80–435 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50–200 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 5–100 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 15–85 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 10–50 – 2 Cool Season Grasses 0–45 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 0–10 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–10 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–10 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–10 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–5 – 3 Miscellaneous grasses 5–150 bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 0–35 – Arizona threeawn ARAR6 Aristida arizonica 0–15 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 5–15 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–10 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 1–10 – longtongue muhly MULO Muhlenbergia longiligula 0–10 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–10 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0–10 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 1–10 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–5 – hairy woollygrass ERPI5 Erioneuron pilosum 0–5 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–1 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 0–1 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–1 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 0–35 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 0–10 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–10 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–5 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–5 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–2 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial Forbs 10–125 variableleaf bushbean MAGI2 Macroptilium gibbosifolium 0–40 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 5–20 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–15 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–10 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–10 – cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 1–10 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–5 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – Colorado four o'clock MIMU Mirabilis multiflora 0–1 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–1 – jewels of Opar TAPA2 Talinum paniculatum 0–1 – aster ASTER Aster 0–1 – mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 0–1 – Indian paintbrush CASTI2 Castilleja 0–1 – bastard toadflax COUM Comandra umbellata 0–1 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–1 – wild dwarf morning-glory EVAR Evolvulus arizonicus 0–1 – silver dwarf morning-glory EVSE Evolvulus sericeus 0–1 – dwarf Indian mallow ABPA3 Abutilon parvulum 0–1 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–1 – tufted globe amaranth GOCA Gomphrena caespitosa 0–1 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–1 – Chihuahuan flax LIVE2 Linum vernale 0–1 – 6 Annual Forbs 0–50 spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 1–15 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–10 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–10 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–10 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–1 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–1 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–1 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–1 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–1 – dodder CUSCU Cuscuta 0–1 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–1 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–1 – New Mexico copperleaf ACNE Acalypha neomexicana 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 10–145 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 10–95 – alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 0–15 – Palmer oak QUPA10 Quercus palmeri 0–10 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–8 – Mexican cliffrose PUME Purshia mexicana 0–5 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–5 – California buckthorn FRCAU Frangula californica ssp. ursina 0–2 – ashy silktassel GAFL2 Garrya flavescens 0–2 – Wright's silktassel GAWR3 Garrya wrightii 0–2 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – Apache plume FAPA Fallugia paradoxa 0–1 – 8 Large shrubs 5–50 catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 5–25 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 0–10 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–6 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–5 – stretchberry FOPUP Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens 0–2 – rockspirea HODU Holodiscus dumosus 0–1 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – Torrey's jointfir EPTO Ephedra torreyana 0–1 – 9 Half shrubs 55–190 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 25–100 – featherplume DAFO Dalea formosa 30–40 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0–25 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 1–20 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–5 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–2 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–1 – 10 Succulents 80–380 common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 50–120 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–120 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 10–60 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 20–50 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 1–10 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–10 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–5 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–1 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–1 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–1 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–1 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–1 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–1 – Parry's agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 5–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 5–20 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 10–120 redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 10–50 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 10–50 – singleleaf pinyon PIMO Pinus monophylla 0–50 – twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 0–25 – alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 0–20 – Table 8. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Contributors
Karlynn Huling
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) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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