Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F039XA132AZ
Cinder Upland
17-22" p.z.
(QUGA, PIPO)
Last updated: 9/05/2019
Accessed: 09/17/2026
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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): 039X–Mogollon Transition North
AZ 39.1 Mogollon Plateau Coniferous Forests
Elevations range from 7000 to 12,500 feet and precipitation averages 20 to 35 inches per year. Vegetation includes ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Arizona walnut, sycamore, Douglas fir, blue spruce, Arizona fescue, sheep fescue, mountain muhly, muttongrass, junegrass, pine dropseed, and dryland sedges. The soil temperature regime ranges from mesic to frigid and the soil moisture regime ranges from typic ustic to udic ustic. This unit occurs within the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province and is characterized by a sequence of flat to gently dipping sedimentary rocks eroded into plateaus, valleys and deep canyons. Sedimentary rock classes dominate the plateau with volcanic fields occurring for the most part near its margin.Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus gambelii
(2) Pinus ponderosaShrub (1) Robinia neomexicana
Herbaceous (1) Muhlenbergia montana
(2) Festuca arizonicaPhysiographic features
This soil is mapped on fans below and around cinder cones. The surface of the soils associated with this site are littered with cinders. Cinders in the soil profile affect the plant-soil-moisture relationship. The site does not significantly benefit from run-on moisture.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan remnant
Elevation 6000 – 8000 ft Slope 2 – 15 % Climatic features
About 40% of the moisture in this Common Resource Area (CRA), or Land Resource Unit (LRU) comes as rain from June to September. The remainder comes from October to May as snow or light rain. Extreme temperatures of 97 and -37 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. Some moisture is usually received every month.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 170 days Freeze-free period (average) 120 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils characterizing this site are moderately deep to very deep. The surface is 1 to 5 inches deep and is of low to moderte susceptibility to erosion. The subsoil and underlying layers have slow to moderately slow permeability and are well drained. This site can absorb all the moisture the climate can provide.
Soils mapped to this site include: from SSA-695 Kaibab NF area MU's 8-Mento family very gravelly loam & 14-Sampson family gravelly loam.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly silt loam
(2) Gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 20 – 70 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.01 – 0.21 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 1 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 7.8 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 historical climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities 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, 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 1
Ponderosa Pine DominantPonderosa Pine dominant with isolated mature stands of gambel oak and other shrubs. This state is also dominant in cool-season bunchgrasses.
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe plant community of this site is a mixed ponderosa pine, Gambel oak forest with an understory of grasses, forbs and shrubs.
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 300 350 400 Tree 75 87 100 Shrub/Vine 0 12 25 Forb 5 10 15 Total 380 459 540 Figure 4. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3911 , 39.1 17-22" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs during the summer rainy season..
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 10 10 10 20 20 20 5 0 0 State 2
Shrub DominantShrub dominant with immature stands of gambel oak and other shrubs. There is less grass than State 1.
Transition T1
State 1 to 2A severe, crown burning fire will take out the Ponderosa Pine and increase basal sprouting shrubs. The ecological processes for transition back to state one are not understood at this time.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Cool Season Grasses 280–365 Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 75–100 – mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 75–100 – pine dropseed BLTR Blepharoneuron tricholepis 25–50 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 30–40 – Ross' sedge CARO5 Carex rossii 20–30 – slender wheatgrass ELTRT Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 5–10 – Canada bluegrass POCO Poa compressa 5–10 – deergrass MURI2 Muhlenbergia rigens 5–10 – black dropseed SPIN5 Sporobolus interruptus 5–10 – spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 0–5 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0–5 – Fendler's threeawn ARPUF Aristida purpurea var. fendleriana 0–5 – nodding brome BRAN Bromus anomalus 0–5 – 2 Warm Season Grasses 20–35 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 15–25 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 5–10 – Forb3 Forbs 25–75 iris IRIS Iris 10–25 – trefoil LOTUS Lotus 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 0–5 – dock RUMEX Rumex 0–5 – vetch VICIA Vicia 0–5 – western yarrow ACMIO Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 0–5 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–5 – sandwort ARENA Arenaria 0–5 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–5 – aster ASTER Aster 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – thistle CIRSI Cirsium 0–5 – redroot buckwheat ERRA3 Eriogonum racemosum 0–5 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–5 – gilia GILIA Gilia 0–5 – pingue rubberweed HYRI Hymenoxys richardsonii 0–5 – Shrub/Vine4 Shrubs 0–25 New Mexico locust RONE Robinia neomexicana 5–15 – Woods' rose ROWO Rosa woodsii 0–5 – Fendler's ceanothus CEFE Ceanothus fendleri 0–5 – Tree5 Trees 75–100 Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 50–60 – ponderosa pine PIPO Pinus ponderosa 15–25 – alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 5–15 – Rocky Mountain juniper JUSC2 Juniperus scopulorum 0–5 – Interpretations
Animal community
Suitability for grazing by livestock is good before canopy exceeds 50%. Cattle, sheep, goats and horses can use this site in summer and early fall. Management considerations include use of Prescribed Grazing, water developments and reseeding grass following harvest operations for forage and to reduce erosion, grazing should not damage young trees.
Site factors affecting wildlife:
Water: Frequently found in scattered natural wetlands and springs.
Cover: good for most species.
Food: Good potential except where grazing is unmanaged.
Other: Snowfall causes shifts in wildlife populations.
Recreational uses
Winters are cold, however, relatively mild spring, fall and summer months are attractive to recreationists.
Activities include hunting, cross-country riding, photography, hiking, and wildlife observation.
Wood products
Under development.
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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