Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XB204AZ
Clay Loam Upland
8-12" p.z.
Last updated: 4/09/2021
Accessed: 09/14/2026
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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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.2 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Desert Shrubs
Elevations range from 2600 to 4000 feet and precipitation ranges from 8 to 12 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, palo verde, catclaw acacia, soaptree yucca, creosotebush, whitethorn, staghorn cholla, desert saltbush, Mormon tea, burroweed, snakeweed, tobosa, black grama, threeawns, bush muhly, dropseed, and burrograss. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.Associated sites
R041XB203AZ Clayey Upland 8-12" p.z.
R041XB210AZ Loamy Upland 8-12" p.z.
Similar sites
R041XC305AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
R040XA120AZ Clay Loam Upland 10"-13" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Opuntia phaeacantha
(2) Opuntia kunzeiHerbaceous (1) Pleuraphis mutica
(2) aristidaPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the lowest elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on rolling low ridges, fan terraces, mesas and gently sloping uplands; generally below the hills and above the plains. The site is usually dissected by numerous water courses.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Ridge
(2) Fan piedmont
(3) Mesa
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 2600 – 4000 ft Slope 1 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Precipitation ranges from 8-12 inches annually. More than half falls during Jul-Sep in brief, but often heavy, thunderstorms. The rest of the moisture comes as light rain or snow that falls slowly for a day or more, but rarely lasts more than a day. May and June are normally the driest months. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild throughout most of the year. Freezing temperatures are common at night Dec-Feb; brief 0 F may be observed some nights. During June, July & August, some days may exceed 100 F.
In years of average or greater winter precipitation, annual grasses and forbs occur abundantly in the interspaces.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 240 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep and clayey textured. They have thin (1-2 inch) surface horizons that range from sandyloam to loam in texture. They lack vertic soil properties. They usually have well developed covers of surface gravels and cobbles. Surface soils (10 inches) are non-calcareous, but some soils have calcic horizons below the argillic horizon.
Soil series mapped on areas of this site include: SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 4 Artesia, 8 & 9 Continental, 16 Glendale, 40 Stellar, 41 Tapco and 43 Continental; SSA-664 San Simon area MU's 3 Artesia, 16 & 17 Eba, 22 & 23 Glendale, 41 Tubac and 45 Forrest; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU 93 Topawa.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly loam
(2) Gravelly loam
(3) 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" 5 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 9 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 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 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 55 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 15 % 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
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. 41-2 Clay Loam Upland STM Diagram
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 1
ReferenceCommunity 1.1
Desert grass-shrubland (HCPC)
Figure 5. Clayloam Upland 8-12" pz.
The native potential plant community on this site is a mixture of perennial grasses and desert shrubs and cacti. Annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, are very important in the plant community in their respective (wet) seasons. Tobosa is the dominant perennial grass, with lesser amounts of gramas and threeawns. The cover of some shallow rooted grass species, like curley mesquite, fluctuate widely from wet to dry years.
Figure 6. 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 125 200 500 Forb 5 50 175 Shrub/Vine 17 50 110 Total 147 300 785 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 10-80% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 20-50% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-80% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 1-10% 1-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 1-5% 1-10% 1-20% >1 <= 2 – 1-5% 5-10% 0-10% >2 <= 4.5 – 1-5% 0-2% 0-2% >4.5 <= 13 – 0-5% – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Community 1.2
Annual Forbs and GrassesThis community phase follows a drought period during which the shallow-rooted perennial grasses such as curly mesquite are negatively impacted. Annuals dominate the subsequent bare areas, shrubs and succulents may or may not increase, tobosa is slightly reduced.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2Dry weather cycles such as La Nina accompanied by below average monsoons.
Conservation practices
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1Wet weather cycles such as El Nino and higher than average monsoons.
Conservation practices
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Prescribed Grazing State 2
Shrubs, tobosaCommunity 2.1
Desert ShrublandThis state occurs where shrub and cacti species including mesquite and prickly pear have increased to dominate the plant community but there is still a remnant cover of tobosa and other native grasses and forbs. Shrub increases are due to the interaction of drought and continuous grazing and perhaps to climatic warming (prickly pear).
State 3
Annual Forbs & GrassesCommunity 3.1
AnnualsThis state occurs where the native grass cover has been depleted due too the interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing. Annual grasses and forbs (native and non-native) dominate the plant community. Some situations may be due to the cultivation for irrigation and subsequent abandonment.
State 4
ErodedCommunity 4.1
Eroded, with or without ShrubsThis State is characterized by loss of soil site stability due to exposed, compacted soil,and accelerated erosion (sheet, rill, and gully erosion); hydrologic functioning is impaired due to lack of infiltration; the biotic community is no longer intact. Native and non-native annuals fluctuate with weather patterns. Perennial grasses and forbs are largely absent. Shrubs and succulents may or may not be present.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Continous unmanaged grazing and/or a long-term dry weather cycle will negatively impact the perennial herbaceous component of the plant community. Shrubs will largely be unaffected and continue to expand in canopy cover. Climatic shift toward higher amounts of winter rainfall and lesser amounts summer rainfall favors shrub and, in particular, succulent growth.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Continous unmanaged grazing and repeated burning to remove undesirable old growth from tobosa. Some situations may have arisen from cultivation and abandonment of irrigated farming.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Managed grazing and, as needed, woody species control and/or native species seeding.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Range Planting Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Prescribed Grazing Transition T2A
State 2 to 4Long-term unmanaged grazing negatively impacts above-ground herbaceous growth and causes soil compaction limiting root development. Animal trailing and soil surface compaction compound the affect of plant community changes (increased shrub/decreased perennial grass community) to increase surface water run-off.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2Restoration of this state involves a mechanical woody species control and native herbaceous species planting plus control structures to inhibit gully and rill erosion.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Critical Area Planting Grade Stabilization Structure Access Control Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment Range Planting Heavy Use Area Protection Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Grade Stabilization Structure-Tire Bales Prescribed Grazing Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 3Restoration of this state involves a broad spectrum approach to slow erosion and provide short-term infiltration during native seed (in situ or planted) establishment. Projects involve treating the compacted areas with contour ripping, mulching, and native seed planting; rills and gullies should be treated with mechanical control structures.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Critical Area Planting Grade Stabilization Structure Access Control Mulching Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment Range Planting Rock Barrier Heavy Use Area Protection Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Livestock Use Area Protection Grade Stabilization Structure-Tire Bales Prescribed Grazing Road/Trail/Landing Closure and Treatment Grazing Management Plan - Written Grazing Management Plan - Applied 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 Grass 100–200 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 100–200 – 2 Miscellaneous Perennial Grasses 13–100 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 10–50 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 1–50 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–20 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 1–20 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 1–20 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–10 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 0–10 – burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 0–10 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–10 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–10 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–10 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–2 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–2 – 3 Perennial threeawns 10–100 Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–25 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 5–25 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5–25 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–15 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–15 – poverty threeawn ARDI5 Aristida divaricata 0–5 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–5 – 4 Annual grasses 1–100 mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–25 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–25 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–25 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–20 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–20 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–20 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–15 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 1–10 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–10 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–10 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–5 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–5 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–5 – tapertip cupgrass ERACA Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata 0–5 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–5 – tufted lovegrass ERPEP2 Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea 0–5 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–5 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – Forb5 Perennial Forbs 5–25 dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 1–10 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 1–5 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 1–5 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–5 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 1–5 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – pricklyleaf dogweed THAC Thymophylla acerosa 0–1 – Rocky Mountain zinnia ZIGR Zinnia grandiflora 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – San Pedro daisy LAPO4 Lasianthaea podocephala 0–1 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 0–1 – lacy tansyaster MAPIP4 Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida 0–1 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–1 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – hairyseed bahia BAAB Bahia absinthifolia 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – whitemargin sandmat CHAL11 Chamaesyce albomarginata 0–1 – leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0–1 – fingerleaf gourd CUDI Cucurbita digitata 0–1 – coyote gourd CUPA Cucurbita palmata 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–1 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – poreleaf dogweed ADPO2 Adenophyllum porophyllum 0–1 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–1 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 0–150 California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–25 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–20 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–20 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–20 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–20 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–15 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–15 – intermediate pepperweed LEVIM Lepidium virginicum var. medium 0–15 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSAB Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 0–15 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–15 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–10 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–10 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–10 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–10 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–5 – Nuttall's povertyweed MONU Monolepis nuttalliana 0–5 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–5 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–5 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–5 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–5 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–5 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–5 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – wheelscale saltbush ATEL Atriplex elegans 0–5 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–5 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–5 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–2 – fringed redmaids CACI2 Calandrinia ciliata 0–2 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–2 – hyssopleaf sandmat CHHY3 Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 0–2 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–2 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–2 – hairy desertsunflower GECA2 Geraea canescens 0–2 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–2 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–2 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–2 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–2 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–2 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–2 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–2 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–2 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–1 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–1 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–1 – bristly nama NAHI Nama hispidum 0–1 – glandular threadplant NEGL Nemacladus glanduliferus 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – Coulter's globemallow SPCO2 Sphaeralcea coulteri 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – tumblemustard THELY3 Thelypodiopsis 0–1 – camphorweed HESU3 Heterotheca subaxillaris 0–1 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–1 – common woolly sunflower ERLA6 Eriophyllum lanatum 0–1 – Mexican fireplant EUHE4 Euphorbia heterophylla 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – southwestern pricklypoppy ARPL3 Argemone pleiacantha 0–1 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Dominant shrubs 10–50 jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–40 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 5–20 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–10 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–10 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0–5 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–5 – 8 Miscellaneous shrubs 0–10 catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–1 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–1 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–1 – American tarwort FLCE Flourensia cernua 0–1 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–1 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–1 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–1 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–1 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–1 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0–1 – lotebush ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0–1 – 9 Half shrubs 2–30 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 1–15 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–10 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–5 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–5 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–1 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – rayless goldenhead ACSP Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus 0–1 – shortleaf baccharis BABR Baccharis brachyphylla 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–20 devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 1–5 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 0–5 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 1–5 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–5 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–2 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–2 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–2 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–1 – Table 9. Community 1.2 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
Animal community
This site produces some perennial forage for livestock. It wet (El Nino) winters it produces a tremendous amount of annual forbs and grasses, all of which are excellent forage. The site is home to a variety of small mammals and birds and their associated predators. It is mainly a foraging area for larger mammals like mule deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
These soils are heavy textured and good producers of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, wildlife observation, photography, rock hounding and bird watching.
Wood products
Limited mesquite wood for campfires.
Other products
Red clay for pot making.
Supporting information
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Steve Barker
UnknownApproval
Curtis Talbot, 4/09/2021
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) Wilma Renken, Dan Robinett, Larry Humphrey Contact for lead author USDA-NRCS Tucson MLRA Soil Survey Office Date 12/12/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow paths occupy less than 5% of the surface area. Sheet flow predominates as a process on this site with water flow patterns generated from sheet flow off bare areas. Sheet flow lengths are less than 10 feet. Vegetated areas are densely covered with no visible flow patterns. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are infrequent on all longer lived grasses and sub-shrubs. Terracettes are not common on the site. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
ESD cover ranges for bare soil is 5-75%, gravel ranges from 15-50% and basal cover of live perennial grasses is 1-3%. Bare areas not covered by perennial plant canopy are moderately sized (2-3 ft in diameter) and generally connected. Bare areas make up approximately 50% of the area. -
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):
Fine litter size classes are moving less than a foot in sheet flow areas. Coarse litter stays in place. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Values from soil slake test score 2-3 on bare areas and 4-6 from protected areas. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A horizon is a gravelly sandy loam 0.5 inches thick, structureless. Colors are 5 YR 5/4 dry and 5 YR 3/4 moist. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial grasses dominate the site. Hydrology functions are sheet flow run-off originating on bare areas, run-off slowing and infiltration occurring within perennial grass patches. Total canopy cover approximately 40-45%. Perennial grass canopy = 27-37%, succulent canopy = 1-5%, shrubs and half-shrubs = 1-5%. Annual grass canopy fluctuates with seasonal rainfall; canopy cover can exceed 40% and mask the vegetation distribution pattern. Perennial grasses exhibit patch-distribution with scattered shrubs and succulents. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present, average depth of penetration from an ARS field penetrometer with a 2.2 kg. sliding hammer is 5.1 cm. The dense argillic horizon at 3 inches can be mistaken for a compacted layer. -
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:
Dominant perennial grass (tobosa)>Sub-dominant:
> miscellaneous perennial grasses = perennial three-awns = dominant shrubs >/= annual forbs >/= annual grasses >Other:
> half-shrubs, succulents, misc.shrubs, perennial forbsAdditional:
annual grasses and forbs can fluctuate within ranking based on seasonal precipitation -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Mortality due to drought (2009 and very dry winter spring of 2011) about 20% on cane cholla. All other species show only natural rates of approximately 5-10% mortality. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover ranges from 10-75% on this site. Litter cover was 65% on this date. Ground cover was collected as point cover data concurrently with pace frequency method (300 pts). -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
147 lbs/ac. in a below average year; 300 lbs/ac. in an average year; 785 lbs/ac. in an above average year. Production of summer annual grasses can exceed expected on years with above average seasonal precipitation. -
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:
Cholla and prickly pear common across site with about 300 plants per acre amounting to 4% canopy cover. Mesquite is scattered across site at 1% canopy cover and with a density of 25 plants per acre. Other invasive species: Lehmann lovegrass and Boers lovegrass. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not impaired on any species.
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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