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Ecological site R041XC334AZ
Limy Upland
12-16" p.z.
Gypsum
Last updated: 4/12/2021
Accessed: 04/22/2026
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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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.3 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Semidesert Grasslands
Elevations range from 3200 to 5000 feet and precipitation ranges from 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, catclaw acacia, netleaf hackberry, palo verde, false mesquite, range ratany, fourwing saltbush, tarbush, littleleaf sumac, sideoats grama, black grama, plains lovegrass, cane beardgrass, tobosa, vine mesquite, threeawns, Arizona cottontop and bush muhly. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic 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.Ecological site concept
Limy Upland, Gypsum, ecological site is found on an upland landscape position, generally on pediments or fan piedmonts. All moisture for the plant community is received from precipitation. Terrain is gently sloping. Soils are shallow to a root-restricting layer (often a petrocalcic pan aka caliche). Soils are calcareous with gypsum present. Gyspum (calcium sulfate) is highly soluble making soil extremely vulnerable to accelerated erosion. It can be found either throughout the soil profile or within sub-surface horizons. Representative soil series representative are: Bella, Graveyard, Gulch, Kaboom, Reeup, Vana, and Whitecliff.
Associated sites
R041XC305AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
R041XC308AZ Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
R041XC313AZ Loamy Upland 12"-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R041XA105AZ Limy Upland 16-20" p.z.
R041XB208AZ Limy Upland 8-12" p.z.
R040XA111AZ Limy Upland 10"-13" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) larrea tridentata
(2) acacia constrictaHerbaceous (1) muhlenbergia porteri
(2) aristidaPhysiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on pediments, fan terraces and hill-slopes. Slope aspect is not site differentiating.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Pediment
(2) Fan piedmont
(3) Hill
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 975 – 1524 m Slope 1 – 40 % Aspect N, E, S Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area ranges from 12-16 inches yearly in the eastern part with elevations from 3600-5000 feet, and 13-17 inches in the western part where elevations are 3300-4500 feet. Winter-Summer rainfall ratios are 40-60% in the west and 30-70% in the east. Summer rains fall July-September, originate in the Gulf of Mexico and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originates in the Pacific and Gulf of California, and falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow rarely lasts more than one day. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild. Freezing temperatures are common at night from December-April; however temperatures during the day are frequently above 50 F. Occasionally in December-February, brief 0 F temperatures may be experienced some nights. During June, July and August, some days may exceed 100 F.
Cool season plants start growth in early spring and mature in early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious July-September. Warm season grasses may remain green throughout the year.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 220 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 410 mm BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
Soils on this site are variable. They are all calcareous throughout, light colored in the surface and low in organic matter. They formed on mixed gravelly and/or loamy alluvium and conglomerate. Some soils are deep; some soils have cemented lime pans or conglomerate at shallow depths. Soil surfaces are usually well covered with gravels or pan fragments. Plant-soil moisture relationships are poor.
Soil series mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal & Southern Gila counties MU's 57 Kimrose, 77 Kimrose family, 88 Stonghold; SSA-664 San Simon area MU's 11 Cave & Durorthids, 19 & 30 Kimbrough; SSA-665 Willcox area MU's Ca Cave, Ka Karro, KbE Kimbrough, KhE Kimbrough variant; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 6 Blakeney family, 6 & 56 Luckyhills, 11 Andrada, 33 Courthouse & Perilla, 55 Gulch and 64 Pedregosa; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU's Ca calciorthids, Cn Cave GrSL, KbC Kimbrough; SSA-669 Pima county Eastern part MU 65 Kimrose family; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 7 Bella FSL, 8 Blakeney & Luckyhills, 18 Andrada, 21 Buntline CL, 76 Graveyard, Grizzle CoSL, 89 Kaboom & Reeup, 91 Zapalote, 97 Gulch, 98 Luckyhills SL, 99 Luckyhills & Mcneal, 104 Major FSL, Mcneal GrSL, 110 Mcneal Grsl saline-sodic, 113 Buntline, 118 Pedregosa GrVFSL, 119 Pedregosa & Tombstone, 135 Surge, 136 Mule & Southerland, 142 Tombstone GrVFSL, 149 Vana FSL and 150 Vana; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham Nation MU 7 Kimrose.Table 4. Representative soil features
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to moderate Soil depth 25 – 152 cm Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 45 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 8 % Available water capacity
(0-101.6cm)1.78 – 10.67 cm Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-101.6cm)10 – 45 % Electrical conductivity
(0-101.6cm)0 – 8 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-101.6cm)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-101.6cm)7.9 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 45 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 8 % Ecological dynamics
Desert Shrub-Grassland State: Reference plant community aspect is shrubland. Shrubs (creosote, white-thorn acacia, and tarbush) and subshrubs (ratany and mariola) dominate the plant community. The herbaceous understory is mostly perennial grasses (three-awns, black grama, bush muhly). A diverse mixture of succulents, perennial forbs and annuals are also well represented. Natural fires limit shrub dominance by periodically top-killing them. Shrub canopy returns to dominate the community within a ten years of fire. Unmanaged grazing will restrict perennial grasses to the protection of shrub canopy.
Grassland State: Chemical brush management will remove shrubs and succulents from plant community; non-native perennial mid-grasses (Lehmann lovegrass) will assume dominance. Native perennial grasses may remain within community but will be rapidly grazed out if not managed.
Eroded State: Plant community is absent due to adverse changes in soil hydrology (limited infiltration, excessive run-off). Soil disturbance will trigger unstoppable erosion. Mechanical soil disturbances can include brush management, mechanical land treatments (ie, ripping), cultivation, road cuts, construction, heavy use zone by cattle (ie, supplement or water trough site), trenching, recreational vehicle use.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 3. State and Transition, Limy Upland 12-16" p.z.
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 1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Figure 4. Limy Upland 12-16" pz. HCPC
The potential plant community on this site is a diverse mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs and perennial grasses and forbs. Most of the major perennial grasses on the site are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Black grama occurs in patches which are small in size and appear to be well dispersed over large areas of the site. The aspect is shrub-land. Cryptogam cover (moss, lichen) can be considerable in the plant community, but diminishes as the surface cover of gravel increases.
With continuous heavy grazing, the palatable perennial grasses and forbs are replaced by increases in the large woody perennials (creosote bush, white thorn, and tar bush). Natural fire may have been important in maintaining a balance between herbaceous and woody species on the site, but fire free intervals were much greater than those of more productive sites, due to the length of time needed for fuels to accumulate. Also, fuel continuity is poor in areas of this site due to slope and aspect. In addition, the major perennial grasses; bush muhly and black grama, have shrub-like characteristics (perennial culms and branching), and accumulate much old dead material and may take several years to recover to pre-fire conditions.
North aspects have more perennial grass than south aspects. Shrubs will resume dominance within ten years after fire.Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(kg/hectare)Representative value
(kg/hectare)High
(kg/hectare)Shrub/Vine 252 420 549 Grass/Grasslike 78 196 336 Forb 12 34 179 Tree 0 0 11 Total 342 650 1075 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 0-30% Litter 10-20% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 10-50% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0-0% Water 0% Bare ground 20-60% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (m) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.15 – 0-5% 0-3% 0-1% >0.15 <= 0.3 – 1-5% 1-5% 1-5% >0.3 <= 0.6 – 5-10% 5-15% 0-5% >0.6 <= 1.4 – 10-30% 0-5% – >1.4 <= 4 0-1% 1-10% – – >4 <= 12 – – – – >12 <= 24 – – – – >24 <= 37 – – – – >37 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4133 , 41.3 12-16" p.z. limy upland and limy fan sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues through the summer, 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 0 10 10 10 30 30 10 0 0 0 State 2
Perennial grass, root-plowedCommunity 2.1
Perennial grass, root-plowedThis state occurs where the site has been root-plowed and seeded to Lehmann, Boer lovegrass or native species like sideoats grama. On some soils, root-plowing can breakup subsurface cemented pans and increase rooting depth. This treatment will usually results in grass dominance for 10 to 15 years with proper grazing or no grazing. With continuous grazing shrubs will resume dominance within 5 or 6 years. In nearly all cases the large shrubs will resume dominance but some species of native perennial herbs and half shrubs will be lost and non-native species can invade the site.
State 3
Native perennial grass, herbicideCommunity 3.1
Native perennial grass, herbicideThis state occurs where the site has been treated with a herbicide to kill creosote, tarbush and whitethorn. Native perennial grasses will become dominant with proper grazing or no grazing and persist for 10 to 15 years. With continuous grazing shrubs will resume dominance in 5 to 6 years. In most cases the herbicides will remove native half shrubs and perennial forbs from the plant community. The large shrubs will reinvade from seed and quickly resume dominance of the plant community. The treatment may allow invasion of non-native species if a seed source is present.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant suffrutescent grasses 34–135 bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 22–112 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 11–90 – 2 Dominant short grasses 11–56 slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 11–34 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 11–34 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–22 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 1–11 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–11 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–11 – 3 Perennial threeawns 22–56 blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 11–45 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–17 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–11 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 0–11 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–11 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–6 – poverty threeawn ARDI5 Aristida divaricata 0–6 – Havard's threeawn ARHA3 Aristida havardii 0–6 – Wooton's threeawn ARPA9 Aristida pansa 0–6 – 4 Miscellaneous perennial grasses 6–34 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 0–17 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–11 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–11 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–11 – burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 0–6 – spike dropseed SPCO4 Sporobolus contractus 0–6 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0–6 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–6 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–6 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 0–6 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–6 – Arizona muhly MUAR3 Muhlenbergia arizonica 0–6 – whiplash pappusgrass PAVA2 Pappophorum vaginatum 0–6 – southwestern needlegrass ACEM4 Achnatherum eminens 0–6 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–6 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–2 – alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 0–2 – big sacaton SPWR2 Sporobolus wrightii 0–1 – 5 Annual grasses 6–56 sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–22 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 1–22 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–22 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–22 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–11 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–11 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–11 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–11 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–6 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–6 – prairie false oat TRIN5 Trisetum interruptum 0–6 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–6 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–6 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–6 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–6 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–2 – tapertip cupgrass ERACA Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata 0–2 – Mexican lovegrass ERME Eragrostis mexicana 0–2 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–2 – tufted lovegrass ERPEP2 Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea 0–2 – Forb6 Perennial Forbs 11–67 leatherweed CRPOP Croton pottsii var. pottsii 6–22 – pricklyleaf dogweed THAC Thymophylla acerosa 6–22 – rue of the mountains THTE2 Thamnosma texana 6–22 – clammy groundcherry PHHE5 Physalis heterophylla 1–17 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–11 – paleface HIDE Hibiscus denudatus 0–11 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–11 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 1–11 – hairyseed bahia BAAB Bahia absinthifolia 6–11 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–11 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–6 – Fendler's bladderpod LEFE Lesquerella fendleri 0–6 – ivyleaf groundcherry PHHE4 Physalis hederifolia 0–6 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 0–6 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–6 – Rocky Mountain zinnia ZIGR Zinnia grandiflora 0–2 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–2 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–2 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 0–2 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–2 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–2 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–2 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–2 – wild dwarf morning-glory EVAR Evolvulus arizonicus 0–2 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–2 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–1 – spreading snakeherb DYSCD Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – Palmer's Indian mallow ABPA Abutilon palmeri 0–1 – velvetseed milkwort POOB Polygala obscura 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – shrubby purslane POSU3 Portulaca suffrutescens 0–1 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–1 – American vetch VIAM Vicia americana 0–1 – copper zephyrlily ZELO Zephyranthes longifolia 0–1 – 7 Annual forbs 1–112 Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–34 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 1–34 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–22 – intermediate pepperweed LEVIM Lepidium virginicum var. medium 0–22 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 1–22 – staggerweed STAR Stachys arvensis 0–22 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCAA Streptanthus carinatus ssp. arizonicus 0–22 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–22 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–17 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–11 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 1–11 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–11 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–11 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–11 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–11 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–11 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–11 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–11 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–11 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–11 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–11 – goosefoot CHENO Chenopodium 0–6 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–6 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–6 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–6 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–6 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–6 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–6 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–6 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–6 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–6 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–6 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–2 – bristly nama NAHI Nama hispidum 0–2 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–2 – plains flax LIPU4 Linum puberulum 0–2 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–2 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSAB Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 0–2 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–2 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–2 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–2 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–2 – manystem woolly sunflower ERMU6 Eriophyllum multicaule 0–2 – sanddune wallflower ERCA14 Erysimum capitatum 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – southwestern pricklypoppy ARPL3 Argemone pleiacantha 0–2 – wheelscale saltbush ATEL Atriplex elegans 0–2 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–2 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–2 – warty caltrop KAPA Kallstroemia parviflora 0–2 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–2 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–2 – sensitive partridge pea CHNI2 Chamaecrista nictitans 0–2 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–2 – New Mexico copperleaf ACNE Acalypha neomexicana 0–2 – Arizona blanketflower GAAR2 Gaillardia arizonica 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – Shrub/Vine8 Dominant shrubs 168–336 whitethorn acacia ACCOC Acacia constricta var. constricta 22–224 – whitethorn acacia ACCOP9 Acacia constricta var. paucispina 11–224 – creosote bush LATRT Larrea tridentata var. tridentata 45–224 – viscid acacia ACNE4 Acacia neovernicosa 0–112 – American tarwort FLCE Flourensia cernua 0–112 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 56–112 desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 22–67 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 11–56 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 11–56 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–39 – woody crinklemat TICAC Tiquilia canescens var. canescens 0–34 – fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 0–34 – featherplume DAFO Dalea formosa 0–34 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 6–28 – trailing krameria KRLA Krameria lanceolata 0–17 – whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 1–11 – 10 Sub dominant large shrubs 22–67 Rio Grande saddlebush MOSC Mortonia scabrella 0–22 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 6–22 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–17 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–17 – crown of thorns KOSP Koeberlinia spinosa 1–11 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–11 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–11 – knifeleaf condalia COSP3 Condalia spathulata 0–11 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–11 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 1–11 – Wislizenus' senna SEWI3 Senna wislizeni 0–11 – 11 Miscellaneous shrubs 6–34 Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–11 – devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 0–11 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 0–11 – purple pricklypear OPMAM Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra 0–6 – Santa Rita pricklypear OPSA Opuntia santa-rita 0–6 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 0–6 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–6 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–6 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–6 – desertbroom BASA2 Baccharis sarothroides 0–6 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–6 – javelina bush COER5 Condalia ericoides 0–6 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–6 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–6 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–6 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–6 – Utah fendlerbush FEUTC Fendlerella utahensis var. cymosa 0–6 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–6 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–6 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–6 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–6 – rayless goldenhead ACSPS2 Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus var. sphaerocephalus 0–6 – Palmer's century plant AGPA3 Agave palmeri 0–6 – Kearney's sumac RHKE Rhus kearneyi 0–6 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–6 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–6 – lotebush ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0–2 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–2 – nightblooming cereus PEGR3 Peniocereus greggii 0–2 – Parry's agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0–2 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–2 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–2 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–2 – little nipple cactus MAHE2 Mammillaria heyderi 0–1 – Scheer's beehive cactus COROS Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri 0–1 – Bisbee spinystar ESVIB Escobaria vivipara var. bisbeeana 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 0–11 velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–11 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–11 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–6 – 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 (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Droughty and calcareous soils make for a short green season for warm season forage species. High soil pH may make essential nutrients less available for plant growth. Bush muhly and black grama retain perennial culms and form clumps or thatch which contains green through the winter. These species plus several shrubby browse species make the site suitable for use in the cool season. Except for the brief green period in the summer rainy season, the forage quality will be lacking for cows with calves. Areas of this site in complex with non-calcareous sites will not receive any appreciable grazing use until the areas of other sites are overused. In these cases, fences and grazing systems are needed to adequately manage such areas.
This site produces little in the way of wildlife forage. It is mainly home to small herbivores and a foraging area to other species which live on associated bottom sites. Water developments are very important to wildlife on the site.Hydrological functions
These soils are coarse textured, but may have lime cemented layers at shallow depths which limit infiltration.
Recreational uses
Hunting, horseback riding, photography, camping, hiking and bird-watching.
Wood products
none
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 9 in excellent condition, 11 in good condition and 7 in fair condition.
Type locality
Location 1: Pima County, AZ Township/Range/Section T17S R17E S11 General legal description Empirita Ranch Location 2: Pinal County, AZ Township/Range/Section T8S R18E S20 General legal description Campstool Ranch Location 3: Cochise County, AZ Township/Range/Section T19S R22E S29 General legal description Tombstone - Fairbanks Highway ROW Location 4: Cochise County, AZ Township/Range/Section T17S R22E S17 General legal description Fourr Ranch Contributors
Wilma J Renken
Approval
Curtis Talbot, 4/12/2021
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) Dave Womack, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carillo Contact for lead author NRCS Tucson Area Office Date 03/04/2005 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Flow paths common at least 10% of the area; 30-40 feet long, discontinuous. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals common on all shrubs. Terracettes uncommon -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-50% -
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 litter in vicinity of flow paths moves in flow paths. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Expect balues 1-3 in bare areas and 4-6 in grass and shrub canopies. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak granular; color is 7.5YR4/4 dry, 7.5YR3/3 moist; thickness to 11 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Canopy 15-25%, basal 5-10%, litter 5-20%,; 50-60% of canopy cover is shrubs, 10-20% is subshrubs, 10-20% is perennial grasses. Cover is well dispersed throughout the site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
large shrubs > perennial grasses > subshrubs > perennial forbs > annually grasses & forbs > succulentsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
75-80% mortality of desert zinnia. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
350 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation; 600 lbs/ac normal precipitation; 900 lbs/ac favorable 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:
Lehmann lovegrass, creosote, whitethorn, mesquite, prickly pear, burroweed, wait-a-bit. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected due to regional prolonged drought.
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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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