Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R078BY091TX
Very Shallow
19-26" PZ
Last updated: 9/15/2023
Accessed: 08/17/2026
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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.
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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): 078B–Central Rolling Red Plains, Western Part
MLRA 78B is characterized by strongly dissected, rolling plains with prominent ridges and valleys and rolling to steep irregular topography. Loamy soils are generally well drained, range from shallow to deep, and developed in sediments of Triassic and Permian age.
LRU notes
NA
Classification relationships
This ecological site is correlated to soil components at the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) level which is further described in USDA Ag Handbook 296.
Ecological site concept
These sites occur on very shallow loams on uplands. Reference vegetation includes midgrasses and shortgrasses with forbs and scattered shrubs. Abusive grazing practices can lead to a shift in the plant community and an increase in bare ground. Without periodic fire or alternative brush management, woody species may increase on the site.
Associated sites
R078BY072TX Clay Loam 19-26" PZ
Deep clay loam soils on uplands
R078BY076TX Gyp 19-26" PZ
Very shallow soils over gypsum
Similar sites
R078BY089TX Shallow 19-26" PZ
Shallow site for MLRA 78B.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Dalea formosa
Herbaceous (1) Schizachyrium scoparium
(2) Tetraneuris scaposaPhysiographic features
This is an upland site with very shallow soil over caliche or limestone. It occurs on ridges, hills, erosional slopes and along escarpments. Slopes are moderate to steep. There are often pebbles or rock fragments on the soil surface and occasionally bedrock will be showing. The parent material may be very hard such as limestone or indurated caliche or it may be softer caliche of the upper Ogallala. The parent material is harder where it is exposed such as on escarpments.
The aspect can be at any position of the landscape.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plains > Ridge
(2) Plains > Escarpment
(3) Plains > Hill
Runoff class Medium to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 1000 – 3100 ft Slope 1 – 30 % Water table depth 60 – 80 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of the western rolling plains is dry, sub-humid with hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures often reach 100 degrees F for several consecutive days during summer. Cold spells with temperatures less than 20 degrees F only last short periods of time. The soil is not frozen below the 3-inch depth for more than 2 to 3 days. Humidity is low during the winter and early spring months. Sometimes relative humidity is high enough to make summer days seem uncomfortable. Most of the precipitation comes in the form of rain and that in the spring and early summer principally. May is the wettest month followed by June. July and August are dryer and much hotter. Rainfall often comes as intense showers of relatively short duration. Rainfall rate per hour is often high and runoff is significant. Infiltration is diminished due to lack of opportunity time. The growing season begins in April and ends with the first killing frost in November. There is little snowfall with the average being about 10 inches. Rainfall averages about 22 inches.
There is a 70% chance that yearly precipitation will fall between 16 and 24 inches. About 55% of the time, the yearly rainfall is below the mean. Dry spells during the growing season are common and long-term droughts occur in cycles of about 20 years. Native vegetation is principally warm season.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 190-190 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 200-220 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 20-20 in Frost-free period (actual range) 180-200 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 200-220 days Precipitation total (actual range) 20-30 in Frost-free period (average) 190 days Freeze-free period (average) 210 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) WELLINGTON [USC00419565], Wellington, TX
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(2) PADUCAH [USC00416740], Paducah, TX
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(3) JAYTON [USC00414570], Jayton, TX
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(4) SNYDER [USC00418433], Snyder, TX
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(5) ROBERT LEE [USC00417669], Robert Lee, TX
">Influencing water features
Overland flow from intense rains moves across the site to streams lower on the landscape.
Wetland description
NA
Soil features
Soils are very shallow, well drained and calcareous. Geologic erosion has stripped away soil material along these erosional surfaces. Some very shallow site have leached carbonates which form petrocalcic horizons. The soil may be loam, clay loam or sandy loam in texture and is usually rocky or gravelly in nature. Petrocalcic horizons are impermeable while the softer caliche horizons are moderately permeable. Available water holding capacity is low and fertility is low. Plant growth and production is limited due to shallow depth. Cracks in underlying bedrock can allow water to penetrate. Shrubs and grasses with deep root systems may be able to access some of this moisture.
Major Soil Taxonomic Units correlated to this site include: Harmon soils, Ector soils (Ector-LaCasa association), Latom soils and Potter soils.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – limestone and dolomite
Surface texture (1) Stony fine sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly loam
(3) Gravelly silty clay
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Very slow to moderate Soil depth 4 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 18 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 20 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.6 – 2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)5 – 60 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 1 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 50 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 20 % Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community is mixed grasses, forbs and low growing shrubs. Vegetation is somewhat sparse compared to sites with deeper soils. Bare soil with exposed rock is usually evident. The soils are limy in nature which, along with shallow depth, affects both quantity of vegetation and species composition. Production is limited and the limy nature of the soils has some influence on the palatability of some of the plant species. Usually, livestock will not graze this site as heavily as sites with more developed soils. Tall, mid and short grass species can be found on the site, with mid grasses being dominant. A good variety of perennial forbs is usually present. Scattered low growing shrubs may make up 10% of the total vegetation.
The major grass species include: little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), wright threeawn (Aristida wrightii), New Mexico feathergrass (Stipa neomexicana), and smaller amounts of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). Major forbs include: plains actinea (Tetraneuris scaposa), longleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum longifolium), blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucantham), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), trailing ratany (Krameria lanceolata), broom nailwort (Paronychia jamesii), baby white aster (Chaetappa ericoides), halfshrub sundrop (Calylophus serrulata), skullcap (Scutellaria drummondi), and purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia). The most common low shrubs are: feather dalea (Dalea formosa) and catclaw mimosa (Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera). Occasional redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) and shrubby hackberry (Celtis reticulata) are also present.
Along with depth of soil, there are other factors affecting vegetation on the site. Natural fires very likely helped promote a grassland aspect and kept woody shrubs from dominating. Grazing of large herbivores who visited the site then moved on kept grazing pressure limited. Dryness of the site probably played the greatest part in shaping the historic vegetation. This site may have changed less than many sites due to less inherent fertility, thus less grazing pressure from livestock. However, grazing abuse can occur and sites that have been protected usually have more of the tall grass species present. If this site is abused, it will quickly give way to perennial threeawn, broom snakeweed, and various annual forbs. When the site is extremely degraded, it is unlikely that the historic community can ever be approached again. While this is generally a resistant site, severe abuse can lead to advanced surface erosion due to lack of protective cover.
Plant Communities and Transitional Pathways (diagram):
The following diagram suggests some pathways that the vegetation on this site might take. There may be other states not shown on the diagram. This information is intended to show what might happen in a given set of circumstances; it does not mean that this would happen the same way in every instance. Local professional guidance should always be sought before pursuing a treatment scenario. When this site passes the threshold going to a community dominated by short grasses, threeawns, and annuals, it is not likely that the site can be restored to a community approaching the historic climax.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 textT1A - Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure R2A - Adequate rest from defoliation, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes T2A - Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Midgrass/Tallgrass StateThe Mid/Tallgrass Dominant Community is a balanced mixture of tall, mid and a few short grasses, a variety of perennial forbs, and scattered low growing short woody shrubs. Little bluestem and sideoats grama are the dominant species. There are short shrubs such as feather dalea and catclaw mimosa. Common forbs are dotted gayfeather, plains actinea, plains zinnia and baby white aster.
Dominant plant species
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featherplume (Dalea formosa), shrub
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
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stemmy four-nerve daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa), grass
Community 1.1
Mid/Tallgrass Dominant Community
Figure 8. 1.1 Mid/Tallgrass Dominant Community
The interpretive or "reference" plant community for this site is a balanced mixture of tall, mid and a few short grasses, a variety of perennial forbs, and scattered low growing short woody shrubs. Little bluestem and sideoats grama are the dominant species. There are short shrubs such as feather dalea and catclaw mimosa. Common forbs are dotted gayfeather, plains actinea, plains zinnia and baby white aster.
Figure 9. 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 500 750 850 Forb 50 100 90 Shrub/Vine 50 60 90 Microbiotic Crusts 10 20 25 Tree 0 0 1 Total 610 930 1056 Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX2019 , Tall/Midgrass prairie with trees, shrubs and forbs. Tall and midgrasses with trees, small shrubs and forbs in near historic climax..
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 1 3 5 10 25 25 10 5 8 5 2 1 State 2
Midgrass/Shortgrass StateMidgrasses dominate the site along with some low growing shrubs. Some increase in perennial threeawn. Sideoats grama and blue grama are still the major grasses. Some increase in perennial forbs.
Dominant plant species
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pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
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blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
Community 2.1
Midgrass/Shortgrass Dominant Community
Figure 11. 2.1 Midgrass/Shortgrass Dominant Community
Midgrasses dominate the site along with some low growing shrubs. Some increase in perennial threeawn. Sideoats grama and blue grama are still the major grasses. Some increase in perennial forbs. This community is not as productive as the reference community.
Figure 12. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 500 600 700 Forb 30 75 100 Shrub/Vine 50 70 85 Tree 0 0 1 Microbiotic Crusts 0 0 1 Total 580 745 887 Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX2020 , Midgrass/Shortgrass with few shrubs. Site comprising of mid and shortgrasses with few shrubs..
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 1 5 15 25 20 5 5 15 8 1 0 State 3
Shrubland StateThe Forb/Pricklypear Dominant Community is composed of shortgrasses, annual forbs, short shrubs, and pricklypear. There is also an increase in bare ground. The annual production potential is lower too.
Dominant plant species
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pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
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soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), shrub
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blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
Community 3.1
Forb/Pricklypear Dominant Community
Figure 14. 3.1 Forb/Pricklypear Dominant Community
The Forb/Pricklypear Dominant Community is composed of shortgrasses, annual forbs, short shrubs, and pricklypear. There is also an increase in bare ground. The annual production potential is lower too.
Figure 15. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 250 350 550 Shrub/Vine 375 400 450 Forb 30 40 50 Tree 0 5 5 Microbiotic Crusts 0 0 0 Total 655 795 1055 Figure 16. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX2022 , Shortgrasses/Annual grasses/Shrubs . Shortgrasses, shrubs, and annuals having low production and being degraded..
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 16 27 25 7 4 10 5 1 0 Transition T1A
State 1 to 2With heavy continuous grazing and no fires, the Midgrass/Tallgrass State will transition into the Midgrass/Shortgrass State.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1With Prescribed Grazing and Prescribed Burning conservation practices, the Midgrass/Shortgrass State can revert back to the Midgrass/Tallgrass State.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Transition T2A
State 2 to 3With heavy continuous grazing, brush invasion, no brush management, and no pest management, the Midgrass/Shortgrass State will transition to the Shrubland State.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Midgrasses 375–575 little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 205–315 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 170–260 – 2 Midgrasses 120–200 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 50–80 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 15–30 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 15–30 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 12–25 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 10–20 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 10–20 – silver beardgrass BOLAT Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana 6–15 – hairy woollygrass ERPI5 Erioneuron pilosum 6–15 – 3 Tallgrasses 50–75 big bluestem ANGE Andropogon gerardii 25–40 – Indiangrass SONU2 Sorghastrum nutans 25–40 – Forb4 Forbs 50–100 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 0–25 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 0–25 – yellow sundrops CASE12 Calylophus serrulatus 0–25 – rose heath CHER2 Chaetopappa ericoides 0–25 – Texas croton CRTE4 Croton texensis 0–25 – blacksamson echinacea ECAN2 Echinacea angustifolia 0–25 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–25 – collegeflower HYFL Hymenopappus flavescens 0–25 – trailing krameria KRLA Krameria lanceolata 0–25 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–25 – dotted blazing star LIPU Liatris punctata 0–25 – hoary blackfoot MECI Melampodium cinereum 0–25 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–25 – grassland blazingstar MEST3 Mentzelia strictissima 0–25 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–25 – purple locoweed OXLA3 Oxytropis lambertii 0–25 – yellow nailwort PAVI4 Paronychia virginica 0–25 – Fendler's penstemon PEFE Penstemon fendleri 0–25 – James' holdback POJA5 Pomaria jamesii 0–25 – curlytop knotweed POLA4 Polygonum lapathifolium 0–25 – slimflower scurfpea PSTE5 Psoralidium tenuiflorum 0–25 – stemmy four-nerve daisy TESC2 Tetraneuris scaposa 0–25 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–25 – Rocky Mountain zinnia ZIGR Zinnia grandiflora 0–25 – Shrub/Vine5 Shrubs 50–90 featherplume DAFO Dalea formosa 0–25 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–25 – plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 0–25 – soapweed yucca YUGL Yucca glauca 0–25 – Tree6 Tree 0–10 netleaf hackberry CELAR Celtis laevigata var. reticulata 0–10 – Pinchot's juniper JUPI Juniperus pinchotii 0–10 – 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
Pronghorn antelope, white tail deer and mule deer utilize the site for browsing. The site has little cover for bobwhite quail but scaled quail frequent the site during feeding. The Texas horned lizard is often present along with several species of lizards and snakes. A few species of small mammals often find dens in rock crevices.
Hydrological functions
Runoff water from the site will enter streams lower on the landscape. The site yields considerable runoff if the slope is more than 3% and if cover is poor.
Recreational uses
Hunting, Camping, Hiking, Birdwatching, Photography, and Horseback Riding.
Wood products
None.
Other products
On occasion, this site has been mined for calcium carbonate (caliche) for road construction material.
Other information
None.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
NRCS FOTG – Section II of the FOTG Range Site Descriptions and numerous historical accounts of vegetative conditions at the time of early settlement in the area were used in the development of this site description. Vegetative inventories were made at several site locations for support documentation. Several years of clipping data were surveyed. Inventory Data References (documents): NRCS FOTG – Section II - Range Site Descriptions NRCS Clipping Data summaries over a 20 year period
Other references
Natural Resources Conservation Service - Range Site Descriptions
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service - Soil Surveys & Website soil database
Rathjen, Frederick W., The Texas Panhandle Frontier, Rev. 1998, Univ. of Texas Press
Hatch, Brown and Ghandi, Vascular Plants of Texas ( An Ecological Checklist )
Texas A&M Exp. Station, College Station, Texas
Texas Tech University – Range,Wildlife & Fisheries Dept.
Technical Review:
Homer Sanchez, State RMS, NRCS, Temple, Texas
Mark Moseley, State RMS, NRCS, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Clint Rollins, RMS, NRCS, Amarillo, Texas
Tony Garcia, Zone RMS, NRCS, Lubbock, Texas
Dr. Jack Eckroat, Grazing Lands Specialist, NRCS, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TexasContributors
J.R. Bell
PES Edits by Tyson Morley, MLRA Soil Scientist, Altus, OklahomaApproval
Bryan Christensen, 9/15/2023
Acknowledgments
Site Development and Testing Plan: Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document. Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.
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) Stan Bradbury, Zone RMS, NRCS, Lubbock, Texas Contact for lead author 806-791-0581 Date 09/04/2007 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Due to the percent slopes, rills will be common. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Due to the percent slopes, water flow patterns will be common. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Due to the percent slopes, pedestals/terracettes will be common. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
25 to 30% bare ground, low percentage due to rock fragments scattered throughout the soil profile. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Slight to moderate. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None to slight. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Slight to moderate. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
If the soil surface is left unprotected by vegetation, the sloping soil is highly susceptible to water erosion. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Gravelly silt loam, moderate SOM. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Low vegetative cover and percent slopes make this site susceptible to erosion. This site is a slowly permeable soil, well drained, and available water holding capacity is moderate. High lime content provides a favorable plant-soil moisture relationship. -
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:
Warm-season midgrasses > Warm-season tallgrasses >Sub-dominant:
Warm-season shortgrasses >Other:
Forbs > Shrubs/Vines > TreesAdditional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Plant community will have minimal mortality and decadence. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter is dominantly herbaceous. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
600 to 1,000 pounds per acre. -
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:
Yucca, juniper and broom snakeweed can be invasive. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plant species should be capable of reproduction except during periods of prolonged drought conditions, heavy natural herbivory or intense wildfires.
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