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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 078C–Central Rolling Red Plains, Eastern Part
MLRA 78C is characterized by moderately dissected, rolling plains with prominent ridges and valleys and numerous terraces adjacent to dissecting streams. Loamy and clayey soils are generally deep, well drained, and developed in soft, calcareous sandstones, siltstones, and shales in red beds of Permian age. Characteristic red soils have formed in most of the area because of the underlying Permian red-bed sedimentary rocks. Current land uses are rangeland , pastureland, wildlife habitat, and cropland. Dryland crops include cotton, wheat, canola, and sorghum.
Associated sites
R080AY014OK Deep Sand
Deep Sand
R080AY068OK Sandy Bottomland
Sandy bottomland
Similar sites
R080AY056OK Loamy Upland
Loamy prairie
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Andropogon hallii
(2) Artemisia filifoliaPhysiographic features
Deep, moderately sandy uplands occuring on nearly level to strongly sloping rolling topography.
Representative soils: Altus, Hardeman, Forty-One. (NASIS 01/10/2008)
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 1000 – 2001 ft Slope 5 – 8 % Ponding depth 0 in Water table depth 0 in Aspect N, S Climatic features
MLRA 78C extends north and south from Coldwater, Kansas to just northeast of San Angelo, Texas (Ballinger, Texas), and east to west from Weatherford, Oklahoma to west of Shamrock, Texas. The weather is alternately influenced by cold dry air from the Arctic Circle, and warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. Seasonal changes are gradual. Spring is a season of variable weather and relatively high precipitation with prevailing winds from the southwest. Summers are generally hot with low humidity. Fall has long periods of pleasant weather interspersed with moderate to heavy rains. Winter is open and moderate to cold with winds from the north and infrequent snows. Approximately 75 percent of the rainfall occurs during the warm season, and much of it comes in storms of high intensity and short duration in May and June. These rains can be particularly erosive on sites where vegetation is sparse. Occasional droughts are to be expected. Lack of rainfall and hot, dry winds often curtail forage production during July and August. The following data is an average of all four stations combined. For climate data for specific areas within MLRA 78C, please go to:
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/soil-nar.pl
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 260 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features on this site.
Soil features
The soils of this site are deep, permeable fine sandy loams occurring on gently rolling to steeply rolling uplands. The subsoils allow deep plant root and water penetration. Runoff is low and water holding capacity is fair to moderate.
Representative soils: Altus, Hardeman, Forty - One. (NASIS 01/10/2008). Eroded soils are mapped in this site.
Complete Soil Descriptions can be found at:
http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/cgi-bin/osd/osdnamequery.cgi.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Fine sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid Soil depth 42 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.3 – 6.6 in Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.1 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 3 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
The Presumed Historic Plant Community (HPC), although presumed to be a tallgrass/midgrass, may, because of location within the MLRA, stay in a continuous flux between tallgrass/midgrass and midgrass/tallgrass prairie (i.e. the western and southern ares of the MLRA would tend to favor midgrasses more than tallgrasses because of drier conditions and warmer average temperatures). This plant community is dominated by warm season, perennial, tallgrasses and midgrasses. These grass species are intermixed, and well distributed over the site. Some plants are strongly rhizomatous and often form colonies six to ten feet across. Because climate can be quite variable within MLRA 78C, production too, can be quite variable from year to year. This site can be very droughty acting when rainfall is below normal and, conversely, deep rooted tallgrasses respond well and vegetative production can be quite high during periods of normal or above normal precipitation. The HPC will contain tallgrasses little bluestem, big bluestem (clayier areas), sand bluestem (sandier areas), switchgrass and Indiangrass. The remaining community is made up of wildryes, Scribner's panicum, sessilleaf tickclover, pitcher's sage, sand paspalum, sideoats grama, blue grama, buffalograss, prairie clover, halfshrub sundrop, yucca, fall witchgrass, sand dropseed, tall dropseed, meadow dropseed, purple lovegrass, wild indigo, wild alfalfa, catclaw sensitive-brier and mat sandbur. Woodies will include prairie rose, poison ivy, elm, persimmon, hawthorn, sand plum, sumac, Jerseytea, grapes and skunkbush.
The plant community is well suited for domestic livestock grazing. This site’s soils are susceptible to wind erosion. As the site deteriorates from overgrazing, absence of fire, or both, other plant communities usually result. These communities include a midgrass/shortgrass community and a shrub dominant community. Heavy grazing (cattle) usually results in a gradual decrease of tallgrasses. The tallgrasses lost to long term overgrazing are replaced by perennial midgrasses and shortgrasses along with varying amounts and species of annuals. Different species of shrubs may also encroach on the site as tallgrasses decrease. When deeper rooted tallgrasses are replaced, the replacement, shallower rooted, species usually do not have access to deep soil moisture, so forage production on the site is usually reduced.
This plant community evolved during large herbivore grazing and occasional natural fires. Fire tended to suppress the growth of woody plants. With the absence of fire, shrub species generally increase, and may eventually dominate the site, especially if the site is continuously overgrazed. A small scattering of annual plants are common on Sandy Prairie sites, but usually increase as the site deteriorates due to overgrazing (cattle). Annual plants may also appear on-site because of disturbances by rodents and other small digging mammals, or when normal rainfall patterns return after an extended periods of drought.
STATE 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.
As a site changes in the structure and makeup of the plant community, the changes may be due to management, or to natural occurrences, or both. At some point in time, thresholds may be crossed. This means that once plant community changes have progressed to a certain point, the balance of the community has been altered to the extent that a return to the former state is not possible, that is, not possible unless some form of outside energy is applied to make it happen. These changes take place on all ecological sites, but some sites support communities that are more resistant to change. Also, some sites are more resilient, that is, they tend to heal or restore themselves more easily. Changes in management practices alone, such as prescribed grazing, will not be sufficient to restore former plant communities. An example of an outside energy input might be the implementation of prescribed chemical brush management to decrease the amount of woody shrubs and increase the amount of grasses and forbs. This shift in plant community balance could not be brought about with prescribed grazing alone. The amount of energy required to bring about a change in the plant community balance may vary a great deal depending on the present plant community state and the desired community state.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 3. Sandy Prairie S&T
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 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 7 submodel, plant communities
State 8 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Sandy Prairie # 1 HPCCommunity 1.1
Sandy Prairie # 1 HPCThe Presumed Historic Plant Community (HPC) is a tallgrass/midgrass community. Although this site is a tallgrass/midgrass community, it stays in a continuous flux between tallgrass/midgrass and midgrass/tallgrass prairie. So, the HPC can be a temporary midgrass/tallgrass natural flux of the true HPC. The HPC will contain tallgrasses little bluestem, sand bluestem, switchgrass and Indiangrass. Important midgrasses are sand dropseed, sideoats grama, thin paspalum, sand lovegrass, purple lovegrass, tall dropseed, purple lovegrass. The remaining community is made up of wildryes, Scribner's panicum, sessilleaf tickclover, pitcher's sage, sand paspalum, prairie clover, halfshrub sundrop, yucca, fall witchgrass, wild indigo, wild alfalfa, and mat sandbur. Scattered throughout this site is small amounts of shortgrasses, consisting primarily of blue grama, buffalograss, and hairy grama. Typically, a few shrubs such as leadplant, Jersey tea, soapweed yucca, skunkbush sumac and Chickasaw plum occur on the site.
Figure 4. 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 0 – 0 Tree 0 – 0 Shrub/Vine 0 – 0 Forb 0 – 0 Total 0 – 0 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001 , Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
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 10 20 30 10 5 10 6 2 1 State 2
Sandy Prairie # 2 Midgrass/TallgrassCommunity 2.1
Sandy Prairie # 2 Midgrass/TallgrassA Sandy Prairie site that is located on the western side of MLRA 80A will naturally flucuate from Tallgrass/Midgrass to Midgrass/Tallgrass. There may be times however, because of extended droughty periods, that the site will not show many, if any, tallgrasses for an extended period of time. This is pretty common in western Oklahoma MLRA's. Heavy grazing will also drive the tallgrass HPC towards a midgrass. So, this state is the HPC without a good showing of the tallgrasses.
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001 , Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
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 10 20 30 10 5 10 6 2 1 State 3
Sandy Prairie # 3 Midgrass/ShortgrassCommunity 3.1
Sandy Prairie # 3 Midgrass/ShortgrassThis state is usually the result of overgrazing, but can result from combinations of lesser factors such as unfavorable climate coupled with proper grazing when coincidental combination of factors cause stress on the plant community. These types of combinations of factors usually result in a gradual decrease of tallgrasses. The tallgrasses lost to overgrazing/other factors are replaced by perennial midgrasses and shortgrasses along with varying amounts and species of annuals. Different species of shrubs may also encroach on the site as tallgrasses decrease. When deeper rooted tallgrasses are replaced, the replacement shallower-rooted species usually do not have access to deep soil moisture, so forage production on the site is reduced. Annual forbs and shrubs will usually increase in this state.
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001 , Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
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 10 20 30 10 5 10 6 2 1 State 4
Sandy Prairie # 4 Shortgrass/ShrubsCommunity 4.1
Sandy Prairie # 4 Shortgrass/ShrubsAs the site experiences adverse climate conditions, overgrazing, absense of fire or some combination of abnornal disturbances, woodies will usually begin to increase on site. This is a gradual process, but usually begins with brush type species such as plum, sumac and skunkbush appearing first. Some woodies include prairie rose, poison ivy, elm, persimmon, hawthorn, sand plum, sumac, Jerseytea, grapes and skunkbush. These shrubs and trees can become a dominant plant community.
A small scattering of annual plants are common on Sandy Prairie sites, but usually increase as the site deteriorates due to overgrazing or other factors. Annual plants may also appear on-site because of disturbances by rodents and other small digging mammals, or when normal rainfall patterns return after an extended periods of drought.
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001 , Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
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 10 20 30 10 5 10 6 2 1 State 5
Sandy Prairie # 5 Invasion, Shrubs/TreesCommunity 5.1
Sandy Prairie # 5 Invasion, Shrubs/TreesAs the State and Transition Model shows, in this state, the site is not expressing shortgrasses, midgrasses or tallgrasses in any great quantity even though remnants of all still remain. The site has basically evolved into a shrub,tree and forb site. Invaders such as eastern redcedar and mesquite have begun their invasion of the site at this stage, but actually, their invasion may have started at any time in the model. But now, because a invader density threshold has been crossed (subjective), it will take considerable outside energy input to reverse and drive the system back towards the HPC. If woody invaders (i.e. eastern redcedar/mesquite)are over 6 feet tall, the site may require herbicide and/or mechanical brush control treatments coupled with prescribed burning to achieve control. These woody controls coupled with the employment of proper stocking rates are required to push the plant community back from a woody dominated state threshold towards the more grassy and grass-like HPC.
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001 , Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
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 10 20 30 10 5 10 6 2 1 State 6
Sandy Prairie # 6 CroplandCommunity 6.1
Sandy Prairie # 6 CroplandEven though a Sandy Prairie site was in cultivation for a substantial period of time(State 6, S&T), it is not always impossible for the the site to return to something resembling the HPC. Cultivation is definitely not a one-way street for an ecological site. The return of a cultivated field to the HPC depends on the length of time in cultivation, erosion, loss of organic matter, soil type, and precipitation zone (and probably others). There are many examples in Oklahoma (e.g. Klemme Range Research Station, Bessie, Oklahoma and the USDA/Agriculture Research Station, Woodward, Oklahoma) of abandoned cultivated fields that have revegetated; are in excellent condition; and closely resemble the HPC. Remnant terraces usually reveal the fact that the fields were cultivated at some time in the past. Sometimes, it is very difficult to determine if fields were cultivated. Some of these sites were probably reseeded, others were not. If the soil resource has not been heavily degraded and given enough time, the site could get back to the HPC or something very close to it. The grasses are fastest to recover, the high seral forbs slowest. The kind of, or the lack of, high seral forbs is the surest sign of prior cultivation. If the site looks "too neat" (no high seral forbs), it was probably cultivated at one time.
State 7
Sandy Prairie # 7 ErodedCommunity 7.1
Sandy Prairie # 7 ErodedIf the site is eroded to the point that it will never get back to something resembling one of the first state rangeland plant communities, short of hauling in topsoil, the site is something different than the original and will never function anything like the original HPC. The site is a new site and should be called Eroded Sandy Prairie. The soil resource is the primary factor. Vegetation cannot be described for this plant community because, it is unknown. See Eroded Sandy Prairie, R078CY873OK.
State 8
Sandy Prairie # 8 AbandonedCommunity 8.1
Sandy Prairie # 8 AbandonedThis plant community is abandoned cropland. These sites revegetate to some unknown plant community. The resulting site can be much like the lower seral states of the HPC state or something entirely different. The state this revegetates to depends on how long it was in cultivation, what kind of cultivation it was in, if it was reseeded, climate and many other external inputs.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 0 sand bluestem ANHA Andropogon hallii 800–1200 – switchgrass PAVI2 Panicum virgatum 100–300 – Indiangrass SONU2 Sorghastrum nutans 100–200 – giant sandreed CAGI3 Calamovilfa gigantea 50–100 – 2 0 little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 300–900 – 3 0 dropseed SPORO Sporobolus 75–150 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 25–100 – sand lovegrass ERTR3 Eragrostis trichodes 50–100 – thin paspalum PASE5 Paspalum setaceum 25–50 – tumble lovegrass ERSE2 Eragrostis sessilispica 10–50 – purple lovegrass ERSP Eragrostis spectabilis 25–50 – mourning lovegrass ERLU Eragrostis lugens 10–30 – Wright's threeawn ARPUW Aristida purpurea var. wrightii 10–30 – hairy woollygrass ERPI5 Erioneuron pilosum 0–20 – blowout grass REFL Redfieldia flexuosa 10–20 – seep muhly MURE2 Muhlenbergia reverchonii 10–20 – 4 0 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 20–50 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 10–50 – red lovegrass ERSE Eragrostis secundiflora 10–20 – 5 0 Texas bluegrass POAR Poa arachnifera 50–100 – Canada wildrye ELCA4 Elymus canadensis 50–100 – Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus 20–100 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 10–50 – sedge CAREX Carex 10–50 – Schweinitz's flatsedge CYSC3 Cyperus schweinitzii 20–50 – Scribner's rosette grass DIOLS Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum 20–50 – 6 0 prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–30 – mat sandbur CELO3 Cenchrus longispinus 0–30 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–30 – Forb7 0 golden prairie clover DAAU Dalea aurea 25–100 – white prairie clover DACA7 Dalea candida 25–100 – purple dalea DALA4 Dalea lasiathera 25–100 – slimleaf prairie clover DATE5 Dalea tenuifolia 25–100 – Illinois bundleflower DEIL Desmanthus illinoensis 25–100 – lemon scurfpea PSLA3 Psoralidium lanceolatum 25–100 – slimflower scurfpea PSTE5 Psoralidium tenuiflorum 25–100 – silky sophora SONU Sophora nuttalliana 25–100 – Virginia tephrosia TEVI Tephrosia virginiana 25–100 – sessileleaf ticktrefoil DESE Desmodium sessilifolium 20–50 – roundhead lespedeza LECA8 Lespedeza capitata 20–50 – American bird's-foot trefoil LOUN Lotus unifoliolatus 10–40 – smallflowered milkvetch ASNU4 Astragalus nuttallianus 10–40 – sensitive partridge pea CHNI2 Chamaecrista nictitans 10–40 – 8 0 Rocky Mountain beeplant CLSE Cleome serrulata 25–100 – fourpoint evening primrose OERH Oenothera rhombipetala 25–100 – redwhisker clammyweed PODO3 Polanisia dodecandra 10–40 – Canadian horseweed COCA5 Conyza canadensis 10–40 – annual buckwheat ERAN4 Eriogonum annuum 10–40 – Drummond's snakecotton FRDR Froelichia drummondii 10–40 – plains snakecotton FRFL Froelichia floridana 10–40 – camphorweed HESU3 Heterotheca subaxillaris 10–40 – stiffstem flax LIRI Linum rigidum 10–40 – 9 0 leadplant AMCA6 Amorpha canescens 75–200 – sand sagebrush ARFI2 Artemisia filifolia 75–200 – Jersey tea CEHE Ceanothus herbaceus 75–200 – pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 75–200 – Chickasaw plum PRAN3 Prunus angustifolia 75–200 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 75–200 – soapweed yucca YUGL Yucca glauca 75–200 – smooth sumac RHGL Rhus glabra 15–40 – Shrub/Vine8 0 sand sagebrush ARFI2 Artemisia filifolia 166–300 – Chickasaw plum PRAN3 Prunus angustifolia 166–300 – smooth sumac RHGL Rhus glabra 166–300 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 166–300 – Maximilian sunflower HEMA2 Helianthus maximiliani 50–200 – stiff sunflower HEPA19 Helianthus pauciflorus 25–100 – tenpetal blazingstar MEDE2 Mentzelia decapetala 25–100 – stiff goldenrod OLRI Oligoneuron rigidum 25–100 – butterfly milkweed ASTU Asclepias tuberosa 25–100 – yellow sundrops CASE12 Calylophus serrulatus 25–100 – Engelmann's daisy ENPE4 Engelmannia peristenia 25–100 – redroot buckwheat ERRA3 Eriogonum racemosum 25–100 – Texas goldentop EUGY Euthamia gymnospermoides 25–100 – Carruth's sagewort ARCA14 Artemisia carruthii 25–100 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 25–100 – white heath aster SYER Symphyotrichum ericoides 25–100 – Fendler's aster SYFE Symphyotrichum fendleri 25–100 – aromatic aster SYOB Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 15–60 – prairie spiderwort TROC Tradescantia occidentalis 15–60 – plains milkweed ASPU Asclepias pumila 15–60 – scarlet beeblossom GACO5 Gaura coccinea 15–60 – azure blue sage SAAZ Salvia azurea 15–60 – queen's-delight STSY Stillingia sylvatica 15–60 – bush morning-glory IPLE Ipomoea leptophylla 15–60 – dotted blazing star LIPU Liatris punctata 15–60 – shiny goldenrod OLNI Oligoneuron nitidum 10–40 – prairie fleabane ERST3 Erigeron strigosus 10–40 – Virginia dayflower COVI3 Commelina virginica 10–40 – 10 0 Table 7. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 6.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 7.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 8.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This plant community has good value for grazing by domestic animals. It also has good value as food and cover for numerous species of wildlife. It provides excellent habitat for bobwhite quail. A great variety of song birds and woodpeckers utilize this site for summer habitat. For more specific guidance, refer to Wildlife Habitat Appraisal Guides that are species specific.
The Plant Preferences by Animal Kind table contained herein provides general guidance as to animal preferences for plant species. It also reveals possible competition between kinds of herbivores for various plants. Grazing preference changes from time to time, especially between seasons, and between animal kinds and classes. Grazing preference does not reflect the ecological status of the plant within the plant community.
Hydrological functions
None.
Recreational uses
A multitude of mammals and birds frequent or traverse this site, so it is a great area to observe and study Oklahoma animal and plant life. This site is used for many common recreational activities such as hiking, camping, bird watching, hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
Wood products
None
Other products
None
Supporting information
Other references
Ecological Reference Worksheet
Author(s)/participant(s): Mark Moseley
Contact for lead author: 100 USDA Suite 206, Stillwater, OK 74074
Reference site used? No. Compiled from technical judgement and prior field experience.
Date:May 21, 2004 MLRA: 080A Ecological Site: 080AY073OK Sandy Prairie
Indicators
1. Number and extent of rills: Rare, between bunchgrasses, if occurring.
2. Presence of water flow patterns: A few possible in low areas following high intensity rains.
3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: Some but rarely more than 1 inch depth.
4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): Variable but should average about 10 – 15%.
5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: Rare.
6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: None
7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): Litter can move about 1 foot following high intensity rains.
8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages: – most sites will show a range of values for both plant canopy and interspaces, if different): Stability score 4 – 5.
9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness for both plant canopy and interspaces, if different): Moderately fine-granular structure. Brown color 0 – 16 inches.
10. Effect of plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) & spatial distribution on infiltration & runoff: Very little runoff due to moderately rapid permeable soils with a plant cover of tall and mid grasses that is well distributed.
11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): None
12. Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground weight using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Mid-grass (little bluestem) > tall grasses > warm-season perennial forbs > shortgrasses > cool season grasses and grasslikes.
13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): There can be some plant loss, especially after severe drought, but should be less than 5%.
14. Average percent litter cover: Litter cover should average 85% at a depth not more than 1inch.
15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production): 2000 – 4500 #/acre
16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which characterize degraded states and which, after a threshold is crossed, “can, and often do, continue to increase regardless of the management of the site and may eventually dominate the site”: Eastern redcedar with a lack of regular burning. Cool season annual grasses can invade this site.
17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: All plants capable of reproducing at least every 2 – 3 years.
Contributors
Dr. Jack Eckroat, Grazing Lands Specialist, NRCS, Oklahoma
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) Harry Fritzler, Steve Glasgow, Jack Eckroat, Mark Moseley Contact for lead author Date 07/01/2005 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
They are rare on this site due to high infiltration rates, but could occur between bunchgrasses. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
There is little, if any, evidence of soil deposition or erosion (some possibly apparent after significant rain events). Water generally flows evenly over the entire landscape and soils have high infiltration rates. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
There should not be any evidence of erosional pedestals or terracettes on this site, if any, usually <1/2 inch. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
There is some variability, but it should average 10-20% bare ground on this site. Bare areas are small and not connected. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None, drainages are represented as natural stable channels; vegetation is common with no signs of erosion. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Uniform distribution of litter. Litter rarely moves >12 inches on flatter slopes and may be as much as doubled on steeper slopes, then only during high intensity storms. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Surface soil is stabilized (Stability Score 4-5). Stability scores based on a minimum of 6 samples tested. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A horizon: 0 to 12 inches; reddish brown fine sandy loam, very weak fine granular structure. Bw horizon: 12 to 32 inches; red fine sandy loam, medium sub angular blocky structure. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Infiltration and runoff are not affected by any changes in plant community composition and distribution. (Bunchgrass/ Tallgrass dominant). Any changes in infiltration and runoff can be attributed to other factors (e.g. compaction). -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
There is usually no compaction 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:
Bunchgrasses, TallgrassesSub-dominant:
Midgrasses, ForbsOther:
Shortgrasses, Cool Season GrassesAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There is some plant mortality and decadence on the perennial grasses, especially in the absence of fire and herbivory, but usually <5%. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter should cover >85% of the area between plants with accumulations of ~1 inch deep. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Normal production is 2000 – 4000 pounds per year. -
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:
No invasive species. Invasives might include: eastern redcedar, skunkbrush, annuals and non-natives. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants capable of reproducing at least every 2 years. Seed stalks, stalk length, and seedheads are numerous and what would be expected. Overall health of plants is what would be expected.
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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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