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12/9/2019 ESD Printable Report <br /> Drier and warmer climatic conditions exist in the central portion of MLRA-69.This area includes the eastern half of Pueblo county,northern <br /> Otero,extreme northwestern Bent,western edge of Kiowa,southern edge of Lincoln and all of Crowley County.These conditions are primarily <br /> caused by a rain shadow effect from the southern Rocky Mountains. Evapotranspiration rates(atmospheric demand)will be higher in this area <br /> of MLRA-69.Total annual production will typically be lower. <br /> Blue Grama Community <br /> This plant community develops with continuous grazing and lack of adequate recovery periods.Most of the key grass,forb and shrub species <br /> are absent.Alkali sacaton,western wheatgrass,sideoats grama and galleta may persist in trace amounts,greatly reduced in vigor and not <br /> readily seen.Blue grama dominates the community with a"sodbound"appearance.Red threeawn,sand dropseed,annual barley,sixweeks <br /> fescue and hairy goldaster have increased. <br /> This plant community is resistant to change due to grazing tolerance of blue grama.A significant amount of production and diversity has been <br /> lost from this community when compared to the reference community.Loss of cool season grasses,shrub component and nitrogen fixing <br /> forbs have negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling.Water infiltration is reduced significantly due to the massive shallow root <br /> system'root pan",charartpristic of"sodbound"blue grama.Soil loss may be obvious where flow paths are connected. <br /> It will take a very long time to restore this plant community back to the reference plant community with management. Renovation would be <br /> very costly.This plant community is in an early stage of desertification. <br /> Total annual production,during an average year,ranges from 75 to 300 pounds per acre air-dry weight and will average 150 pounds. <br /> Plant Growth Curve <br /> Growth curve number: C06904 <br /> Growth curve name: Warm season dominant;MLRA-69;upland fine textured soils. <br /> Growth curve description: <br /> Percent Production by Month <br /> Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec <br /> 0 0 0 0 15 45 25 15 0 0 0 0 <br /> �" wovrth Cu+ve <br /> P c <br /> t <br /> Il <br /> Q <br /> U <br /> l <br /> i <br /> o - <br /> n 4 A <br /> -- - J. sz 77 !�ov x <br /> Increased Bare Ground Community <br /> This plant community develops with long-term heavy continuous grazing with overstocking and/or excessive defoliation such as occupation by <br /> prairie dogs.Lower successional species that dominate the community are red threeawn,ring muhly,curlycup gumweed and annual plants <br /> such as annual barley and sixweeks fescue.Cheatgrass,Russian thistle and kochia have invaded.Blue grama may persist in localized areas <br /> or be totally absent.Introduced species such as field bindweed can also be present,especially on prairie dog towns. <br /> This community lacks stability,diversity and productivity.Litter levels are extremely low.Due to the increased bare ground erosion is evident <br /> where flow paths are continuous.Rills may occur on steeper slopes.The nutrient cycle,water cycle and overall energy flow are greatly <br /> impaired.Organic matter/carbon reserves are greatly reduced.Desertification is advanced. <br /> Total annual production,during an average year,can vary from 25 to 150 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre. <br /> Plant Growth Curve <br /> Growth curve number: C06904 <br /> Growth curve name: Warm season dominant;MLRA-69;upland fine textured soils. <br /> Growth curve description: <br /> Percent Production by Month <br /> Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec <br /> 0 0 0 0 15 45 25 15 0 0 0 0 <br /> https://esis.sc.egov.usda.goviESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=RO69XY046CO&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 5/16 <br />