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Community 3.1 <br /> Increased Bare Ground Plant Community <br /> This plant community develops under continuous and heavily grazed conditions, especially through the growing <br /> season. The plant composition is made up of foxtail barley, annuals and scattered areas of inland saltgrass and <br /> Baltic rush. Annuals such as Russian thistle, kochia and cocklebur have invaded the community. Kentucky <br /> bluegrass has invaded and may persist in localized areas. <br /> Compared to the Reference Plant Community, all perennial plants have been greatly reduced with only remnants of <br /> the most grazing tolerant species surviving. Plant diversity and production are very low. Planned rest periods during <br /> the growing season will improve the vigor of the plant species present. In southeastern Colorado, tamarisk may <br /> invade this plant community from an adjacent riparian area, along the Arkansas River and its tributaries. Bare <br /> ground may be enhanced by the tamarisk's presence. <br /> Wind and water erosion may occur at low amounts. Litter amounts are low. Mineral crusting caused by raindrop <br /> impact disrupts surface soil aggregates, increasing ponding and slowing infiltration. Compaction, if severe enough, <br /> can negatively affect water infiltration. Carbon storage/nutrient cycling has been greatly reduced. Animal wastes can <br /> contaminate ground water or runoff. Desertification is obvious. <br /> Total annual production, during a normal year, ranges from 50 to 400 pounds per acre air-dry weight. <br /> Figure 11.Plant community growth curve(percent production by month). <br /> CO6714,Cool-Season Dominant,Warm-Season Subdominant; MLRA-6713; <br /> lowland water-influenced soils. <br /> Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec <br /> 0 0 2 7 25 40 15 7 3 1 0 0 <br /> Transition 1.2 to 2 <br /> State 1 to 2 <br /> Heavy continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events will shift this plant <br /> community across an ecological threshold toward the Warm-Season Shortgrass State. Biotic integrity and <br /> hydrologic function will be impaired as a result of this transition. <br /> Transition 2 to 3 <br /> State 2 to 3 <br /> Heavy continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events, or excessive defoliation, <br /> will cause a shift across an ecological threshold to the Increase Bare Ground State. Erosion, loss of organic <br /> matter/carbon reserves and flooding are concerns. Non-native exotic plants such as field bindweed and knapweeds <br /> are likely to invade. <br /> Additional community tables <br /> Table 6.Community 1.1 plant community composition <br />