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V.S. OF PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PAGE 2 OF 2 NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE 08/17/00 Endno[e -- RANGELAND PROOUCTI VITY AND CHRACTERISTIC PLANT COMMUNITIES In areas that have similar climate and topography, differences in the kind and amount of vegetation produced on rangelantl are closely related to the kind of soil. Ef feccive management is based on the relationship between [he soils and vegetation and water. This report shows, for each soil, the range site; the total annual production of vegetation in favorable, normal, and unfavorable years; the characteristic vegetation; and the average percentage of each epeci es. Only those soils that are used as rangeland or are suited to use as rangeland are listed. An explanation of the column headings in this report follows. RANGE SITE is a dis[inc ci ve kind of rangeland that produces a characteristic natural plant community that tliffers from natural plan[ communities on other range sites in kind, amount and proportion of range plants. The relation. .hip betweeen soils and vegetation was ascertained during this survey; thus, range sites generally can be dece-.wined directly from the soil map. Soil properties that affect niois CUre supply and plan[ nutrients have the 9i_.,test influence on Che productivity of range plants. Soil reaction, salt content, and a seasonal high water cable are also important, TOTAL PRODUCTION is the amount of vegetation that can be expected to grow annually on well managed rangeland chat is supporting the potential natural plant community. Ic includes all vegetatlon, whether or not it is palatable co grazing animals. Sc includes the current year's growth of leaves, twigs, and fruits of woody planes. I[ does no[ include the increase in stem diameter of trees and shrubs. I[ is expressed in pounds per acre of air-dry vegetation for favorable, normal, and unfavorable years. In a favorable year, Che amount and tlist ribution of precipitation and the temperatures make growing conditions eubetancially better than average. In a normal year, growing conditions are about average. In an unfavorable year, growing contlicions are well below average, generally because of low available soil moisture. Dry we rgh[ ~e total annual yield per acre of air-dry vegetation. Yields are adjusted [o a common percent of air-dry mo.acure consent. The relationship of green weight to air-dry weigh[ varies accord ins co such Eaccors as exposure, amount of ehatle, recent rains, and unse ae onable dry periods. CHARACTERISTIC VEGETATION The grasses, fortis, and shrubs [hat make up most of the potential natural plant <ommunicy on each soil is liscetl by common name. Under COMPOSITION the expected percentage of Che total annual production ie given for each species making :, [he characceriaci[ vegetation. The amount chat can be used ae forage depends on the kinds of grazing anima and on cne grazing season. Range n,.. nagement requires a knowledge of the kinds of soil and of the potential natural plant community. It also requires an evaluation of the present range condition. Range condition is determined by comparing Che present pl community with [he potential natural plan[ communi Cy on d particular range bite. The more closely cY; .~xi sting community resembles the potential community, the better the range condition. Range condition i. in ecological rating only. The objective in range management is to control grazing so that [he plants growing on a site are about the same in kintl and amount as the potential natural plane community for chat site, Such management generally results in the optimum production of vegetation, control of undesirable brush species, conaervatioq of water, and control of erosion. Sometimes, however, a range condition somewhat below the potential meets grazing needs, provides wildlife habitat, antl protects soil and water resources.