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Site Type: Rangeland Sandy <br />MLRA: 69 -Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains R069XY026CO <br />This plant community is at risk of losing many key species and if left ungrazed or ungrazed without fire <br />can go to a vegetative state resembling the Red Threeawn, Annuals, Bare Ground Plant Community. <br />This plant community will change rapidly if plant manipulation is allowed to occur (grazing by domestic <br />livestock or possibly fire). <br />In advanced stages, plant mortality can increase and erosion potential increases as bare ground <br />increases. <br />Production can vary from 300 to 1200 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre per year depending on <br />weather conditions and the plants that are present. <br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: <br />Growth curve number: CO6906 <br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant, cool season sub-dominant, excess litter; MLRA-69; <br />upland coarse textured soils. <br />JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC <br />0 0 5 10 25 30 15 10 3 2 0 0 <br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth) <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />• Prescribed arazinp that allows for adequate recovery periods following each grazing event and <br />proper stocking will shift this plant community back to the Blue Grama, Prairie Sandreed, Sand <br />Bluestem Plant Community (HCPC). <br />Sodbound Blue Grama without Sand Bluestem, Prairie Sandreed and Needleandthread <br />Plant Community <br />This plant community evolves with longer term continuous grazing caused by lack of adequate <br />recovery periods between grazing events. Sodbound blue grama dominates this plant community. <br />Large amounts of sand dropseed and red threeawn are common. Louisiana sage, lupine, tenpetal <br />blazingstar, Texas Croton, hairy goldaster, loco, wormwood, broom snakeweed sage and small <br />soapweed have increased. Sand sagebrush may increase on sandy loam or coarser subsoils. Sand <br />Bluestem, prairie Sandreed, needleandthread, Indiangrass, switchgrass, western sandcherry and <br />fourwing saltbush have been removed. <br />A significant amount of production and diversity has been lost when compared to the HCPC. The soil <br />is stable at this stage however, the nutrient cycle, water cycle, community dynamics and energy flow <br />are all impaired do to the substantial increase of blue grama and loss of tall warm season grasses, <br />nitrogen fixing legumes and shrubs. Desertification is advanced. <br />Production varies from 150 to 500 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre per year depending on <br />weather and averages 300 pounds. <br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: <br />Growth curve number: CO6907 <br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant; MLRA-69; upland coarse textured soils. <br />JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC <br />0 0 0 5 30 40 20 5 0 0 0 0 <br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth) <br />Tectutical Guide USDA NRCS <br />Section IIE 9 Rev. 3/04 <br />