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<br />-4- Sandy Plains 1126 "
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<br />c. If ecological retrogression is cattle-induced, desirable grasses 1, .~j
<br />will decrease. However, if retrogression is sheep-induced, ',i
<br />desirable forbs and shrubs will be reduced. Deterioration of
<br />this site caused by overgrazing of cattle will decrease the ~
<br />percentage of grasses such as needleandthread, little bluestem, '
<br />sideoats grama, prairie sandreed, sand bluestem, Indian
<br />ricegrass, and thickspike wheatgrass. With the decrease of '- -_~
<br />above mentioned plants blue grama, and sand dropseed will ~
<br />increase initially. Forbs that will increase include Nuttall
<br />evolvulus, sllmflower scurf pea, devils claw, wild gourd, wooly _ - .
<br />Indianwheat and bluestem prickly poppy. Shrubs such as broom '
<br />snakeweed, plains pricklypear, sand sagebrush, small soapweed
<br />and western ragweed will increase. Plant species likely to -
<br />increase or invade under severe deterioration will be
<br />bottlebrush squirreltail, red threeawn, ring muhly,
<br />false-buffalograss, sand paspalum, mat sandbur, lambsquarter
<br />goosefoot, kochia, tumbling Russian thistle, puncture vine,
<br />sixweeks fescue, little barley, and cheatgrass. ;
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<br />d. Vegetation density
<br />is approximately 25 percent.
<br />1/ Vegetation density = basal area. This is the area of ground surface
<br />covered by the perennial stem or stems. Usually, -this is measured one
<br />inch (2.54 cm) above the soil in contrast to the full spread of perennial
<br />foliage.
<br />4. Annual Production
<br />If the range is in excellent condition, the approximate total annual
<br />production (air-dry) is:
<br />favorable years 1,600 pounds/Ac 1,814 Kg/Ha
<br />normal years 1,000 pounds/Ac 1,134 Kg/Ha
<br />unfavorable years 500 pounds/Ac 567 Kg/Ha
<br />Of this production 20 percent will likely be unpalatable or out of
<br />reach to grating animals.
<br />5. Soils
<br />a. Soils are deep to moderately deep with moderately sandy
<br />profiles. Surface textures are sandy loams or loamy sands, with
<br />loam, fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam or sandy loam subsoils.
<br />Moisture intake is good and moisture storage is fair to good.
<br />Accelerated runoff will occur on this site when range is
<br />depleted. Because of the nature of the soil, this site can
<br />support an excellent cover of midgrasses with an occurrence of
<br />tall, deep-rooted grass species. Conditions are more favorable
<br />for range plant growth on these soils than they are on the Lamy
<br />Plains range site. Renohill soils have more clayey profiles
<br />than typical for other soils in this range site.
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