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Site Type: Rangeland ~~Y <br />MLRA: 69 -Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains R069XY006CO <br />Increased Blue Grams, Buffalograss, Galleta with Cool Season Remnants Plant <br />Community <br />This plant community evolved with long-term continuous grazing, moderate stocking, and in some <br />instances heavy winter stocking. Recognition of this plant community will enable the land user to <br />implement key management decisions before a significant economic/ecological threshold is crossed. <br />Species such as western wheatgrass, purple prairie clover, fourwing saltbush and winterfat have been <br />reduced to remnant amounts. Blue grams and/or buffalograss, and galleta dominate the community. <br />Blue grams and buffalograss will begin to exhibit a sodded appearance under higher moisture <br />regimes. Ring muhly, sand dropseed, red threeawn, sixweeks fescue, bottlebrush squirreltail, plains <br />pricklypear, hairy goldaster and broom snakeweed have increased. This plant community is at risk of <br />losing westem wheatgrass. Substantial increases in energy and other resources will be required to <br />replace the lost species. <br />Total above ground carbon has been reduced due to decreases in forage and litter production. <br />Reduction of rhizomatous wheatgrass, nitrogen fixing forts, shrub component and increased warm <br />season short grasses has begun to alter the biotic integrity of this community. Water and nutrient <br />cycles may be impaired. <br />Total annual production can vary from 150 to 700 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre and will <br />average 400 pounds during an average year. <br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: <br />Growth curve number: CO6903 <br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant, cool season sub-dominant; MLRA-69; upland fine <br />textured soils. <br />JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC <br />0 0 0 5 15 35 25 15 5 0 0 0 <br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth) <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />• Continuous Qrazina without adequate recovery periods between grazing events shifts this plant <br />community across an ecological threshold toward the Blue Grama/Buffa/ograss Sod; Broom <br />snakeweed Plant Community. <br />• Prescribed arazin4 with adequate recovery periods after each grazing occurrence during the <br />growing season with a proper stocking rate will return the plant community back to the Western <br />Wheatgrass, Blue Grams, Galleta, Fourwing saltbush Plant Community (HCPC). <br />Low Plant Density, Excessive Litter Plant Community <br />This plant community occurs when grazing is removed for long periods of time (rest) in the absence of <br />fire. Species composition can be highly variable, but will most likely resemble the vegetation that was <br />present when non-use or rest began. Species production and density will decrease as non-use and <br />fire suppression persists. <br />Much of the nutrients are tied up in excessive litter. The semiarid environment and the absence of <br />animal traffic to break down litter slow nutrient recycling. Aboveground litter also limits sunlight from <br />reaching plant crowns. Many plants, especially bunchgrasses die off. Thick litter and absence of <br />grazing or fire reduce seed germination and establishment. <br />In advanced stages, plant mortality can increase and erosion may eventually occur if bare ground <br />increases. Once this happens it will require increased energy input in terms of practice cost and <br />management to bring back. <br />Total annual production can be extremely variable depending on length of non-use. <br />Technical Guide USDA NRCS <br />Section IIE 8 Rev. 3/04 <br />