2008-04-03_REVISION - M1981138 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-.." ~", Site Type: Rangeland MLRA: 67B -Central High Plains, Southern Part Plant Community Narratives Following are the narratives for each of the described plant communities. may not represent every possibility, but they probably are the most preva communities. The plant composition table shown above has been Bevel knowledge at the time of this revision. As more data is collected, some o may be revised or removed, and new ones may be added. None of thes necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities". According to Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be deter and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The ma description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledg of this revision. Little Bluestem, Sideoats Grama Plant Community This plant community is the interpretive plant community for this site and Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC). This community evolved with and is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occ plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the gr adequate recovery periods during the growing season. The potential veg grasses and grass-likes, 10-15% forbs and 5-10% woody plants. The principal mid grasses are little bluestem and sideoats grama. Secorn grama, big bluestem, prairie sandreed, switchgrass, needleandthread, Inc western wheatgrass. Threadleaf and sun sedge are common. Dominant clover, dotted gayfeather and upright prairie coneflower. Winterfat, skunk currant are some of the major shrubs found on this plant community. This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is continuou may occur on steeper slopes. Decadence and natural plant mortality is ve dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning prof resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and/or d other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as livestock and vehicle erosion rates and extreme runoff. Gravel Breaks R067BY063C0 These plant communities ent and repeatable plant ped from the best available these plant communities plant communities should he USDA NRCS National fined by the decision makers n purpose for including any and experience at the time s considered to be the razing by large herbivores erred infrequently. This zed plants receive tation is about 75-85% ry grasses include blue ngrass, hairy grama and rbs are purple prairie sh sumac and golden unction and biological s. Some litter movement ry low. Community Orly. This community is ;velopment into urban or trails are subject to high Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 500 to 1400 pounds of air-dry weight and will average 950 pounds. The following is an estimated growth curve of this plant community expect d during a normal year. Vegetative growth begins earlier in the southern reaches (Baca, Bent, Kio a, Las Animas and Prowers counties) of MLRA-676. Vegetative growth will typically be super ssed during the months of June through August in these counties due to higher evapotranspiration ra es. Growth curve number: C06709 Growth curve name: Warm season dominant, cool season sub-dominant; LRA-67B; upland coarse textured soils. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 0 0 2 7 25 35 15 10 5 1 0 0 r r.,~ ..~~ ~.Qy~~ ~~ wiai a~ a iuai yi ~win~ Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing community toward the Blue Grama with Decreased Mid and Tall Grass Technical Guide Section IIE events will shift this plant 'lant Community.. USDA NRCS Rev. 3/04