2011-11-02_REVISION - M2003019 (5)

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gite Type: Rangeland Limestone Breaks MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains R069XY058C0 Plant Community Narratives Following are the narratives for each of the described plant communities. These plant communities may not represent every possibility, but they probably are the most prevalent and repeatable plant communities. The plant composition table shown above has been developed from the best available knowledge at the.time of this revision. As more data is collected, some of these plant communities may be revised or removed, and new ones may be added. None of these plant communities should necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities ". According to the USDA NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined by the decision - makers and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main purpose for including any description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge and experience at the time of this revision. Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, New Mexico Feathergrass, Bigelow Sagebrush Plant Community This plant community is the interpretive plant community for this site and is considered to be the Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC). This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores and is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occurred infrequently. This plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the grazed plants receive adequate periods of recovery during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 70 -80% grasses and grass - Tikes, 10 -15% forbs and 10 -15% woody plants. The principal grasses that dominate this community are sideoats grama, little bluestem, sideoats grama and New Mexico feathergrass. Secondary grasses are blue grama, Indian ricegrass, western wheatgrass and needleandthread. Dominant forbs include purple prairie clover, American vetch, dotted gayfeather, mat loco, sessile nailwort and Hood's phlox. Bigelow sagebrush, winterfat, fourwing saltbush, skunkbush sumac, and golden currant are key shrubs. Oneseed juniper and pinyon pine may be present in very small amounts. This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function and biological integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is continuous. Some litter movement may occur on steeper slopes. Decadence and natural plant mortality is very low. Community dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and /or development into urban or other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as livestock and vehicle trails are subject to high erosion rates and extreme runoff. Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 350 to 900 pounds of air -dry weight and will average 600 pounds. The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: Growth curve number: C06901 Growth curve name: Warm season /cool season co- dominant; MLRA -69; upland fine textured soils. (monthly percentages of total annual growth) Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant community toward the Increased Blue Grama with Decreased Mid Grasses and Shrubs Plant Community. • Non -use (rest) and no fire will move this plant community to the Low Plant Density, Decadent Plants Community. Lack of use (rest) causes the plants to become less vigorous, crowns of plants begin to die, and plant canopy begins to open up with more bare ground apparent. Technical Guide Section IIE 7 USDA NRCS Rev. 3/04 FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC I JAN 0 0 5 10 20 30 20 10 3 2 0 .0 gite Type: Rangeland Limestone Breaks MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains R069XY058C0 Plant Community Narratives Following are the narratives for each of the described plant communities. These plant communities may not represent every possibility, but they probably are the most prevalent and repeatable plant communities. The plant composition table shown above has been developed from the best available knowledge at the.time of this revision. As more data is collected, some of these plant communities may be revised or removed, and new ones may be added. None of these plant communities should necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities ". According to the USDA NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined by the decision - makers and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main purpose for including any description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge and experience at the time of this revision. Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, New Mexico Feathergrass, Bigelow Sagebrush Plant Community This plant community is the interpretive plant community for this site and is considered to be the Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC). This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores and is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occurred infrequently. This plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the grazed plants receive adequate periods of recovery during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 70 -80% grasses and grass - Tikes, 10 -15% forbs and 10 -15% woody plants. The principal grasses that dominate this community are sideoats grama, little bluestem, sideoats grama and New Mexico feathergrass. Secondary grasses are blue grama, Indian ricegrass, western wheatgrass and needleandthread. Dominant forbs include purple prairie clover, American vetch, dotted gayfeather, mat loco, sessile nailwort and Hood's phlox. Bigelow sagebrush, winterfat, fourwing saltbush, skunkbush sumac, and golden currant are key shrubs. Oneseed juniper and pinyon pine may be present in very small amounts. This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function and biological integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is continuous. Some litter movement may occur on steeper slopes. Decadence and natural plant mortality is very low. Community dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and /or development into urban or other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as livestock and vehicle trails are subject to high erosion rates and extreme runoff. Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 350 to 900 pounds of air -dry weight and will average 600 pounds. The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: Growth curve number: C06901 Growth curve name: Warm season /cool season co- dominant; MLRA -69; upland fine textured soils. (monthly percentages of total annual growth) Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant community toward the Increased Blue Grama with Decreased Mid Grasses and Shrubs Plant Community. • Non -use (rest) and no fire will move this plant community to the Low Plant Density, Decadent Plants Community. Lack of use (rest) causes the plants to become less vigorous, crowns of plants begin to die, and plant canopy begins to open up with more bare ground apparent. Technical Guide Section IIE 7 USDA NRCS Rev. 3/04