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JAN <br />FEB <br />MAR <br />APR <br />MAY <br />JUN <br />JUL <br />AUG <br />SEP <br />OCT <br />NOV <br />DEC <br />I JAN <br />0 <br />0 <br />3 <br />7 <br />22 <br />33 <br />18 <br />12 <br />5 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />JAN <br />FEB <br />MAR <br />APR <br />MAY <br />JUN <br />JUL <br />AUG <br />SEP <br />OCT <br />NOV <br />DEC <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />15 <br />45 <br />25 <br />15 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />0 <br />Site Type: Rangeland <br />MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: <br />Growth curve number: 006902 <br />Growth curve name: Warm season /cool season co- dominant, excess litter; MLRA -69; upland fine <br />textured soils. <br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth) <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />• Prescribed grazing that allows for adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events or <br />prescribed burning followed by prescribed grazing will shift this plant community toward the <br />Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, New Mexico Feathergrass, Bigelow Sagebrush Plant <br />Community (HCPC). <br />Blue Grama with or without Remnant Mid Grasses Plant Community <br />This plant community developed with continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between <br />grazing events. The dominant grass is blue grama. Hairy grama, red threeawn and galleta have <br />increased. Tall grasses, palatable forbs and shrubs have been removed. Little bluestem and <br />sideoats grama may exist in remnant amounts on steeper slopes. Forbs and shrubs that continue to <br />increase are mat loco, sessile nailwort, Hood's phlox, broom snakeweed and small soapweed. <br />Oneseed juniper and pinyon have increased significantly. <br />A major shift in species composition and plant functional groups has taken place. Nutrient and water <br />cycles have been negatively affected due to the loss of nitrogen fixing forbs and deeper- rooted plants. <br />Bare ground has increased and soil erosion is a concern. Rills and pedestaled plants with exposed <br />roots are apparent. Desertification is advanced. <br />Production ranges from 75 to 300 pounds of air -dry vegetation per acre per year and will average <br />approximately 150 pounds. <br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year: <br />Growth curve number: 006904 <br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant; MLRA -69; upland fine textured soils. <br />Technical Guide <br />Section IIE <br />9 <br />Limestone Breaks <br />R069XY058CO <br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth) <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />• Continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant <br />community across an ecological threshold toward the Increased Bare Ground, Annuals Plant <br />Community. <br />• Long-term prescribed grazing that allows for adequate recovery opportunities between grazing <br />events and proper stocking will move this plant community toward the Increased Blue Grama with <br />Decreased Mid Grasses and Shrubs Plant Community and will eventually return to the HCPC or <br />associated successional plant communities assuming an adequate seed /vegetative source is /are <br />available. This transition may take upwards of 40 years or more to achieve. <br />Bare Ground, Annuals Plant Community <br />Continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunities following each grazing event forms this <br />plant community. Bare ground has significantly increased. Remnant amounts of blue grama, hairy <br />grama and galleta may exist in localized areas. Small soapweed, broom snakeweed and prickleypear <br />cactus may remain. Annuals invading or increasing are cheatgrass, kochia and Russian thistle. <br />USDA NRCS <br />Rev. 3/04 <br />