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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 />0 <br />0 <br />5 <br />10 <br />20 <br />30 <br />20 <br />10 <br />3 <br />2 <br />0 <br />0 <br />$ite Type: Rangeland <br />MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br />Loamy <br />R069XY006CO <br />Plant Community Narratives <br />Following are the narratives for each of the described plant communities. These plant communities <br />may not represent every possibility, but they probably are the most prevalent and repeatable plant <br />communities. The plant composition table shown above has been developed from the best available <br />knowledge at the time of this revision. As more data are collected, some of these plant communities <br />may be revised or removed, and new ones may be added. None of these plant communities should <br />necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities ". According to the USDA NRCS National <br />Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined by the decision - makers <br />and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main purpose for including any <br />description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge and experience at the time <br />of this revision: <br />Western Wheatgrass, Blue Grama, Galleta, Fourwing Saltbush Plant Community <br />This is the interpretive plant community and is considered to be the Historic Climax Plant Community <br />(HCPC). This plant community evolved with grazing by large herbivores, is well suited for grazing by <br />domestic livestock and can be found on areas that are properly managed with prescribed grazing that <br />allows for adequate recovery periods following each grazing event. The potential vegetation is about <br />75 -90% grasses and grass -like plants, 5 -15% forbs and 5 -10% woody plants. <br />The major grasses include western wheatgrass, galleta and blue grama. Sub - dominant grasses and <br />grass -likes include buffalograss, green needlegrass, sideoats grama, sand dropseed and sun sedge. <br />Major forbs and shrubs include American vetch, purple prairie clover, scarlet globemallow, dotted <br />gayfeather, fourwing saltbush and winterfat. <br />This plant community is diverse, stable, and productive. Litter is properly distributed with very little <br />movement off -site and natural plant mortality is low. It is well suited to carbon sequestration, water <br />yield, wildlife use by many species, livestock use and is esthetically pleasing. Community dynamics, <br />nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is resistant to <br />many disturbances except continuous grazing, long -term non -use, tillage and /or development into <br />urban or other uses. <br />Total annual production ranges from 350 to 1200 pounds of air -dry vegetation per acre across MLRA- <br />69 and will average 800 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: C06901 <br />Growth curve name Warm season /cool season co- dominant: MLRA -69; upland fine textured soils. <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 to the Increased Blue Grama, Buffalograss, Galleta; Cool Season Remnants Plant <br />Community. <br />• Non -use (rest) and lack of fire will move this plant community to the Low Plant Density, Excessive <br />Litter Plant Community. <br />• Prescribed grazing that allows for adequate recovery opportunity following each grazing event and <br />proper stocking will maintain the Western Wheatgrass, Blue Grama, Galleta, Fourwing Saltbush <br />Plant Community (HCPC). <br />Technical Guide <br />Section IIE <br />7 <br />USDA NRCS <br />Rev. 3/04 <br />