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Site Type: Rangeland
<br />MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains
<br />Gravel Breaks
<br />R069XY064CO
<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 tables shown above have been developed from the best
<br />available knowledge at the time of this revision. As more data is collected, some of these plant
<br />communities may be revised or removed; and new ones may be added. None of these plant
<br />communities should necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities ". According to the
<br />USDA NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined
<br />by the decision - makers and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main
<br />purpose for including any description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge
<br />and experience at the time of this revision.
<br />Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, Blue Grama Plant Community
<br />This plant community is the interpretive plant, community for this site and is considered to be the
<br />Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC). This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores
<br />and is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occurred infrequently. This
<br />plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the grazed plants receive
<br />adequate recovery periods during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 75 -85%
<br />grasses and grass - likes, 10 -15% forbs and 5 -10% woody plants.
<br />The principal mid grasses are little bluestem and sideoats grama. Secondary grasses include blue
<br />grama, galleta, big bluestem, prairie sandreed, switchgrass, needleandthread, hairy grama and
<br />western wheatgrass. Threadleaf and sun sedge are common. Dominant forbs are purple prairie
<br />clover, dotted gayfeather and upright prairie coneflower. Winterfat, Bigelow sagebrush and
<br />skunkbush sumac are some of the major shrubs found on this plant community.
<br />This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function and biological
<br />integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is continuous. Some litter movement
<br />may occur on steeper slopes. Decadence and natural plant mortality is very low. Community
<br />dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is
<br />resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and /or development into urban or
<br />other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as livestock and vehicle trails are subject to high
<br />erosion rates and extreme runoff.
<br />Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 350 to 1200 pounds of air -dry weight
<br />and will average 750 pounds.
<br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year:
<br />Growth curve number: CO6905
<br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant, cool season sub - dominant; MLRA -69; upland coarse
<br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth)
<br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows:
<br />• Continuous crazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant
<br />community toward the Increased Blue Grama with Decreased Mid and Tall Grass Plant
<br />Community.
<br />• Long-term non -use (rest) and no fire will move this plant community toward the Bare Ground,
<br />Annuals, Cryptogams Plant Community. This transition may take 40 years or more to achieve.
<br />Technical Guide
<br />Section IIE
<br />USDA NRCS
<br />Rev. 3/04
<br />FEB
<br />MAR
<br />APR
<br />MAY
<br />JUN
<br />JUL
<br />AUG
<br />SEP
<br />OCT
<br />NOV
<br />DEC
<br />( JAN
<br />0
<br />0
<br />5
<br />10
<br />22
<br />35
<br />15
<br />10
<br />3
<br />0
<br />0
<br />0
<br />Site Type: Rangeland
<br />MLRA: 69 - Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains
<br />Gravel Breaks
<br />R069XY064CO
<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 tables shown above have been developed from the best
<br />available knowledge at the time of this revision. As more data is collected, some of these plant
<br />communities may be revised or removed; and new ones may be added. None of these plant
<br />communities should necessarily be thought of as "Desired Plant Communities ". According to the
<br />USDA NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined
<br />by the decision - makers and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main
<br />purpose for including any description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge
<br />and experience at the time of this revision.
<br />Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, Blue Grama Plant Community
<br />This plant community is the interpretive plant, community for this site and is considered to be the
<br />Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC). This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores
<br />and is suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occurred infrequently. This
<br />plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the grazed plants receive
<br />adequate recovery periods during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 75 -85%
<br />grasses and grass - likes, 10 -15% forbs and 5 -10% woody plants.
<br />The principal mid grasses are little bluestem and sideoats grama. Secondary grasses include blue
<br />grama, galleta, big bluestem, prairie sandreed, switchgrass, needleandthread, hairy grama and
<br />western wheatgrass. Threadleaf and sun sedge are common. Dominant forbs are purple prairie
<br />clover, dotted gayfeather and upright prairie coneflower. Winterfat, Bigelow sagebrush and
<br />skunkbush sumac are some of the major shrubs found on this plant community.
<br />This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function and biological
<br />integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is continuous. Some litter movement
<br />may occur on steeper slopes. Decadence and natural plant mortality is very low. Community
<br />dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is
<br />resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and /or development into urban or
<br />other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as livestock and vehicle trails are subject to high
<br />erosion rates and extreme runoff.
<br />Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 350 to 1200 pounds of air -dry weight
<br />and will average 750 pounds.
<br />The following is the growth curve of this plant community expected during a normal year:
<br />Growth curve number: CO6905
<br />Growth curve name: Warm season dominant, cool season sub - dominant; MLRA -69; upland coarse
<br />(monthly percentages of total annual growth)
<br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows:
<br />• Continuous crazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events will shift this plant
<br />community toward the Increased Blue Grama with Decreased Mid and Tall Grass Plant
<br />Community.
<br />• Long-term non -use (rest) and no fire will move this plant community toward the Bare Ground,
<br />Annuals, Cryptogams Plant Community. This transition may take 40 years or more to achieve.
<br />Technical Guide
<br />Section IIE
<br />USDA NRCS
<br />Rev. 3/04
<br />
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