ESD Printable Report

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION

ECOLOGICAL SITE CHARACTERISTICS

Site Type: Rangeland

Site Name: Loamy Slopes 12-16" p.z.

/ calliandra eriophylla / bouteloua curtipendula
( / fairyduster / sideoats grama)

Site ID: R041XC314AZ

Major Land Resource Area: 041 - Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range

Physiographic Features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on hill-slopes and ridge-tops. Slope aspect is site differentiating at elevations near land resource area boundaries.
Land Form:	(1)	Hill
	(2)	Ridge

	Minimum	Maximum
Elevation (feet):	3300	5000
Slope (percent):	15	45
Water Table Depth (inches):
Flooding:
Frequency:
Duration:	None	None
Ponding:
Depth (inches):
Frequency:
Duration:	None	None
Runoff Class:	Medium	High
Aspect:	North South East

Climatic Features

Precipitation in this common resource area ranges from 12-16 inches yearly in the eastern part with elevations from 3600-5000 feet, and 13-17 inches in the western part where elevations are 3300-4500 feet. Winter-Summer rainfall ratios are 40-60% in the west and 30-70% in the east. Summer rains fall July-September, originate in the Gulf of Mexico and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originates in the Pacific and Gulf of California, and falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow rarely lasts more than one day. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.

Temperatures are mild. Freezing temperatures are common at night from December-April; however temperatures during the day are frequently above 50 F. Occasionally in December-February, brief 0 F temperatures may be experienced some nights. During June, July and August, some days may exceed 100 F.

Cool season plants start growth in early spring and mature in early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious July-September. Warm season grasses may remain green throughout the year.

	Minimum	Maximum
Frost-free period (days):	170	220
Freeze-free period (days):	0	0
Mean annual precipitation (inches):	12.0	16.0

Monthly precipitation (inches) and temperature (°F):
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Precip. Min.	0.76	0.67	0.5	0.29	0.17	0.5	2.44	2.61	1.63	0.9	0.53	0.87
Precip. Max.	1.1	0.97	0.5	0.3	0.24	0.52	3.86	3.46	1.72	0.88	0.74	1.08
Temp. Min.	46.3	48.8	54.0	60.0	67.5	76.8	77.3	75.2	72.1	64.1	53.5	47.1
Temp. Max.	46.8	49.7	54.6	61.7	68.1	77.1	80.7	78.6	73.9	65.1	54.1	48.3

Climate Stations:	(1) 020309, Apache Powder Co.. Period of record 1923 - 1990
	(2) 022659, Douglas. Period of record 1948 - 2004
	(3) 023120, Fort Huachuca. Period of record 1900 - 1981
	(4) 027530, San Manuel. Period of record 1954 - 2004
	(5) 028619, Tombstone. Period of record 1893 - 2004

Influencing Water Features

There are no water features associated with this site.

Wetland Description:	System	Subsystem	Class

Representative Soil Features

These soils are moderately deep to deep soils which have formed on old, deeply dissected, gravelly alluvium of mixed origin. They are non-calcareous in the surface 10 inches and loamy textured. Some soils have calcic horizons at moderate (20-40 inches) depths. Soil surfaces have well developed covers of gravels and stones. Surface soils are dark colored. Plant-soil moisture relationships are good. Soils mapped on this site include Caralampi, Bernardino, Elgin and Selevin.

Predominant Parent Materials:
Kind: Alluvium
Origin:

Surface Texture:	(1) Very gravelly Sandy loam
	(2) Gravelly Loam
	(3) Very gravelly Loam

Subsurface Texture Group: Loamy

	Minimum	Maximum
Surface Fragments <=3" (% Cover):	15	45
Surface Fragments > 3" (% Cover):	0	8
Subsurface Fragments <=3" (% Volume):	5	45
Subsurface Fragments > 3" (% Volume):	0	5

Drainage Class: Well drained To Well drained

Permeability Class: Slow To Moderate

	Minimum	Maximum
Depth (inches):	60	60
Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm):	0	2
Sodium Absorption Ratio:	0	2
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent):	1	25
Soil Reaction (1:1 Water):	6.6	8.4
Soil Reaction (0.01M CaCl2):
Available Water Capacity (inches):	4.8	8.4

Plant Communities

Ecological Dynamics of the Site

The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Historical Climax Plant Community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.

Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.

NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.

State and Transition, Loamy Slopes 12-16" p.z.

Historic Climax Plant Community

The potential plant community of this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses with a variety of shrubs, succulents and forbs being well represented. The major perennial grasses are well dispersed throughout the plant community. The aspect is shrub dotted grassland.

With continuous heavy grazing, palatable perennial grasses are removed and species like mesquite, catclaw acacia, mimosa, ocotillo, snakeweed, burroweed and prickly pear increase to dominate. Natural fire may have been an important part in the development of the potential plant community. With steep slopes and heavy textured horizons near the soil surface, this site becomes an ineffective user of intense summer rainfall if the perennial grass cover is depleted. The potential of the site to produce grass is reduced as tree canopy increases. The site can produce effective herbaceous covers with up to 5-10% tree canopy.
Fire and drought interactions can deplete the perennial grass cover. When this is followed by a wet spring tremendous stands of annual forbs like goldeneye, poppy and lupine can result.

Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. HCPC

Historic Climax Plant Community Plant Species Composition:

	Grass/Grasslike			Annual Production in Pounds Per Acre
Group	Group Name	Common Name	Scientific Name	Low	High
1 - Dominant mid grasses				180	350
		cane bluestem	Bothriochloa barbinodis	20	100
		sideoats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	100	250
		Arizona cottontop	Digitaria californica	10	50
		tanglehead	Heteropogon contortus	10	100
		green sprangletop	Leptochloa dubia	20	150
		plains bristlegrass	Setaria vulpiseta	0	40

2 - Cool season grasses				10	100
		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	1	25
		plains lovegrass	Eragrostis intermedia	5	100
		prairie Junegrass	Koeleria macrantha	0	25

3 - Dominant short grasses				110	150
		sprucetop grama	Bouteloua chondrosioides	0	25
		black grama	Bouteloua eriopoda	20	100
		blue grama	Bouteloua gracilis	0	25
		hairy grama	Bouteloua hirsuta	10	100
		purple grama	Bouteloua radicosa	0	25
		common wolfstail	Lycurus phleoides	1	25
		Hall's panicgrass	Panicum hallii	0	25

4 - Short lived grasses				10	200
		slender grama	Bouteloua repens	5	50
		Rothrock's grama	Bouteloua rothrockii	1	75
		curly-mesquite	Hilaria belangeri	5	100

5 - Miscellaneous perennial grasses				5	45
		red grama	Bouteloua trifida	0	10
		low woollygrass	Dasyochloa pulchella	0	5
		fall witchgrass	Digitaria cognata	1	15
		woolyspike balsamscale	Elionurus barbiculmis	0	5
		nineawn pappusgrass	Enneapogon desvauxii	0	5
		Arizona muhly	Muhlenbergia arizonica	0	5
		bullgrass	Muhlenbergia emersleyi	0	10
		bush muhly	Muhlenbergia porteri	1	25
		purple muhly	Muhlenbergia rigida	0	2
		vine mesquite	Panicum obtusum	0	10
		tobosagrass	Pleuraphis mutica	0	10
		Texas bluestem	Schizachyrium cirratum	0	5
		southwestern bristlegrass	Setaria scheelei	0	5
		spike dropseed	Sporobolus contractus	0	5
		sand dropseed	Sporobolus cryptandrus	0	15
		slim tridens	Tridens muticus	0	15
		spiked crinkleawn	Trachypogon spicatus	0	5

6 - Perennial threeawns				10	45
		Santa Rita threeawn	Aristida californica var. glabrata	0	5
		poverty threeawn	Aristida divaricata	0	5
		Havard's threeawn	Aristida havardii	0	5
		Wooton's threeawn	Aristida pansa	0	5
		purple threeawn	Aristida purpurea	1	15
		Fendler threeawn	Aristida purpurea var. longiseta	1	25
		blue threeawn	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	0	1
		Parish's threeawn	Aristida purpurea var. parishii	0	10
		Wright's threeawn	Aristida purpurea var. wrightii	0	5
		Orcutt's threeawn	Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana	0	10
		spidergrass	Aristida ternipes	5	25
		spidergrass	Aristida ternipes var. gentilis	1	15

7 - Annual grasses				10	100
		sixweeks threeawn	Aristida adscensionis	1	40
		prairie threeawn	Aristida oligantha	1	25
		needle grama	Bouteloua aristidoides	0	15
		sixweeks grama	Bouteloua barbata	0	5
		Arizona brome	Bromus arizonicus	0	2
		feather fingergrass	Chloris virgata	0	5
		tapertip cupgrass	Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata	0	5
		Mexican lovegrass	Eragrostis mexicana	0	5
		tufted lovegrass	Eragrostis pectinacea	0	5
		desert lovegrass	Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima	0	5
		Mexican sprangletop	Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia	1	25
		mucronate sprangletop	Leptochloa panicea	1	25
		delicate muhly	Muhlenbergia fragilis	0	5
		littleseed muhly	Muhlenbergia microsperma	0	5
		witchgrass	Panicum capillare	0	5
		Mexican panicgrass	Panicum hirticaule	1	15
		Bigelow's bluegrass	Poa bigelovii	0	5
		prairie false oat	Trisetum interruptum	0	2
		Arizona signalgrass	Urochloa arizonica	0	25
		Eastwood fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata	0	15
		desert fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys	0	15
		sixweeks fescue	Vulpia octoflora	0	15

	Forb			Annual Production in Pounds Per Acre
Group	Group Name	Common Name	Scientific Name	Low	High
8 - Perennial Forbs				15	80
		Palmer's Indian mallow	Abutilon palmeri	0	1
		dwarf desertpeony	Acourtia nana	0	5
		brownfoot	Acourtia wrightii	0	1
		poreleaf dogweed	Adenophyllum porophyllum	0	10
		trailing windmills	Allionia incarnata	1	10
		largeflower onion	Allium macropetalum	0	2
		weakleaf bur ragweed	Ambrosia confertiflora	1	10
		anoda	Anoda	0	1
		tuber anemone	Anemone tuberosa	0	5
		narrowleaf silverbush	Argythamnia lanceolata	0	5
		white sagebrush	Artemisia ludoviciana	0	5
		New Mexico silverbush	Argythamnia neomexicana	0	1
		perennial rockcress	Arabis perennans	1	5
		Watson's dutchman's pipe	Aristolochia watsonii	0	1
		dense ayenia	Ayenia microphylla	0	10
		hairyseed bahia	Bahia absinthifolia	0	1
		desert marigold	Baileya multiradiata	0	1
		lyreleaf greeneyes	Berlandiera lyrata	0	1
		scarlet spiderling	Boerhavia coccinea	0	2
		climbing wartclub	Boerhavia scandens	0	2
		Arizona wrightwort	Carlowrightia arizonica	0	2
		desert mariposa lily	Calochortus kennedyi	0	1
		sego lily	Calochortus nuttallii	0	1
		Indian paintbrush	Castilleja	0	2
		Texas bindweed	Convolvulus equitans	0	2
		whitemouth dayflower	Commelina erecta	0	2
		leatherweed	Croton pottsii	0	2
		Cooley's bundleflower	Desmanthus cooleyi	0	5
		bluedicks	Dichelostemma capitatum	1	15
		spreading snakeherb	Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens	0	1
		spreading fleabane	Erigeron divergens	1	10
		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	0	2
		wild dwarf morning-glory	Evolvulus arizonicus	0	5
		Arizona snakecotton	Froelichia arizonica	0	1
		beeblossom	Gaura	0	1
		southwestern mock vervain	Glandularia gooddingii	0	2
		pearly globe amaranth	Gomphrena nitida	0	1
		small matweed	Guilleminea densa	0	1
		Arizona rosemallow	Hibiscus biseptus	0	1
		desert rosemallow	Hibiscus coulteri	0	1
		Indian rushpea	Hoffmannseggia glauca	0	5
		slender janusia	Janusia gracilis	1	20
		ragged nettlespurge	Jatropha macrorhiza	0	1
		San Pedro daisy	Lasianthaea podocephala	0	1
		Lewis flax	Linum lewisii	0	10
		Parry's false prairie-clover	Marina parryi	0	2
		lacy tansyaster	Machaeranthera pinnatifida	0	5
		plains blackfoot	Melampodium leucanthum	1	10
		wishbone-bush	Mirabilis laevis var. villosa	0	1
		desert tobacco	Nicotiana obtusifolia	0	1
		tufted evening primrose	Oenothera caespitosa	0	5
		Parry's beardtongue	Penstemon parryi	0	2
		orange fameflower	Phemeranthus aurantiacus	0	1
		ivyleaf groundcherry	Physalis hederifolia	0	1
		slender poreleaf	Porophyllum gracile	1	20
		velvetseed milkwort	Polygala obscura	0	1
		shrubby purslane	Portulaca suffrutescens	0	1
		cudweed	Pseudognaphalium	0	2
		slimflower scurfpea	Psoralidium tenuiflorum	0	1
		twinleaf senna	Senna bauhinioides	0	1
		Coues' cassia	Senna covesii	0	2
		New Mexico fanpetals	Sida neomexicana	0	1
		silverleaf nightshade	Solanum elaeagnifolium	0	1
		desert globemallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	5	20
		gooseberryleaf globemallow	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0	1
		brownplume wirelettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora	2	10
		jewels of Opar	Talinum paniculatum	0	1
		hairy fournwort	Tetramerium nervosum	0	1
		spiderwort	Tradescantia	0	1
		branched noseburn	Tragia ramosa	0	1
		American vetch	Vicia americana	0	5
		Louisiana vetch	Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana	0	5
		Rocky Mountain zinnia	Zinnia grandiflora	0	1

9 - Annual forbs				10	150
		New Mexico copperleaf	Acalypha neomexicana	0	5
		carelessweed	Amaranthus palmeri	1	20
		bristly fiddleneck	Amsinckia tessellata	0	50
		southwestern pricklypoppy	Argemone pleiacantha	0	1
		milkvetch	Astragalus	0	15
		wheelscale saltbush	Atriplex elegans	0	2
		fewflower beggarticks	Bidens leptocephala	0	5
		Coulter's spiderling	Boerhavia coulteri	0	15
		hoary bowlesia	Bowlesia incana	0	1
		fringed redmaids	Calandrinia ciliata	0	2
		exserted Indian paintbrush	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	0	10
		lipfern	Cheilanthes	0	1
		goosefoot	Chenopodium	1	45
		sensitive partridge pea	Chamaecrista nictitans	1	25
		New Mexico thistle	Cirsium neomexicanum	1	15
		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	0	1
		scrambled eggs	Corydalis aurea	0	2
		cryptantha	Cryptantha	0	15
		American wild carrot	Daucus pusillus	0	5
		western tansymustard	Descurainia pinnata	1	25
		wedgeleaf draba	Draba cuneifolia	0	2
		sanddune wallflower	Erysimum capitatum	0	1
		miniature woollystar	Eriastrum diffusum	0	10
		sorrel buckwheat	Eriogonum polycladon	0	10
		Texas stork's bill	Erodium texanum	0	1
		California poppy	Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana	0	15
		Arizona blanketflower	Gaillardia arizonica	0	1
		star gilia	Gilia stellata	0	2
		southwestern mock vervain	Glandularia gooddingii	0	2
		Arizona gumweed	Grindelia arizonica	0	5
		longleaf false goldeneye	Heliomeris longifolia var. annua	1	50
		camphorweed	Heterotheca subaxillaris	0	5
		crestrib morning-glory	Ipomoea costellata	0	15
		Thurber's morning-glory	Ipomoea thurberi	0	5
		Arizona poppy	Kallstroemia grandiflora	0	15
		warty caltrop	Kallstroemia parviflora	0	5
		Goodding's bladderpod	Lesquerella gooddingii	0	1
		shaggyfruit pepperweed	Lepidium lasiocarpum	0	15
		intermediate pepperweed	Lepidium virginicum var. medium	0	15
		plains flax	Linum puberulum	0	1
		foothill deervetch	Lotus humistratus	0	5
		coastal bird's-foot trefoil	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	0	15
		Arizona lupine	Lupinus arizonicus	0	2
		Coulter's lupine	Lupinus sparsiflorus	0	15
		slender goldenweed	Machaeranthera gracilis	0	15
		tanseyleaf tansyaster	Machaeranthera tanacetifolia	0	25
		Nuttall's povertyweed	Monolepis nuttalliana	0	1
		green carpetweed	Mollugo verticillata	0	2
		desert evening primrose	Oenothera primiveris	0	2
		Florida pellitory	Parietaria floridana	0	1
		combseed	Pectocarya	0	10
		cliffbrake	Pellaea	0	1
		manybristle chinchweed	Pectis papposa	0	2
		phacelia	Phacelia	0	15
		phlox	Phlox	0	1
		Arizona popcornflower	Plagiobothrys arizonicus	0	15
		desert Indianwheat	Plantago ovata	0	10
		woolly plantain	Plantago patagonica	0	5
		purslane	Portulaca	0	2
		desert unicorn-plant	Proboscidea althaeifolia	0	1
		doubleclaw	Proboscidea parviflora	0	1
		New Mexico plumeseed	Rafinesquia neomexicana	0	5
		chia	Salvia columbariae	0	1
		sawtooth sage	Salvia subincisa	0	5
		spreading fanpetals	Sida abutifolia	1	5
		sleepy silene	Silene antirrhina	1	5
		woolly tidestromia	Tidestromia lanuginosa	0	15
		golden crownbeard	Verbesina encelioides	0	1

	Shrub/Vine			Annual Production in Pounds Per Acre
Group	Group Name	Common Name	Scientific Name	Low	High
10 - Dominant half shrubs				60	150
		fairyduster	Calliandra eriophylla	20	100
		brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	0	15
		button brittlebush	Encelia frutescens	0	10
		bastardsage	Eriogonum wrightii	10	100
		broom snakeweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	1	20
		littleleaf ratany	Krameria erecta	5	50
		trailing krameria	Krameria lanceolata	0	10
		rough menodora	Menodora scabra	0	10
		desert zinnia	Zinnia acerosa	0	10

11 - Miscellaneous Shrubs				0	40
		pelotazo	Abutilon incanum	0	10
		prairie acacia	Acacia angustissima	0	5
		whitethorn acacia	Acacia constricta	0	2
		Wright's beebrush	Aloysia wrightii	0	2
		fourwing saltbush	Atriplex canescens	0	5
		shortleaf baccharis	Baccharis brachyphylla	0	5
		yerba de pasmo	Baccharis pteronioides	0	5
		Coulter's brickellbush	Brickellia coulteri	0	5
		spiny hackberry	Celtis ehrenbergiana	0	5
		javelina bush	Condalia ericoides	0	5
		knifeleaf condalia	Condalia spathulata	0	5
		Warnock's snakewood	Condalia warnockii	0	5
		Kearney's snakewood	Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana	0	5
		longleaf jointfir	Ephedra trifurca	0	5
		Eastern Mojave buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum	0	2
		turpentine bush	Ericameria laricifolia	0	1
		ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens	0	5
		threadleaf snakeweed	Gutierrezia microcephala	0	1
		gumhead	Gymnosperma glutinosum	0	1
		burroweed	Isocoma tenuisecta	0	1
		winterfat	Krascheninnikovia lanata	0	2
		desert-thorn	Lycium	0	5
		algerita	Mahonia trifoliolata	0	5
		catclaw mimosa	Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera	0	5
		velvetpod mimosa	Mimosa dysocarpa	0	5
		yellow paloverde	Parkinsonia microphylla	0	2
		whitestem paperflower	Psilostrophe cooperi	0	1
		Sonoran scrub oak	Quercus turbinella	0	10
		skunkbush sumac	Rhus trilobata	0	5
		marvel dewberry	Rubus mirus	0	2
		mock buckthorn	Sageretia	0	2
		threadleaf ragwort	Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus	0	1
		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	0	5
		American threefold	Trixis californica	0	2
		Parish's goldeneye	Viguiera parishii	0	2
		lotebush	Ziziphus obtusifolia	0	1

12 - Succulents				5	50
		desert agave	Agave deserti	0	1
		Palmer's century plant	Agave palmeri	0	15
		Parry's agave	Agave parryi	0	1
		saguaro	Carnegiea gigantea	0	5
		Arizona pencil cholla	Cylindropuntia arbuscula	0	1
		jumping cholla	Cylindropuntia fulgida	0	2
		Christmas cactus	Cylindropuntia leptocaulis	0	2
		walkingstick cactus	Cylindropuntia spinosior	0	5
		staghorn cholla	Cylindropuntia versicolor	0	2
		common sotol	Dasylirion wheeleri	0	2
		hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus	0	5
		white fishhook cactus	Echinomastus intertextus	0	1
		rainbow cactus	Echinocereus pectinatus	0	1
		spinystar	Escobaria vivipara	0	1
		candy barrelcactus	Ferocactus wislizeni	1	5
		Graham's nipple cactus	Mammillaria grahamii	0	1
		little nipple cactus	Mammillaria heyderi	0	1
		sacahuista	Nolina microcarpa	0	5
		dollarjoint pricklypear	Opuntia chlorotica	0	5
		cactus apple	Opuntia engelmannii	1	15
		purple pricklypear	Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra	0	5
		tulip pricklypear	Opuntia phaeacantha	0	5
		banana yucca	Yucca baccata	0	5
		soaptree yucca	Yucca elata	0	5

	Tree			Annual Production in Pounds Per Acre
Group	Group Name	Common Name	Scientific Name	Low	High
13 - Trees				1	45
		catclaw acacia	Acacia greggii	1	15
		oneseed juniper	Juniperus monosperma	0	15
		blue paloverde	Parkinsonia florida	0	15
		western honey mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	0	25
		velvet mesquite	Prosopis velutina	0	25

Annual Production by Plant Type:

	Annual Production (lbs/AC)
Plant Type	Low	Representative Value	High
Forb	25	50	230
Grass/Grasslike	335	700	990
Shrub/Vine	65	150	240
Tree	1	5	45
Total:	426	905	1505

Structure and Cover:

Soil Surface Cover (%)

Basal Cover				Non-Vascular Plants	Biological Crust	Litter	Surface Fragments > 1/4 & <= 3"	Surface Fragments > 3"	Bedrock	Water	Bare Ground
Grass/ Grasslike	Forb	Shrub/ Vine	Tree
6 to 15	0 to 1	0 to 2	0 to 1	0 to 1	0 to 5	10 to 50	15 to 55	0 to 8	0 to 0	0 to 0	15 to 25

Structure of Canopy Cover (%)

	Grasses/Grasslike	Forbs	Shrubs/Vines	Trees
<=0.5 feet	2 to 15	1 to 5
> 0.5 - < 1 feet	2 to 15	1 to 20	1 to 10
< 1 - >= 2 feet	15 to 30	0 to 5	1 to 10
> 2 - < 4.5 feet	0 to 10	0 to 1	0 to 2
< 4.5 - >= 13 feet			0 to 1	0 to 1

Mesquite, native grasses and forbs

Mesquite increases or invades in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Other shrubs like prickly pear, blue paloverde, ocotillo, cholla, snakeweed and brittlebush can increase to make the site appear shrubby. Native perennial grasses and forbs still dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community.

Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. shrubby state

Annual forbs and grasses

The interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing act to remove perennial grasses from the plant community. Annuals, both native and non-native dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community. The shrubby component of the community remains unchanged. Some soil compaction has occurred and sheet erosion has accelerated.

Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. Selevin soil profile

Lehmann lovegrass invaded

Lehmann lovegrass invades from seeded areas and roadsides, trails and right of ways. The interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing cause openings in the native grass community which are filled by Lehmann. As Lehmann becomes dominant the diversity of native herbaceous species declines. The shrubby component of the site does not appear to be as affected as the herbaceous component by increases in Lehmann lovegrass.

Eroded w/wo mesquite.

Severe soil compaction and trailing from heavy, continuous livestock grazing results in loss of plant cover, changes in hydrology and accelerated sheet and rill erosion. Gullies can form where runoff is concentrated from roadways or trails. Shrubs like mesquite and cacti may or may not have increased to dominate. Perennial grasses and forbs are present only in trace amounts.

Ecological Site Interpretations

Animal Community:
The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing by all classes of cattle. Steep slopes can hinder utilization. Ridge-tops, canyon bottoms and adjacent areas of level uplands will be overused before appreciable use is made of this site. Cool season use or fencing and grazing systems will be needed to overcome the grazing distribution problems. Herbaceous forage will be deficient in protein in the winter.

Water developments are very important to wildlife on this site. Even though the site is open grassland, it is topographically diverse and home to a variety of large and small wildlife species.

Plant Preference by Animal Kind:

Animal Kind: Pronghorn Antelope

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

perennial rockcress

Arabis perennans

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

milkvetch

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

fourwing saltbush

Atriplex canescens

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

fairyduster

Calliandra eriophylla

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

spreading fleabane

Erigeron divergens

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

bastardsage

Eriogonum wrightii

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

mesquite

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

desert globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

brownplume wirelettuce

Stephanomeria pauciflora

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Livestock Cattle

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

cane bluestem

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Leaves

U

U

E

E

E

E

D

D

P

D

E

E

sideoats grama

Bouteloua curtipendula

Leaves

U

U

U

D

D

U

D

D

P

P

U

U

hairy grama

Bouteloua hirsuta

Leaves

E

E

D

D

D

P

P

P

P

P

P

E

fairyduster

Calliandra eriophylla

Leaves

U

U

P

P

P

D

D

D

D

D

D

U

bastardsage

Eriogonum wrightii

Leaves

D

D

P

P

P

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

tanglehead

Heteropogon contortus

Leaves

U

U

E

D

E

E

E

E

D

D

D

U

curly-mesquite

Hilaria belangeri

Leaves

E

E

E

P

P

D

D

D

D

D

D

E

littleleaf ratany

Krameria erecta

Leaves

D

D

P

P

P

E

E

E

D

D

D

D

mesquite

Fruits/Seeds

N

N

N

N

N

P

P

P

D

D

D

U

Animal Kind: Desert Mule Deer

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

whitethorn acacia

Acacia constricta

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

perennial rockcress

Arabis perennans

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

milkvetch

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

fourwing saltbush

Atriplex canescens

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

fairyduster

Calliandra eriophylla

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

spreading fleabane

Erigeron divergens

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

buckwheat

Stems

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

bastardsage

Eriogonum wrightii

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

candy barrelcactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

littleleaf ratany

Krameria erecta

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Opuntia fulgida (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

mesquite

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

desert globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

brownplume wirelettuce

Stephanomeria pauciflora

Leaves

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Cochies Javelina

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

largeflower onion

Allium macropetalum

Underground parts

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

bluedicks

Dichelostemma capitatum

Underground parts

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

candy barrelcactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Indian rushpea

Hoffmannseggia glauca

Underground parts

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

cactus apple

Opuntia engelmannii

Fruits/Seeds

N

N

N

N

N

N

P

P

D

D

U

N

cactus apple

Opuntia engelmannii

Leaves

E

E

E

D

D

D

D

U

U

U

E

E

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

whitethorn acacia

Acacia constricta

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

milkvetch

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Scaled Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

milkvetch

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

fourwing saltbush

Atriplex canescens

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

fairyduster

Calliandra eriophylla

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

spreading fleabane

Erigeron divergens

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Scaled Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

buckwheat

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

candy barrelcactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

candy barrelcactus

Ferocactus wislizeni

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

velvetpod mimosa

Mimosa dysocarpa

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Scaled Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

velvetpod mimosa

Mimosa dysocarpa

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Opuntia arbuscula (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Opuntia arbuscula (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

cactus apple

Opuntia engelmannii

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Scaled Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

cactus apple

Opuntia engelmannii

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Opuntia fulgida (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Opuntia fulgida (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Opuntia spinosior (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Scaled Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Opuntia spinosior (Syn)

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

mesquite

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Animal Kind: Gambels Quail

Common Name

Scientific Name

Plant Part

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

mesquite

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

desert globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Fruits/Seeds

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

Legend: P = Preferred D = Desirable U = Undesirable N = Not consumed E = Emergency T = Toxic X = Used, but degree of utilization unknown

Hydrology Functions:
Steep slopes and loamy textured soils make this site a producer of runoff.

Recreational Uses:
Hunting, horseback riding, hiking, photography, bird-watching, camping

Wood Products:
Limited fuel-wood available from shrubby mesquite, juniper and catclaw acacia; where these trees have increased on the site.

Other Products:

Other Information:

Supporting Information

Associated Sites:

Site Name	Site ID	Site Narrative
Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.	R041XC305AZ
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.	R041XC308AZ
Loamy Upland 12-16" p.z.	R041XC313AZ

Similar Sites:

Site Name	Site ID	Site Narrative
Loamy Slopes 10-13" p.z.	R040XA113AZ
Loamy Slopes 16-20" p.z.	R041XA107AZ
Loamy Slopes 8-12" p.z.	R041XB217AZ

State Correlation:
This site has been correlated with the following states:
AZ

Inventory Data References:
Range 417s include 1 in excellent condition, 5 in good condition and 2 in fair condition.

Other Inventory Data References:

Data Source	Number of Records	Sample Period	State	County
Arizona Range One	27		Arizona	Cochise
Az. range one	22		Arizona	Graham
Ariz. Range One	11		Arizona	Pima
Az rng. one	4		Arizona	Pinal

Type Locality:

State:	AZ
County:	Cochise
Township:	13S
Range:	22E
Section:	7
General Legal Description:	Warbonnet Ranch
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Cochise
Township:	21S
Range:	20E
Section:	28
General Legal Description:	Fort Huachuca, East Range
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Pima
Township:	17S
Range:	16E
Section:	36
General Legal Description:	Sonoita Hwy 83 ROW
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Pima
Township:	19S
Range:	17E
Section:	36
General Legal Description:	Empire ranch KA 11 (south exposure), Hilton Pasture above Road Canyon well.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Pima
Township:	19S
Range:	16E
Section:	11
General Legal Description:	Empire Ranch KA2 (south exposure), in North pasture near Oak Tree well.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Pinal
Township:	10S
Range:	14E
Section:	14
General Legal Description:	Sunspace Ranch
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

State:	AZ
County:	Pinal
Township:	9S
Range:	18E
Section:	9
General Legal Description:	Rafter T Ranch
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system:

Relationship to Other Established Classifications:

Other References:

Site Description Approval:

Author	Date	Approval	Date
Dan Robinett	8/2/2005	Steve Barker	8/3/2005

Site Description Revision Approval:

Author	Date	Approval	Date
Steve Barker	1/1/1993	unknown	1/1/1993
unknown	1/1/1992	unknown	1/1/1992
Dan Robinett	3/1/1988	Keith Wadman	3/1/1988
unknown	1/1/1987	unknown	1/1/1987

Reference Sheet

Author(s)/participant(s): Dave Womack, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carrillo

Contact for lead author: NRCS Tucson Area Office

Date: 3/7/2005 MLRA: 041X Ecological Site: Loamy Slopes 12-16" p.z. R041XC314AZ This must be verified based on soils and climate (see Ecological Site Description). Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Composition (indicators 10 and 12) based on: X Annual Production, Foliar Cover, Biomass

Indicators. For each indicator, describe the potential for the site. Where possible, (1) use numbers, (2) include expected range of values for above- and below-average years for each community and natural disturbance regimes within the reference state, when appropriate and (3) cite data. Continue descriptions on separate sheet.

1.

Number and extent of rills: None

2.

Presence of water flow patterns: Uncommon, probably cover no more than 10% of area; discontinuous, very short, usually less than 1-3 feet in length.

3.

Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: Pedestals are uncommon on perennial grass and shrubs. Terracettes uncommon.

4.

Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 0-5%

5.

Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: none

6.

Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: none

7.

Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): All litter size classes stay in place.

8.

Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values): Expect values of 1-3 in canopy interspaces, and 4-6 under plant canopies.

9.

Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness): Weak granular; color is 10YR4/2 dry, 10YR3/2 moist; thickness to 2 inches.

10.

Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: Canopy 30-40%, Basal 5%, Litter 45-55%; 60-70% of canopy cover is perennial grasses, 5% perennial forbs, 15-25% shrubs & subshrubs. Cover is well dispersed throughout site.

11.

Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): none

12.

Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground weight using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to) with dominants and sub-dominants and "others" on separate lines:
Dominant: perennial grass > subshrubs > annual grasses & forbs > shrubs succulents = perennial forbs
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:

13.

Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): 50% of basal cover of perennial grasses has likely been lost in recent prolonged drought.

14.

Average percent litter cover (45-55%) and depth (0.25 inches):

15.

Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production: 600 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation, 900 lbs/ac normal precipitation, 1300 lbs/ac favorable precipitation

16.

Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List Species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicator, we are describing what in NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site: jojoba, whitethorn, mesquite, prickley pear, cane cholla & ocotillo may increast to undesirable levels in the absence of natural fires; red brome and wild oats.

17.

Perennial plant reproductive capability: Not affected even following several years of prolonged drought period for region.

Reference Sheet Approval:
Approval	Date
S. Cassady	3/7/2007