Table
4. Rangeland health status criteria and characteristics for the (A)
excellent health condition category. |
I. |
Distribution pattern
of plants across the site is nearly continuous, with foliage covering nearly
the entire ground surface. |
II. |
Plant species composition
is diverse, with numerous desirable species in a mature community. |
III. |
Age-class distribution
of plants is diverse, with numerous plants of each age group. Recruitment
of numerous young desirable plants is supported. |
IV. |
Plants are vigorous,
support robust growth, and show no signs of deformed growth patterns. |
V. |
Plant roots are distributed
throughout the available soil profile. |
VI. |
The leaf area of the
plants is adequate throughout the growing season so that rates of photosynthetic
activity are sufficient to provide all the requirements for growth of leaves
and roots. |
VII. |
Litter distribution
across the site is nearly continuous, with only a few bare soil areas. |
VIII. |
The humic layer of
decomposed organic matter is well developed across the site. |
IX. |
The top layer of soil
appears stable and is consistent across the site. |
X. |
Soil removal by wind
or water is not evident. |
XI. |
Deposition of wind-
or water-eroded material is not evident. |
XII. |
Recent gully formation
is not evident. If any gullies are present, they are small, smooth featured,
and vegetated. |
XIII. |
Plant pedestaling is
not evident. |
XIV. |
Scouring or sheet erosion
from wind or water is not evident. |
XV. |
Nutrient cycles and
energy flow are functioning at adequate levels. |
XVI. |
Plant community dynamics
and processes are sufficient to maintain highly productive community structure
and function. |
XVII. |
Almost all the precipitation
infiltrates the soil, and only a very small amount runs off. |