Table
5. Rangeland health status criteria and characteristics for the (B)
good health condition category. |
I. |
Distribution pattern
of plants across the site is somewhat continuous, with foliage covering
almost all the ground surface. |
II. |
Plant species composition
is diverse, with numerous desirable species and a few less desirable species
in a mature community. |
III. |
Age-class distribution
of plants is diverse, with many plants of each age group. Recruitment of
many young desirable plants is supported. |
IV. |
Plants are vigorous
and show no signs of deformed growth patterns. |
V. |
Plant roots are distributed
throughout nearly all 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 nearly all the requirements for growth
of leaves and roots. |
VII. |
Litter distribution
across the site is somewhat continuous, with only a small amount of bare
soil area. |
VIII. |
The humic layer of
decomposed organic matter is present over most of the site. |
IX. |
The top layer of soil
appears stable and nearly uniform across the site. |
X. |
Soil removal by wind
or water shows very little evidence. |
XI. |
Deposition of wind-
or water-eroded material shows very little evidence. |
XII. |
Recent gully formation
shows very little evidence. If some gullies are present, they are smooth
featured and vegetated. |
XIII. |
Plant pedestaling shows
little evidence. |
XIV. |
Scouring or sheet erosion
from wind or water shows very little evidence. |
XV. |
Nutrient cycles and
energy flow are functioning at adequate levels. |
XVI. |
Plant community dynamics
and processes are sufficient to maintain the existing community structure
and function. |
XVII. |
Most of the precipitation
infiltrates the soil, and only a small amount runs off. |