Table
6. Rangeland health status criteria and characteristics for the (C)
fair health condition category. |
I. |
Distribution pattern
of plants across the site is patchy, with some large bare ground areas not
covered by foliage. |
II. |
Plant species composition
is restricted, with some desirable species, some less desirable species,
and a few undesirable species in a mature community. |
III. |
Age-class distribution
of plants is incomplete, with some age classes missing. Recruitment of young
desirable plants is restricted. |
IV. |
Plants have reduced
vigor, and some show deformed growth patterns, developing close to the ground. |
V. |
Plant roots are not
present in all portions of the available soil profile but are restricted
to patches. |
VI. |
The leaf area of the
plants is reduced during portions of the growing season so that rates of
photosynthetic activity are insufficient to provide all the requirements
for growth of leaves and roots. |
VII. |
Litter distribution
across the site is sparse and uneven, characterized by some large bare soil
areas and by accumulations in depressions and around prominent grass plants. |
VIII. |
The humic layer of
decomposed organic matter is sparsely distributed and is being incorporated
into the soil only in depressions or around prominent grass plants. |
IX. |
The top layer of soil
is beginning to show a fragmented distribution pattern. |
X. |
Some soil particles,
organic matter, and nutrients are being redistributed by wind or water erosion
but remain on the site. |
XI. |
Some sediment deposition
of wind- or water-eroded material is evident. |
XII. |
Recent gully formation
is evident but structures are not yet well developed or integrated into
a branching pattern. |
XIII. |
Plant pedestaling is
evident but is not so severe that roots are exposed. |
XIV. |
Bare soil with scours
and dunes from wind erosion is evident, but the structures are small and
not well developed. Sheet erosion from water is evident on small areas after
thunderstorms. |
XV. |
Nutrient cycles and
energy flow are functioning, but the distribution across the site is in
the early stages of a fragmented pattern. |
XVI. |
Plant community dynamics
and processes are not sufficient to maintain productive community structure
and function. |
XVII. |
Some of the precipitation
infiltrates the soil, and some runs off. |