Non-sprouting shrubs such as sotol and prickly pear germinate. In the absence of fire for prolonged periods they will grow to maturity and eventually dominate the site.
Sprouting shrubs, primarily turbinella oak that is the dominant shrub on other sites in this Land Resource Unit (16-20" precipitation zone), germinate. In the absence of fire for prolonged periods will grow to maturity and eventually dominate the site.
Trees germinate and in the absence of fire for prolonged periods grow to maturity. High densities of perennial grasses can still occupy the interspaces of trees with tree canopy as high as 45-55%. Trees are of sufficient size that most practitioners are unlikely to apply prescribed fire.
It is unknown if this restoration is possible. Chemical brush management is likely the only alternative to reduce shrub species given the rocky nature of these soils. Range planting would be necessary to restore the herbaceous community if brush management is effective. Range planting would have greater success in this Land Resource Unit due to the higher rainfall this site receives.
Extreme wildfire is likely the only restoration pathway. Trees have reached such a large size that very high temperatures and wind speeds are needed to allow fires to burn through canopies and top kill non sprouting juniper or pinyon. Very costly mechanical brush management where soils have lower amount of cobbles or boulders and gentler slopes is possible followed by burning of tree skeletons. Perennial grass canopy in the interspaces of trees is > 50% in some areas with existing plants likely providing an adequate seed source for restoration following brush management or fires. Range planting should likely only be considered where perennial grass canopy in the interspaces of trees is less than 25%; however this threshold needs additional investigation.
Model keys
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
