Shallow
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
This state includes plants such as sideoats grama, black grama, little bluestem, needleandthread, New Mexico feathergrass, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat.
Submodel
Description
increasers: blue grama, threeawn, algerita, and broom snakeweed.
Characteristics and indicators
Under prolonged and intense continuous grazing, range deterioration is characterized by a decrease in sideoats grama, black grama, little bluestem, needleandthread, New Mexico feathergrass, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat. There will also be an increase in plants such as blue grama, threeawn, algerita, and broom snakeweed. As deterioration continues, a very low-vigor sod-type blue grama will dominate. This will cause a drop in total production and an increase in bare ground and erosion. In some areas, this site will support a stand of pinyon and/or juniper, as the condition deteriorates.
Resilience management
This site is suited to grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock during all times of the year. However, this site is not suited for continuous yearlong or growing season grazing. This will cause a drop in total production and an increase in bare ground and erosion.
Practice deferred grazing and rotation.
Mechanism
Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Mechanism
Legacy Statement:
"Restoration pathway resulting from the implementation of prescribed grazing."
It should be noted that prescribed grazing alone may not effectively diminish woody plants here. Brush control may also be required. Future work on this ESD should seek to clarify this.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Grazing Management Plan - Applied |
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
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.