Shallow Sandstone
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
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 little bluestem, sideoats grama, black grama, and needleandthread,
Characteristics and indicators
Decreasers such as: little bluestem, sideoats grama, black grama, needleandthread, New Mexico feathergrass, Indian ricegrass, western wheatgrass, skunkbush sumac, and Bigelow sagebrush condition,
Resilience management
This site is suitable for grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock during all seasons of the year. This site is not suited to heavy yearlong or continuous growing season grazing. This site responds best to a system of grazing which rotates the season of use.
Submodel
Description
This state includes blue grama, sand dropseed, spike dropseed, threeawn, pinyon and juniper.
Characteristics and indicators
increasers such as: blue grama, sand dropseed, spike dropseed, threeawn, pinyon and juniper. If deterioration continues, woody species will dominate with an understory of very low-vigor, unproductive blue grama. Bare ground increases, which causes an increase in water runoff and soil erosion.
Resilience management
This site is not suited to heavy yearlong or continuous growing season grazing. This site responds best to a system of grazing which rotates the season of use. Mechanical brush control is usually not feasible, due to the shallow soil. When this site is in the above condition, recovery using improved grazing management alone may be difficult achieve.
Mechanism
Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Mechanism
Legacy text:
"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.