Sandstone Hills
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 New Mexico feathergrass.
Characteristics and indicators
little bluestem, sideoats grama, black grama, New Mexico feathergrass, Arizona fescue, and pinyon ricegrass
Resilience management
This site is suited for grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock during all season of the year. On areas of excessively steep slopes, accessibility may become limited, and stocking rates should be adjusted accordingly. This site responds best to a system of grazing that rotates the season of use.
Submodel
Description
This state contains blue grama, threeawn, pinyon, and juniper.
Characteristics and indicators
Under continuous yearlong grazing or continuous grazing during the growing season, this site will deteriorate. Deterioration of this site is characterized by a decrease in little bluestem, sideoats grama, black grama, New Mexico feathergrass, Arizona fescue, and pinyon ricegrass. A corresponding increase in blue grama, threeawn, pinyon, juniper, and oak will occur. Under severe deterioration, erosion hazard becomes quite high, and the site may become severely limited for livestock use.
Resilience management
This site is suited for grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock during all season of the year. On areas of excessively steep slopes, accessibility may become limited, and stocking rates should be adjusted accordingly. This site responds best to a system of grazing that rotates the season of use. Mechanical brush control is rarely justified on this site. Because of this, the use of goats may be a good tool for helping to maintain a healthy, balanced plant community.
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.