Loamy

Description

The Loamy site occurs on upland areas. Soils are well drained and have less than 40 percent clay in the surface and/or subsoil. The surface and subsoil textures typically are loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, and very fine sandy loam. Some soils are underlain with sand or gravel at about two to three feet in depth. In some areas the surface layer may consist of stony to extremely stony. The central concept soil series are Agar, Glenham, and Highmore, but other series are included. This state represents the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics of this ecological site (ES). This state was dominated by cool-season grasses, with warm-season grasses being subdominant. In pre-European times, the primary disturbance mechanisms for this site in the reference condition included periods of below and above average precipitation, periodic fire, and herbivory by insects and large ungulates. Timing of fires and herbivory coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. In some locations, this site likely received relatively heavy grazing pressure. Cool-season and taller warm-season grasses would have declined and short warm-season grasses would have increased. Today, a similar state, the Native/Invaded State (State 3) can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing or prescribed burning and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest. These sites are differentiated by the presence of exotic species such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass. On most Loamy ESs within this MLRA, these species have invaded and are now present. It is likely that attaining the reference state as it is described here (without the presence of exotic herbaceous species) is not possible.

Submodel

Description

This state is the result of heavy continuous grazing, and in the absence of periodic fire due to fire suppression. This state is dominated by blue grama and buffalograss forming a dense sod layer that effectively blocks introduction of other plants into the system. Taller cool-season species will decline and a corresponding increase in short statured grass will occur. Low growth forms and low and late growing points allow blue grama, buffalograss, and upland sedges to tolerate and sometimes avoid heavy continuous grazing. This state has a high level of resiliency and changes occur very slowly with a long-term prescribed grazing. Once the threshold is crossed, a change in grazing management alone cannot cause a reduction in the sod grass dominance.

Submodel

Description

This state represents the more common range of variability that exists with higher levels of grazing management but in the absence of periodic fire due to fire suppression and the presence of exotic species such a Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass. This state is dominated by cool-season grasses. It can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing or prescribed burning, and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest. Taller warm-season species can decline and a corresponding increase in short statured grass will occur.

Submodel

Description

This state is a result of encroachment mainly by invasion and dominance of introduced cool-season grasses. This state is characterized by the dominance of smooth bromegrass, crested wheatgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, and an increasing thatch layer that effectively blocks introduction of other plants into the system. Plant litter accumulation tends to favor the more shade tolerant introduced grass species. The nutrient cycle is also impaired, and the result is typically a higher level of nitrogen which also favors the introduced species. Increasing plant litter decreases the amount of sunlight reaching plant crowns thereby shifting competitive advantage to shade tolerant introduced grass species. The ecological processes are not functioning, especially the biotic processes and the hydrologic functions. The introduced cool-season grasses cause reduced infiltration and increased runoff. Preliminary studies would tend to indicate this threshold may exist when Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30 percent of the plant community and native grasses represent less than 40 percent of the plant community composition. The opportunity for high intensity spring burns is severely reduced by early green up and increased moisture and humidity at the soil surface and grazing pressure cannot cause a reduction in sodgrass dominance. Production is limited to the sod forming species. Infiltration continues to decrease and runoff increases and energy capture into the system is restricted to early season low producing species. Nutrient cycling is limited by root depth of the dominant species.

Submodel

Description

This state is dominated (canopy exceeds 20 percent of total surface area) by areas where trees have become established or have encroached onto the site due to the absence of periodic fire. This state is dominated by eastern redcedar or Rocky Mountain juniper with cool-season grasses being subdominant. The plant community can develop into a closed canopy that impedes the reproductive capability of the major native perennial grass species. A single eastern red cedar tree with a 7 foot crown diameter eliminates the equivalent of 3 pounds of forage. Further, the forage potential of a pasture with 250 mature eastern red cedar trees per acre (or one tree every thirteen feet) is reduce by 50 percent. It is suggested that reducing stocking rates by 10 percent for every 50 trees per acre. The increase in tree canopy which is a result of a disruption of the natural, and human related fire regimes that occurred prior to European settlement, which kept trees from encroaching much of the grasslands.

Submodel

Description

This state is characterized by the production of annual crops using a variety of tillage and cropping systems along with management practices. Cropping on this site is enabled during years with drier than normal precipitation or with artificial drainage (surface or subsurface).

Submodel