Sandy Claypan
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T 1 to 2 More details
- Transition T 1 to 4 More details
- Restoration pathway R 2 to 1 More details
- Transition T 2 to 3 More details
- Restoration pathway R 3 to 1 More details
- Restoration pathway R 4 to 1 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Grassland State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state is defined by two native plant communities that are a result of periodic fire, drought, and grazing. These events are part of the natural disturbance regime and climatic process. The Reference Plant Community consists of both warm- and cool-season, tall- and midgrasses, forbs, shrubs. Plant Community 2 consists of decadent plants or excessive litter, and few remnant native grasses and forbs.
Submodel
Description
With heavy, continuous grazing blue grama will become the dominant species and have a sod bound appearance. Unable to withstand the grazing pressure, only a remnant population of western wheatgrass remains.
Species diversity has been reduced further. Water infiltration is reduced due to the sod nature of the buffalograss and blue grama. Runoff is increased.
Submodel
Description
The Club Moss State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state represents a plant community change as well as changes to the energy flow and nutrient cycling processes. This state is defined by one plant community.
Submodel
Description
The Annual/Pioneer State is supported by empirical data, historical data, local expertise, and photographs. This state represents a plant community change as well as changes to the energy flow and nutrient cycling processes. This state is defined by one plant community.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing or continuous seasonal grazing will convert the plant community to the Blue Grama/Sedge/Western Wheatgrass Plant Community.
Mechanism
Excessive defoliation (i.e., areas of heavy animal concentration) or cropped go-back land with continuous grazing will convert the plant community to the Annual/Pioneer Perennial Plant Community.
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing that includes changing season of use and allowing adequate recovery periods to enhance cool season grasses will lead this plant community back to the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing may cause further deterioration resulting in a shift to the Club Moss Plant Community.
Mechanism
Fertilization combined with prescribed grazing will move this plant community subsequently through the successional stages leading toward the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Mechanical renovation followed by prescribed grazing will reduce club moss, increase western wheatgrass, and eventually shift this plant community back toward the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Prescribed burning followed by prescribed grazing may eventually convert this plant community back to the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Long-term prescribed grazing may eventually moves this plant community through the successional stages leading toward the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Under long-term prescribed grazing and/or removal of disturbance, including adequate rest periods, this plant community will move through the successional stages, and may eventually lead to the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community. Depending on the slope, aspect, and size, and if adequate perennial plants exist, this change can occur more rapidly. This process will likely take a long period of time (50+ years).
Range seeding with deferment and long term prescribed grazing can convert this to a plant community resembling the Western Wheatgrass/Tall Warm-Season Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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.