Channery Loam - North
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
• Invasion and expansion of non-native cool-season grasses
More details
• Continuous season-long stocking
• Excessive haying
• Non-use
• No fire -
Transition T1B
• Heavy, continuous season-long stocking
More details
• Heavy continuous stocking
• Heavy disturbance
• Reduced hydrologic function -
Transition T2B
• Heavy, continuous season-long stocking
More details
• Heavy continuous stocking
• Heavy disturbance
• Reduced hydrologic function -
Transition T2A
• Non-use
More details
• No fire
• Continuous early-season stocking
• Excessive haying -
Transition T4A
• Prescribed burning
More details
• Prescribed grazing -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics of the ecological site prior to European settlement. This site in the Reference State (1.0) is dominated by warm-season grasses, with cool-season grasses being subdominant.
In pre-European times, the primary disturbance mechanisms for this site in the reference condition included occasional fire and grazing by large ungulates. Timing of fires and grazing coupled with weather events dictated the dynamics that occurred within the natural range of variability. Taller cool- and warm-season grasses would have declined and a corresponding increase in short statured grass and grass-like species would have occurred.
Today, a similar state can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing and/or prescribed burning, and sometimes on areas receiving occasional short periods of rest.
Characteristics and indicators
The Reference State (1.0) is dominated by mid- and tall-statured warm-season grasses and subdominant cool-season bunchgrasses and rhizomatous wheatgrass. The Reference State is very susceptible to invasion of non-native cool-season grasses and the expansion of clubmoss.
Resilience management
Management strategies to sustain the Reference State (1.0) include, setting proper stocking rates, monitoring utilization of key species, providing adequate time for plant recovery following grazing events or other disturbance events (e.g. fire, drought, hailstorms), and maintaining soil and site stability. The use of prescribed burning may be effective at limiting or minimizing the invasion and establishment of non-native cool-season grasses.
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded State is dominated by native cool- and warm-season grasses, and subdominant non-native cool-season grasses. The non-native cool-season grasses will make up to 15 percent of the total annual production. This state can be found on areas that would appear to be properly managed with grazing and possibly periodic prescribed burning. This state represents what is most typically found on this ecological site.
This state is the result of long-term continuous season-long stocking at light to moderate stocking levels, during the typical growing season (May through October); excessive haying; or extended periods of non-use, no fire, and the build-up litter. If the native cool-season grasses decline, a corresponding increase of non-native cool-season grasses can occur. The non-native cool-season grasses will include, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, cheatgrass, and field brome.
Characteristics and indicators
Non-native cool-season grasses will make up to 15 percent of the total annual production in the Native/Invaded State (2.0).
Resilience management
Management strategies to sustain the Native/invaded State (2.0) include, setting proper stocking rates, monitoring utilization of key species, providing adequate time for plant recovery following grazing events or other disturbance events (e.g. fire, drought, hailstorms), and maintaining soil and site stability. The use of prescribed burning may be effective at limiting or minimizing the expansion of non-native cool-season grasses on the ecological site. Because of the adaptability and persistence of these non-native grass species, a recovery to the Reference State (1.0) is highly unlikely.
Submodel
State 3
Clubmoss State
Description
Clubmoss (lesser spikemoss) forms a dense sod-matt in this state. It will occupy areas of plant communities that are disturbed or degraded due to long-term repeated disturbances. Clubmoss cover is often 25 percent or greater. This sod-matt alters the normal hydrologic function of the site and creates a more arid microclimate, resulting in extreme competition for available moisture. The vigor and productivity of other native grasses are dramatically reduced.
Characteristics and indicators
Clubmoss expands in disturbed or degraded areas within a plant community. The foliar cover is often 25 percent or greater. It will alter the normal hydrologic function of this site, with increased runoff and less infiltration rates.
Resilience management
A restoration or transition pathway from the Clubmoss State (3.0) to another State is unlikely, except on small areas where channers are deeper in the profile. Most areas within this ecological site contain exposed schist channers, and the use of mechanical treatment to break up the clubmoss may not be practical or economical. Herbicides and/or intense short-term hoof action may be effective in reducing clubmoss in the plant community, but the results may be mixed, and not meet management objectives.
Submodel
Description
The Invaded State (4.0) is the result long-term no use, and no fire, or continuous early-season stocking and/or excessive haying, which has allowed Kentucky bluegrass and other non-native cool-season grasses to dominate the site. No use and no fire will cause an excessive thatch layer to develop. Plant litter accumulation tends to favor the more shade-tolerant introduced grass species. Hydrological function can be reduced as the dense root mats created by Kentucky bluegrass reduces water infiltration. The nutrient cycle can also be impaired, resulting in a higher level of nitrogen which also favors the introduced species. Kentucky bluegrass is very resistant to overgrazing and will expand under heavy continuous grazing and out-compete other native species that are not as adapted to overgrazing.
Characteristics and indicators
Non-native cool-season grasses will make up 30 percent or more of the total annual production in the Invaded State (4.0).
Resilience management
Management strategies to sustain this plant community include setting proper stocking rates, monitoring utilization of key species, providing adequate time for plant recovery following grazing events or other disturbance events. If adequate native propagules remain in the plant community, long-term prescribed grazing, and prescribed burning, may reduce the amount of Kentucky bluegrass and other non-native cool-season grasses to facilitate a transition to the Native/Invaded State (2.0).
Another potential option to facilitate a transition to the Native/Invaded State (2.0), if deemed both ecologically and/or economically feasible. This would include, mechanical and/or chemical herbaceous weed control to reduce the non-native cool-season grasses, followed by a seeding of a native grass and forb species, and the implementation of long-term prescribed grazing.
Submodel
Mechanism
•Invasion of non-native cool-season grasses.
•Continuous season-long stocking: long-term grazing at moderate to moderately heavy stocking levels, during the typical growing season (May through October), without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Excessive haying includes annual mechanical harvesting of rangeland plant communities without adequate time for plant recovery. Leaving inadequate post-harvest stubble height for retention of photosynthetic leaf area, nor providing adequate insulation cover from extreme heat or cold will result in a decline in plant health and vigor and increased plant mortality. Desirable grasses and forbs for forage and wildlife cover will decrease, and other less desirable grasses and forbs species will increase.
•Extended periods of no use and no fire results in heavy litter buildup which favors non-native cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and other non-native species, and the reduction of native warm-season grasses.
Constraints to recovery
Disturbance regime results in the transition from plant communities dominated by native tall and mid- warm-season and cool-season grass to plant communities with up to 15 percent non-native cool-season grasses. Because of the adaptability and persistence of these non-native grass species, a recovery to the Reference State (1.0) is highly unlikely.
Mechanism
•Heavy, continuous season-long stocking: long-term grazing at moderately heavy to heavy stocking levels, during the typical growing season (May through October), without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Heavy, continuous stocking: repeated year-long grazing at moderately heavy to heavy stocking levels, without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Heavy disturbance: Soil and site stability is compromised from one, or a combination of excessive grazing or defoliation, heavy livestock or vehicle traffic, wildfire, or drought.
•Shift in hydrologic function with reduced infiltration and increased runoff.
Constraints to recovery
Disturbance regime results in the transition from plant communities dominated by native tall and mid- warm-season and cool-season grass to plant communities dominated by short warm-season grasses, sedges, and clubmoss. Because of the persistence of these species and a shift in the functional structural groups, a recovery to the Reference State (1.0) is highly unlikely.
Mechanism
•Heavy, continuous season-long stocking: long-term grazing at moderately heavy to heavy stocking levels, during the typical growing season (May through October), without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Heavy, continuous stocking: repeated year-long grazing at moderately heavy to heavy stocking levels, without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Heavy disturbance: Soil and site stability is compromised from one, or a combination of excessive grazing or defoliation, heavy livestock or vehicle traffic, wildfire, or drought.
•Shift in hydrologic function with reduced infiltration and increased runoff.
Constraints to recovery
Disturbance regime results in the transition from plant communities dominated by native tall and mid- warm-season and cool-season grass to plant communities dominated by short warm-season grasses, sedges, and clubmoss. Because of the persistence of these species and a shift in the, a recovery to the Native/Invaded State (2.0) is highly unlikely.
Mechanism
•Long-term no use resulting in heavy litter buildup which favors non-native cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and other non-native species, and the reduction of native warm-season grasses.
•Long-term no fire resulting in heavy litter buildup which favors non-native cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and other non-native species, and the reduction of native warm-season grasses.
•Continuous early-season stocking including, repeated moderate to moderately heavy stocking levels, during the spring, early cool-season growing season (April through early June), without change in season of use or adequate recovery periods following grazing events.
•Excessive haying includes annual mechanical harvesting of rangeland plant communities without adequate time for plant recovery. Leaving inadequate post-harvest stubble height for retention of photosynthetic leaf area, nor providing adequate insulation cover from extreme heat or cold will result in a decline in plant health and vigor and increased plant mortality. Desirable grasses and forbs for forage and wildlife cover will decrease, and other less desirable plants will increase.
Constraints to recovery
Disturbance regime results in the transition from plant communities dominated by native tall and mid-statured warm- and cool-season grass, and non-native cool-season grasses that make up 15 percent or less of the plant community, to plant communities dominated by non-native cool-season grasses with native grasses being sub-dominant. Because of the persistence of non-native cool-season grasses, a recovery to the Native/Invaded State (2.0) is uncertain and may not be feasible.
Context dependence
Transition T2A is most likely going to occur from Plant Community 2.2.
Preliminary studies 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. Plant communities dominated by Kentucky bluegrass have significantly less cover and diversity of native grasses and forb species. (Toledo, D. et al., 2014).
Mechanism
•Early season prescribed burning followed by
•Long-term prescribed grazing including proper stocking rates, change in season of use, and adequate time for plant recovery following grazing events.
•These mechanisms, in combination, may shift the Invaded State (4.0) to the Native/Invaded State (2.0).
•Chemical and/or mechanical herbaceous weed control treatment, followed by seeding of native grass and forb species, and long-term prescribed grazing may be an option in some areas where channers are deeper in the soil profile. This could accelerate the reestablishment of structural functional groups similar to those in State 2.0, however, the resulting plant community may not achieve management objectives.
Constraints to recovery
Plant communities dominated by non-native cool-season grasses can be very resilient, and difficult to restore to a native dominated plant community. Preliminary studies would indicate this threshold occurs when Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30 percent of the plant community, and native grasses represent less than 40 percent of the plant community (Toledo, D. et al., 2014). Because of the persistence of these species, a transition to the Native/Invaded State (2.0) may not be ecologically or economically feasible.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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