Channery Loam - North
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1A More details
- Transition 4A More details
- Transition 2A More details
- Transition 4A More details
- Transition 3A More details
- Transition 4A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
This state represents what is believed to represent the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics in this ecological site prior to European settlement. This site is dominated by warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses are sub-dominant. In pre-European times the primary disturbances included fire, insects and grazing by large ungulates and small mammals. Favorable growing conditions occurred during the spring, and warm months of June through August. Routine and/or occasional fires, remove tree cover and contributed to the ecological processes that maintained the reference plant community. Today a similar state can be found in areas where proper livestock use has occurred and where non-native cool-season grasses have not become well established in the plant communities.
Submodel
Description
This state represents what is most typically found on this site. It is the result of either the introduction or invasion of Kentucky bluegrass or smooth brome, or no use, or no fire. The natural range of variability is influenced by the presence of non-native cool-season grasses, especially Kentucky bluegrass that can dominate the dynamics of this ecological site. Proper grazing management and periodic burning will maintain the productivity of this state, and it can look very similar to the Reference State. Heavy grazing without adequate recovery, extended periods of drought, or non-use and no fire can put this state at risk of crossing a threshold.
Submodel
Description
This state is the result no use, no fire, or heavy continuous grazing 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 has caused an excessive thatch layer to develop. Plant litter accumulation tends to favor the more shade-tolerant introduced grass species. The nutrient cycle also is impaired, and the result typically is a higher level of nitrogen which also favors the introduced species. Hydrological function also is impaired as the dense root mats created by Kentucky bluegrass reduces water infiltration. 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.
Submodel
Description
A dense sod of clubmoss dominates this plant community. Clubmoss occupies bare soil areas within deteriorated or disturbed plant communities due to long-term repeated disturbances: its cover is often 25% or greater. Clubmoss alters the normal hydrologic function of this site and creates a more arid microclimate, resulting in extreme competition for available moisture. Vigor and productivity of other native grass species are dramatically reduced.
A restoration or transition pathway from this State to another is unlikely, except on small areas where channers are deeper in the profile. Most areas 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 goals in the end.
Submodel
Mechanism
Introduction or invasion of non-native cool-season species, or no use and/or no fire will cause a transition from the Reference State to the Native/Invaded State (2.0).
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous, season-long grazing, heavy continuous grazing, heavy disturbance, and/or extended periods of drought can cause this plant community to transition to a Clubmoss State (4.0). This transition can occur from any state.
Mechanism
No use, no fire or heavy continuous grazing and/or excessive haying will cause the Kentucky bluegrass or other non-native cool-season grasses to become dominant in the plant community. Preliminary studies indicate this threshold may exist when Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30% of the plant community, and native grasses represent less than 40% 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).
This transition is most likely going to occur from PCP 2.2.
Mechanism
Heavy continuous season-long grazing, heavy continuous grazing, heavy disturbance, and/or extended periods of drought can cause this plant community to transition to a Clubmoss State (4.0). This transition can occur from any State.
Mechanism
Early-season prescribed burning followed by long term prescribed grazing to promote establishment of native species may be effective in moving this plant community to the Native/Invaded State (2.0), but it could take years and may not meet management goals.
Chemical and/or mechanical treatment followed by seeding of native species may be possible 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 goals.
Both of these pathway can take many years and may not be successful in the end.
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing, heavy continuous grazing, heavy disturbance, and/or extended periods of drought can cause this plant community to transition to a Clubmoss State (4.0). This transition can occur from any state.
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.