Sandy Lowland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1 More details
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- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 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
The information for this site was derived from the Nebraska Field Office Technical Guide, low intensity field transects, and the observations and technical opinions of experienced range professionals and soil scientists.
The historic reference state of the Sandy Lowland Ecological site is typified by the Warm Season Tallgrass plant community as described in the community descriptions of this document. The ecological processes of native ungulate grazing and periodic wildfires maintained this community in a dynamic equilibrium, with fluctuations in response to natural climate variations and other natural events.
In many areas, season long grazing as introduced by European settlers has changed the ecological dynamic enough to shift this community to a community with fewer dominant Tallgrass Warm season species and allowed a stronger expression of Cool season grasses. This community is further described in the community phase section.
Long-term continuous grazing or annual haying followed by fall grazing will alter this phase of the reference State enough to cross the threshold to the Degraded State.
Eastern red cedar encroachment can degrade either phase of this state to the Invaded Woody State.
Submodel
Description
The information for this site was derived from the Nebraska Field Office Technical Guide, low intensity field transects, and the observations and opinions of experienced range professionals and soil scientists.
The Degraded State reflects the consequences of management decisions that have resulted in altering the Reference State Communities to the point that grazing and haying strategies alone won't be adequate to restore them to the original ecological balance. Lack of surface litter has negatively impacted the hydrological cycle, and not enough remnants of the Warm Season Tallgrasses remain to allow recovery without reseeding.
Eastern red cedar encroachment can degrade this state to the Invaded Woody State.
Submodel
Description
This state occurs when eastern red cedar encroachment reaches 15 percent canopy cover with an average tree height of at least 5 feet. The plant community has been degraded to the point that grazing and haying management will not restore the reference communities.
A combination of prescribed fire and/or mechanical treatment will be required to remove the encroaching woody plants. To maintain the grassland state, maintenance burns will need to be conducted every 3 to five years to mimic the historical fire frequency of the grasslands in the great plains.
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous season-long grazing or annual haying followed by fall grazing will convert this state to the Degraded State. This shift crosses the threshold and requires reseeding to return to a productive, stable plant community within a forage suitability group.
Mechanism
Absence of fire allows the encroachment of woody species, particularly eastern red cedars introduced from windbreak plantings. When the canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height of over 5 feet, normal management practices such as altering haying and grazing practices are not adequate to return the system to a grassland state.
Mechanism
Due to the lack of native tall warm season grass remnants and large amounts of blue grama, annual brome and Kentucky bluegrass, improved grazing management techniques have little effect on shifting the plant community. To improve plant diversity and forage production, suppression of the existing plant community followed by re-seeding may be necessary. See Forage Suitability Groups for additional information.
Mechanism
Absence of fire and/or brush management allows the encroachment of woody species, particularly eastern red cedars introduced from windbreak plantings. When the canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height of greater than 5 feet, normal management practices such as altering haying and grazing practices are not adequate to return the system to a grassland state.
Mechanism
Restoration to a grassland state requires treatment by mechanical removal or a reclamation level prescribed burn. A combination of both practices is usually the most cost effective control method.
Periodic maintenance burning will be required to maintain the grassland once renovation is achieved.
Mechanism
Restoration to a grassland state requires treatment by mechanical removal or a reclamation level prescribed burn. A combination of both practices is usually the most cost effective control method.
Periodic maintenance burning will be required to maintain the grassland once renovation is achieved.
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