Saline Subirrigated
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Heavy, continuous grazing or repetitive haying with inadequate recovery periods.
More details -
Transition T1B
Tillage to facilitate production agriculture.
More details -
Transition T2A
Tillage to facilitate production agriculture.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State (1) describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Saline Subirrigated site where the natural processes are mostly intact. The Reference State developed under the combined influences of climatic conditions, periodic fire activity, grazing by large herbivores, and impacts from small mammals and insects. High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production and overall soil quality.
The Reference State includes three community phases which are the Reference Community (1.1), the At-Risk Community (1.2) and the Excessive Litter Community (1.3), The Reference Community serves as a description of the native plant community that naturally occurs on the site when the natural disturbance regimes are intact or closely mimicked by management practices. The At-Risk Community results from management actions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community. The Excessive Litter Community occurs when herbivory and fire are eliminated from the landscape.
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded Grass State (2) has been degraded from the Reference State (1) and much of the native warm-season tall- and midgrass component has been replaced by warm-season shortgrass and non-native cool-season grass. The Native/Invaded Grass State develops with long-term (more than 15 years) continuous heavy grazing or repetitive haying. The Native/Invaded Grass State includes the Shortgrass Sod/Invasive Grass Community (2.1). The biotic community, soils and hydrology have been degraded to the extent that a return to the Reference State (1) is unlikely.
Submodel
Description
The threshold to the Sodbusted State (3) is crossed as a result of tillage to facilitate production agriculture. When the land is no longer cropped, the resulting state is the Sodbusted State. When farming operations are suspended, the site can seeded to native grasses and forms resulting in the Reseeded Native Grass Community (3.1), be seeded to a tame pasture forage mixture resulting in the Seeded Pasture Community (3.2) or be abandoned with no seeding which will result in the Natural Reclamation Community (3.3). Permanent alterations of the soil, plant community, and hydrologic cycle make restoration to the Reference State (1) extremely difficult, if not impossible. Formation of a compacted plowpan in the soil profile is likely.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing or repetitive haying with inadequate recovery time will cause the Reference State (1) to transition to the Shortgrass Sod State (2). Heavy rotational grazing without allowing adequate growing season recover time will also facilitate this transition.
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) has been significantly altered by tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture resulting in the Sodbusted State (3). Permanent alterations of the soil, plant community, and the hydrologic cycle make restoration to the Reference State (1) extremely difficult, if not impossible. Formation of a compacted plowpan in the soil profile is likely.
Mechanism
The Shortgrass Sod State (2) has been significantly altered by tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture resulting in the Sodbusted State (3). The disruption to the plant community, the soil, and the hydrology of the system make restoration to the Shortgrass Sod State unlikely.,
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.