Subirrigated
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway R4B More details
- Restoration pathway R4C 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 Reference State describes the range of plant community phases that occur on the Subirrigated site where the range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes is mostly intact.
The Reference Community is a representation of the native plant community phase that was historically maintained by frequent fire and herbivory with adequate recovery periods. The Degraded Native Grass Community and the Excessive Litter Community are the phases that result from management decisions that are unfavorable to a healthy Reference Community.
High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded Grass State has been degraded from the Reference State. The site has been invaded by smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass. Loss of native warm-season species and functional groups along with increased bare soil degrades the forage productivity, soil moisture retention, organic matter, soil surface structure, and plant vigor. The Native/Invaded Grass State consists of one plant community, the Native/Invaded Cool-Season Grass Community.
Submodel
Description
This Invaded Grass State has been degraded from the Native/Invaded Grass State. Native, warm-season tallgrasses are absent or present only as remnants. The Invaded Grass State contains one plant community dominated by reed canarygrass and creeping meadow foxtail. Although both grasses are native species, the invasive varieties are likely cultivars crossbred for rapid growth. Forage quality degrades as the amount of these grasses increase as both are unpalatable throughout the majority of the year.
Submodel
Description
The Invaded Woody State occurs when the site has been invaded by woody species, primarily eastern redcedar, Russian olive, rough-leaf dogwood, redosier dogwood, and American basswood. These woody species are present due to lack of prescribed fire and brush management measures. These sites typically have a loss of native warm-season grasses, degraded forage productivity and reduced soil quality.
Submodel
Mechanism
Annual haying, summer grazing, or continuous season long grazing can cause the Reference State to transition to the Native/Invaded Grass State.
Mechanism
No fire, encroachment of woody species, and flooding can cause the Reference State to transition to the Invaded Woody State. Flooding will establish habitat conditions for cottonwood generation. Eastern redcedar will establish but will die out when the water table rises or when periods of repeated or prolonged flooding occur.
Mechanism
Prescribed grazing over a long time period, rotational haying, or rotational haying in a rotation with grazing will move the Native/Invaded Grass State back toward the Reference State assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source exists. This transition may take greater than 20 years to accomplish.
Mechanism
Seeding or encroachment of reed canarygrass, as well as continuous season long grazing, can cause the Native/Invaded Grass State to transition to the Invaded Grass State.
Mechanism
No fire, encroachment of woody species, and flooding can cause the Native/Invaded Grass State to transition to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Prescribed grazing, rotational haying, or haying in rotation with grazing over a long time period will move the Invaded Grass State back toward the Native/Invaded Grass State assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source exists. This transition may take longer than 20 years to accomplish.
Mechanism
No fire and the resulting woody encroachment causes a transition from the Invaded Grass State to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Brush management, prescribed burning, or timber harvest combined with prescribed grazing can cause the Invaded Woody State to shift back to the Reference State.
Mechanism
Brush management, prescribed burning, or timber harvest combined with prescribed grazing can cause the Invaded Woody State to shift back to the Native/Invaded Grass 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.