Loamy Lowland
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
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B 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 vegetative community phases that occur on the Loamy Lowland 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 occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. 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Grass State has been degraded from the Reference State and much of the native warm-season grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of warm-season, tall- and midgrasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of invaded grazing-evasive plant communities.
Submodel
Description
The Sodbusted State is a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned or seeded to a perennial grass mixture. When tilled and abandoned the Natural Reclamation Community will result. When seeded the resulting community will be the Reseeded Native Grass Community or the Seeded Pasture Community depending upon the type of seeding implemented.
Permanent alterations of the soil community and the hydrological cycle make restoration to the original native Reference Community extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Submodel
Description
The Invaded Woody State is a result of the disruption of the natural fire regime, and lack of management in response to an increase in woody species. The native component of woody species increases, as do invading introduced exotic species. Once the canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height exceeding 5 feet, the threshold is crossed to the Invaded Woody State.
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous heavy grazing without adequate recovery periods will cause a significant loss of warm-season tall- and midgrass species and the plant community will cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded Grass State. Once this occurs it will require considerable time and expense to return this site to a more productive plant community. Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod-forming grasses.
Mechanism
The Reference State has been significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, soil and hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, lack of brush management, and the introduction of exotic tree species such as Russian olive causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts to the system cause it to cross the threshold from the Reference State to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Development of a long-term management plan that includes an appropriate level of livestock grazing with adequate growing season rest, and strategically timed prescribed fire will return the Native/Invaded Grass State to the Reference State. This restoration may take many years to be achieved.
Mechanism
The Native/Invaded Grass State has been significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, soil and hydrology of the system make restoration unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the introduction of exotic species can cause a shift from the Native/Invaded Grass State to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Encroachment of woody species, no grazing, and no fire will cause the Sodbusted State to transition to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move this plant community toward one of the herbaceous dominated plant communities. The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following brush management and prescribed fire.
Mechanism
Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move this plant community toward one of the herbaceous dominated plant communities. The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following brush management and prescribed fire.
Mechanism
Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move this plant community toward one of the herbaceous dominated plant communities. The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following brush management and prescribed fire.
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.