Loamy Overflow
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T 1-2 More details
- Transition T 1-3 More details
- Transition T 1-4 More details
- Restoration pathway R 2-1 More details
- Transition T 2-3 More details
- Transition T 2-4 More details
- Transition T 3-4 More details
- Restoration pathway R 4-1,2,3 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This state contains three community phases historically maintained by frequent fire and herbivory (grazing) with adequate recovery periods. High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production and overall soil quality.
Submodel
Description
This state has very little native tall warm season grasses remaining, such as big bluestem and indiangrass. Significant amounts of mid and short native grasses persist with encroachment by introduced grasses and less desireable forbs such as ironweed and western ragweed. Other undesireable forbs will be present that indicate degraded forage productivity, reduced plant vigor and poor soil quailty.
Submodel
Description
This threshold is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can: be abandoned, which will result in the Naturally Revegetated Community, or; be re-seeded to a desired perennial forage mixture, which is described as the Re-seeded Community.
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
This 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
Transition from the Reference State to the Native/Invaded State includes the following environmental factors -
Triggers: Heavy grazing during the summer, inadequate rest during the summer, repeated grazing of growing point, and grazing below recommended heights which allows for encroachment of non-native species and species more tolerant to heavy summer grazing.
Threshold: A predominance of introduced cool season grasses and/or lower succession species such as dropseeds, blue grama and/or Kentucky bluegrass.
Mechanism
The Reference State is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, and the introduction of exotic species such as Russian olive trees causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts to the system cross the threshold into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Native/Invaded Grass State to the Reference State is achieved by initially deferring grazing during the summer. Planned grazing events in the early spring and late fall will reduce cool season grasses in order to provide native remnants an opportunity to increase. Prescribed fire timed to improve native warm season grasses once fuel loads are increased and grasses have an adequate root system. Use of burn down herbicides in the early spring and late fall when native warm season grasses are dormant can also be beneficial. Once warm season grasses have adequately recovered, ongoing prescribed grazing with adequate rest and recovery during the summer months is important.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Prescribed Burning |
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Access Control |
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The State is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the introduction of exotic species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, and the introduction of exotic species such as Russian olive trees causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts to the system cross the threshold into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Invaded Woody State can be achieved with brush management for woody plant control. If re-sprouting brush such as honey locust or elm is present, stumps must be treated after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments or periodic prescribed burning is required. If the site has a healthy warm season grass component, this community could quickly return to the previous state with the addition of prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
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Prescribed Grazing |
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.