Saline Subirrigated
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
- Restoration pathway R 3-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R 3-2 More details
- Restoration pathway R 3-4 More details
- Transition T 4-3 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 describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Saline Subirrigated site where the natural processes are 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 Increased Shortgrass Community and the Heavy Litter community are the phases that result from management decisions that are unfavorable to a healthy Reference Community.
Submodel
Description
This State results from management practices that degrade the vegetative community to the point that a threshold is crossed, requiring long-term management practices to return to the Reference State.
Submodel
Description
This State is a result of the disruption of the natural fire regime, and lack of management in response to an 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
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 Natural Go-Back 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
Mechanism
Long-term excessive livestock grazing or haying without adequate growing season rest will cause a major shift in the vegetative community. This shift and the resulting impacts on the systems hydrology will be extreme enough to cross the threshold to the Sodbound State.
Prolonged drought can have a similar impacts.
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
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
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 this state to the Reference State.
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
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 to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Mechanical removal of the Russian olive is required, as it is a root-sprouter and not well controlled by fire. The stump must be chemically treated immediately after the tree is cut to prevent re-sprouting.
ERC can be controlled by mechanical removal or prescribed fire. Development of a follow-up maintenance program including prescribed fire will be essential to prevent re-invasion.
Mechanism
Mechanical removal of the Russian olive is required, as it is a root-sprouter and not well controlled by fire. The stump must be chemically treated immediately after the tree is cut to prevent re-sprouting.
ERC can be controlled by mechanical removal or prescribed fire. Development of a follow-up maintenance program including prescribed fire will be essential to prevent re-invasion.
Mechanism
Mechanical removal of the Russian olive is required, as it is a root-sprouter and not well controlled by fire. The stump must be chemically treated immediately after the tree is cut to prevent re-sprouting.
ERC can be controlled by mechanical removal or prescribed fire. Development of a follow-up maintenance program including prescribed fire will be essential to prevent re-invasion.
Mechanism
Mechanical removal of the Russian olive is required, as it is a root-sprouter and not well controlled by fire. The stump must be chemically treated immediately after the tree is cut to prevent re-sprouting.
Erc can be controlled by mechanical removal or prescribed fire. Development of a follow-up maintenance program including prescribed fire will be essential to prevent re-invasion.
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.