Saline Subirrigated
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
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 T2B More details
- Transition T2C More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3C More details
- Transition T4A More details
-
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 range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes is mostly intact. The Reference State consist of three communities, the Reference Community, Degraded Native Grass Community and the Excessive Litter Community.
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.
Submodel
Description
The Shortgrass Sod 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 Invaded Woody State results from 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
The Sodbusted State is a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can either be abandoned, which will result in the Natural Reclamation Community, or be reseeded to a desired perennial forage mixture, which is described as the Reseed Native Grass Community. Permanent alterations of the soils and hydrology make restoration to the original native Reference State 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 Shortgrass Sod State. Prolonged drought can have a similar impact.
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 Shortgrass Sod 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
Eastern redcedar 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. 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 resprouting.
Mechanism
Eastern redcedar 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. 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 resprouting.
Mechanism
Eastern redcedar 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. 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 resprouting.
Mechanism
Eastern redcedar 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. 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 resprouting.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
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.