Deep Hardland 16-22" PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, may be coupled with rangeland seeding
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Shortgrass Dominant State
Description
The interpretive plant community for this site is the "reference" plant community or the Shortgrass/Blue grama Dominant Community. It is a short grass dominated community with blue grama being the dominant grass. Buffalograss may make up as much as 20 percent of the total production. There are a few other species of short grasses present making up from 5 to as much as 10 percent of total production. Western wheatgrass and vine mesquite are often present in micro lows and on slopes above playa lakes. There are approximately 5 percent forbs and almost no woody shrubs or trees present.
The Shortgrass (low vigor) plant community shows sod-bound blue grama and buffalograss. There is some invasion of annual forbs and broom snakeweed. Low vigor causes the production to be low. Grazing use has been excessive for several years.
Submodel
Description
With the insufficient soil protection of low vigor grasses, the soil becomes more compacted, infiltration is reduced and runoff is increased. It forms a cycle that cannot be broken unless longer rest periods are reinstituted to restore vigor and grazing practices are moderated. With heavy grazing, western wheatgrass and vine mesquite will decrease over time. Long-term abuse coupled with drought can leave the turf open in places and invading species can gain a foothold. Broom snakeweed is an opportunistic species that will invade this site, especially if the grass cover is weak. Broom snakeweed is also cyclic. The short grass species are so resistant to grazing that it is not common for them to actually be killed out, but they can be weakened dramatically. Rest and possibly control of invading competition will usually restore this site within a few years provided that judicious grazing management is also applied.
Submodel
Mechanism
Continuous Grazing, Brush Invasion, Drought, and No Fires have led a transition from a Shortgrass Dominant State to a Forb Dominant State.
Mechanism
With the implementation of conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Brush Management, and Pest Management, the Shortgrass Dominant State could be restored from the Forb Dominant State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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.