Sandy 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
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation coupled with brush management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Dominated by tall and midgrasses with few perennial forbs and scattered shrubs. Dominant tallgrasses include sand and little bluestem. Dominant shrubs include sand sagebrush and sand shinoak with lesser amounts of skunkbush, sand plum, and southwest rabbitbrush.
Submodel
Description
As retrogression proceeds, the tallgrasses give way to an increase in midgrasses such as sideoats grama, dropseed species and perennial three-awn. The better quality forbs are replaced with less palatable species such as gaura, western ragweed, annual wild buckwheat and camphorweed and there will be an increase in annual forbs. Sand sagebrush, yucca and skunkbush can increase to >20% of the total plant community.
Submodel
Description
There are annual grasses and forbs in understory and very few perennial grasses remaining. Even in this state, a few old root crowns of perennial grasses remain. There may be sufficient seed sources for recovery to the Tall/Midgrass State or Midgrass/Shrub State.
Submodel
Mechanism
The tallgrasses are fairly sensitive to overgrazing and will begin to decrease if continuous heavy grazing is applied. They respond to rest very well and if grazed moderately and rested periodically toward the mid to late growing season, they will generally persist. As retrogression proceeds, the tallgrasses give way to an increase in midgrasses. The better quality forbs are replaced with less palatable species. Sand sagebrush and skunkbush can increase to >20% of the total plant community, on some sites yucca plants may start to increase.
Mechanism
With the application of various conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Brush Management, and Pest Management, the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1) can be reverted back to the Tall/Midgrass State (1.1).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
Mechanism
If long-term abusive grazing continues, along with no fires and no brush management, a threshold will be crossed to a Shrub Dominant Community phase (3.1) from the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1).
Mechanism
With the application of various conservation practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Brush Management, Pest Management, and Range Planting, the Shrubland State (3.1) can be reverted back to the Midgrass/Shrub State (2.1).
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
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.