Land use 1
Rangeland

This land use is predominately used for grazingland or recreational use. This land use often requires fewer or less intensive inputs than other land use types. The rangeland land use includes both reference, unplowed rangeland as well as land that has been reseeded or repopulated to native species post-cultivation.

State 1.1
Grassland (Reference)

This is the reference or diagnostic community for the site. The description is based on early range site descriptions, clipping data, professional consensus of experienced range specialists, and analysis of field work.

Community 1.1.1
Tallgrass Dominant(Reference)

Figure 10. Tallgrass Prairie(Reference)

The plant community is dominated by a composite of tallgrasses with a few midgrasses and shortgrasses. Big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass comprise nearly 70 to 80 percent of the vegetation. Secondary grasses include tall dropseed, sand dropseed, Florida paspalum, sideoats grama, blue grama, buffalograss and silver bluestem. Cool season grasses may produce up to five to eight percent of the total annual herbage, depending on annual precipation patterns. These cool season grasses include Canada wildrye, Virginia wildrye, western wheatgrass, prairie junegrass and Scribners’ panicum. Approximately 70 percent of the annual herbage production on this site occurs during the growing months April through June. Numerous palatable forbs are found on this site. The more abundant forbs are compassplant, Maximilian sunflower, halfshrub sundrop, catclaw sensitivebrier, Illinois bundleflower and pale echinacea. Other common forbs are slimflower scurfpea, Missouri goldenrod, heathaster, purple prairieclover, roundhead lespedeza, fringeleaf ruellia, Louisiana sagewort and upright prairie coneflower. Continuous heavy grazing by livestock during the growing season will eventually impact the vegetative composition. A decrease in vigor of the more palatable plants to domestic animal grazing (usually cattle, but can be sheep, goats, horses, etc.) encourages a gradual increase in secondary plants such as tall dropseed, silver bluestem and sideoats grama. Many of the reference community forbs are very palatable and readily selected by domestic livestock. These forbs decrease with even moderate grazing, but can be maintained by prescribed grazing using planned deferments. Forbs that increase under these circumstances include heathaster, Missouri goldenrod, Western ragweed, and Louisiana sagewort. The absence of both grazing and fire will encourage a gradual increase of mulch and litter. Heavy accumulations of mulch, litter, or both reduces herbage production and reduces vigor and abundance of bunch grasses, especially little bluestem. Heavy mulch accumulations, over time, accommodates the encroachment of woody species such as buckbrush, roughleaf dogwood, smooth sumac and elm.

Community 1.1.2
Little Bluestem Dominant

This plant community is dominated by little bluestem. Secondary grasses are tall dropseed, sideoats grama, silver bluestem, purpletop, knotroot bristlegrass, buffalograss, blue grama and Scribners panicum. Site productivity is reduced slightly compared to the reference community. In this community, there has been an increase of midgrasses in the plant community. Also, the more palatable tallgrasses are in a low state of vigor. Many of the more palatable warm-season forbs such as compassplant, Maximilian sunflower and catclaw sensitivebriar have decreased in abundance. They have been partially replaced by an increases of heathaster, western ragweed, Missouri goldenrod and Louisiana sagewort. Daisy fleabane, prairie scurfpea, blue wildindigo are forbs usually found in abundance in late spring. Canada wildrye, Scribners’ panicum, winter bentgrass and annual bromes are common in late winter and early spring months, and to some extent, in the fall. Prescribed grazing involving deferment during all or a part of the growing season will enhance the vigor and stature of the climax grasses. This site can be restored to near the reference community in 3-6 years.

Community 1.1.3
Midgrass Dominant

Figure 14. Annual forbs within community phase 1.3

This plant community is predominately midgrasses. Sideoats grama, tall dropseed, silver bluestem, western wheatgrass, fringeleaf paspalum and sand dropseed are dominant species. In some cases there may be remnants of little bluestem, big bluestem and switchgrass. Generally, these species are in a state of very low vigor. Shortgrasses, including buffalograss, blue grama, windmillgrass, and tumblegrass are common. Cheatgrass, six-weeks fescue and little barley are cool-season annual grasses prevalent in fall and spring months depending on precipitation patterns. Most of the cattle palatable forbs have disappeared. With proper management, this site can be restored to a plant community resembling the reference in 15 to 20 years. The time for reclamation is dependent upon the abundance and distribution of remnant plants, and the level of management applied.

Pathway P
Community 1.1.1 to 1.1.2

Tallgrass Dominant(Reference)

Little Bluestem Dominant

State 1.2
Woody

In the woody state of this ecological site, trees and/or shrub species have increased to >30% cover. This is most often caused by lack of fire and facilitated by continued overgrazing beyond carrying capacity for the site. Grazing resources are compromised in this state as well as the health and vigor of the grassland plant community. Brush species may include native trees and shrubs such as Sumac, Roughleaf Dogwood, sand Plum, or Eastern Redcedar.

Community 1.2.1
Tree/Shrub Encroachment

Within this community phase, the ecological function of the site has been greatly altered. The woody species are becoming more dominant and outcompeting herbaceous plants for resources(sunlight, moisture, etc.). Tall and midgrass species may still persist in the open areas depending upon grazing pressure. If no action is taken during this community phase, the site may eventually become closed canopy woodland.

State 1.3
Reseeded

This state represents the land use change back to rangeland after a period of cultivation. The site can be reseeded to native species or left to naturally revegetate (go-back). While many species of the reference state may be present, soil structure, biology, and chemistry have been significantly altered through cultivation. It may take many years to recover to something similar to reference conditions.

Community 1.3.1
Reseeded

This community phase represents reseeded rangeland. The native species persist and can help restore degraded soils post-cultivation.

State 1.4
Eroded

This state is the result of water erosion over bare soil as a result of cultivation. Most of the "A" horizon of the soil profile has been displaced. The remaining subsoil is very low in fertility. Some native grasses and forbs will persist in this state, however, production is greatly reduced.

Resilience management. With time, eroded sites may revegetate or be reseeded with native species. While the plant communities can resemble the reference state, the soil physical, chemical, and biological properties may take many years to recover.

Transition T1A
State 1.1 to 1.2

If heavy grazing that exceeds the carrying capacity continues without some type of brush managment measures, there will likely be an increase in the woody component of the plant community. Without the fine fuels, prescribed fire is not very effective at controling the woody encroachment and thus, is seldom attempted. The community will transition to a state of woody dominance(2).

Transition T1B
State 1.1 to 1.3

This transition involves the land use change to cropland or introduced pastureland and then returning to rangeland use. The site has been cultivated for a period of time and returned to perennial vegetation.

Constraints to recovery. While the return of perennial vegetation can stabilize the soil and begin to improve structure and biological processes, the site may not recover to reference soil conditions for a very long time.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 1.2 to 1.1

Through a conservation system of brush management, prescribed grazing(deferment), and prescribed the burning, the woody state may be restored to a plant community within the Grassland(Reference) State.

Transition T3A
State 1.3 to 1.2

If land is abandonded once in the converted state, it may be very easy for woody species to dominate the plant community if no prescribed fire program is implemented.

Land use 2
Cropland

The site has been cultivated for the production of crops. Primary use is agronomic crop production.

State 2.1
Conventional Tillage

This community represent a conventional tillage system where subsequent crops are planted into a clean tilled seedbed. Crop rotations may also be used in this production system, however, the field are consistently plowed between plantings. Perennial cultivation can lead to accelerated soil loss from water and wind erosion. Proper planning is essential to ensure soil and water conservation in this system.

Characteristics and indicators. The soil is disturbed through plowing or discing the soil multiple times a year.

Resilience management. This management system is at great risk of soil erosion through water and or wind. Soil structure and biology are also at risk of degradation through this style of management.

State 2.2
No-Till

This community represents a no-till management system where subsequent crops are planted directly through residue remaining in the field. Crop rotations are often used in this system and, over time, this system may result in increased soil aggregation and increase organic matter. A no-till system may also help mitigate soil erosion.

Characteristics and indicators. This system includes minimal soil disturbance and the use of No-Till planting methods. Residue is left in the field after harvest.

Resilience management. With this management system, soil biology and structure may begin to recover. Erosion risk is much lower than the conventional tillage system.

Transition T
State 2.1 to 2.2

Restoration pathway R
State 2.2 to 2.1

Land use 3
Introduced Pastureland

The site has been replanted to introduced forage grasses after cultivation ceased. Primary use is livestock and/or hay production. Often, this land use is managed as a monoculture with little biotic diversity. However, in some cases, forb/legume/grass mixtures are maintained with may increase soil and ecosystem health.

State 3.1
Monoculture

This community consists of a planted monoculture of an introduced pasture grass used predominately for grazing and/or hay production. Adapted species include bermudagrass, old world bluestems, and weeping lovegrass (only on well drained sites). These species require a higher level of management inputs than native rangeland species. Soil tests should be performed prior to planting and or subsequent fertilizer applications. Without persistent nutrient management and proper grazing, some undesired "weedy" species may invade the site. While biodiversity can be beneficial to both plants, animals, and soil, it may be undesirable under certain management systems such as certified hay production. Proper grazing should be planned to allow for adequate residual heights in order to ensure the vigor of the grass. These heights vary by species and grazing system. They can be found in the OK NRCS Prescribed Grazing practice specification. Average yields are listed below as representative for the MLRA. These yields can vary greatly depending on precipitation amount and timing. As with any pasture management program, site specific evaluation and monitoring is essential. Yields are represented AUMs or Animal Unit Months. This represents the amount of dry matter required by one Animal Unit Equivalent for one month. For more on AUEs and AUMs consult local extension service fact sheets and publications. Keep in mind these yields are estimated under a high level of management which includes annual additions of nitrogen and other nutrients as required. It is important to note that while these introduced species can provide good grazing potential, often wildlife habitat is limited. These species are also known to expand offsite and become invasive in adjacent native ecosystems.

State 3.2
Grass/Legume Mix

This community represents a planted mixture of introduced grasses and forbs/legumes. Bermudagrass and introduced clover is the most common pasture mix. Incorporation of a legume into the system can help offset inputs associated with nitrogen additions. Special strategies should be used to ensure the health and vigor of both the cool season legumes and warm season grasses. Yields for these pasture mixes are not available as the mixtures and ratios vary from site to site so yields for a monoculture community should be used as a baseline estimate.

Conversion C1
Land use 1 to 2

Through cultivation and seeding of crop species, this land use is converted to Cropland.

Conversion C4
Land use 2 to 1

This land use conversion is achieved through reseeding native grasses and forbs in order to restore the site for livestock grazing or hay production. While the site may be converted back to a rangeland land use, some soil properties and ecological function may not return to pre-cultivation levels.

Conversion C2
Land use 2 to 3

With the cessation of cultivation and planting of perennial introduced forage grasses, this land use is converted to Introduced Pastureland.

Conversion C3
Land use 3 to 1

This land use conversion is achieved through reseeding native grasses and forbs or allowing native species to repopulate the site by reducing management of introduced species. While the site may be converted back to a rangeland land use, some soil properties and ecological function may not return to pre-cultivation levels.