Sandy Loam 29-33" PZ
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 T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Restoration pathway R5A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Savannah State - Reference
Description
The Savanna community is a mixture of trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs. This state fluctuates over time depending upon fire frequency and the severity of grazing.
Submodel
Description
The Woody State is a mixture of trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs. The overstory canopy is between 40 and 70 percent. The understory canopy is about 20 – 30 percent but varies greatly. Very little understory grasses or forbs exist.
Submodel
Description
This state is mainly a native grassland. The woody species have been removed by broadcast chemical means.
Submodel
Description
This State consists of either annually tilled cropland or perennial forage plants. The perennial plants can be either native or introduced depending upon management goals.
Submodel
Mechanism
With the removal of fire and without some other means of managing the increase of woody plants, the historic community will transition to the Tree/Shrub Dominant (2) state. Most of the sunlight energy is now absorbed by the overstory of woody plants and is depressing the production of the understory grasses and forbs. This change will occur regardless of grazing but will happen faster with grazing pressure that removes the fine fuel that could be used for prescribed burning.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is high energy brush management activities using either mechanical removal or broadcast chemical treatment.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is land clearing and tillage. The land may then be planted to annual crops or introduced forage species.
Mechanism
The Woody Plant State (2) can be somewhat restored by using a combination of brush management methods such as mechanical, selective herbicides, coupled with prescribed burning, but will require many years. Not always can the Woody State be fully recovered to the Savanna State but a resemblance can be achieved given enough time and favorable weather. The overstory of oak must be opened up in a mosaic pattern, generally following the terrain features for optimal effect. Once the canopy reduction has been done to about a 30 percent overstory, warm season grasses will respond, usually without replanting. With the recovery of the warm season component, a regime of fire can be used to maintain a desired plant community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is high energy brush management activities using either mechanical removal of the woody species or broadcast chemical treatment.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is land clearing and tillage. The land may then be planted to annual crops or introduced forage species.
Mechanism
The Grassland State will continue to have woody species recover on the site as they were there historically. Brush management efforts are rarely 100 percent effective. A restoration to the Savanna State (1) is somewhat difficult but with skillful application of fire, grazing, and possibly selective brush management, a reasonable restoration can be achieved. The main driver is to cease applying broadcast chemical controls.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is to not do any woody plant management. No fire, No brush management.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition is land clearing and tillage. The land may then be planted to annual crops or to perennial forage species.
Mechanism
The driver for this transition excessive soil loss due to a lack of plant cover. Due to the bare ground, significant and visible gullies form and rainfall effectiveness is very low.
Mechanism
The Eroded Sandy Loam Savanna can be stabilized with replanting of adapted plants and very careful management to foster the stand. Erosion control practices may also be needed to stabilize the soil long enough to get a stand. Soil temperatures will be high until plants become established. The soil surface will be exposed to raindrop impact. The living organisms in the soil needed to restore soil health will be very slow to recover due to the harsh condition in this plant community. This plant community, because of the severe soil damage, will never be restored to the historic plant community but with care and skilled management, a useful cover of perennial plants can be established.
Model keys
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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.