Shallow Clay 30-38" 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
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4B More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Transition T4A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Submodel
Mechanism
The transition to the Shortgrass Prairie State occurs when there is an absence of proper grazing management and fire. The driver for Transition T1A is abusive grazing, especially during extended drought periods.
Mechanism
The soils associated with the Shallow clay site are not well-suited to cultivation or conversion to introduced pasture. However, some sites have been cultivated or planted to introduced species. The driver for Transition T1B from the Midgrass Prairie State to the Converted State is cultivation or seedbed preparation followed by the planting of annual crops, introduced grasses, or commercially available native species. This may be a terminal state because the native vegetation has been eliminated and the soil has been permanently altered by mechanical methods.
Mechanism
Restoration of the Shortgrass Prairie State to the Midgrass Prairie State can be achieved through proper grazing management, prescribed burning, brush management (if needed to remove encroaching shrubs), and range planting (if needed to restore primary native midgrasses). The driver for Restoration Pathway R2A is proper grazing management based on proper stocking rates and deferment during critical periods.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Abusive grazing, especially in combination with extreme drought, will result in extensive bare ground and a sparse herbaceous plant community dominated by annuals, early successional midgrasses, shortgrasses, and forbs. This is considered a terminal state because of the loss of topsoil at this stage. Restoration is not economically feasible. The driver for Transition T2A is abusive grazing.
Mechanism
The soils associated with the Shallow clay site are not well-suited to cultivation or conversion to introduced pasture. However, some sites have been cultivated or planted to introduced species. The driver for Transition T2B from the Shortgrass Prairie State to the Converted/Abandoned Land State is cultivation or seedbed preparation followed by the planting of annual crops, introduced grasses, or commercially available native species. This is a terminal state because the native vegetation has been eliminated and the soil has been permanently altered by mechanical methods.
Mechanism
Restoration of the Shortgrass Prairie State (2.0) from the Annuals/Bare Ground State (3.0) requires substantial energy input. Mechanical and chemical soil treatments will be required in conjunction with range planting and brush control. Restoration Pathway R3A may be impractical and/or uneconomical with current technology. Chemical or hand brush control in combination with prescribed fire, proper grazing, and favorable growing conditions will be required to maintain the desired plant community if soil and planting challenges can be overcome.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Restoration of the Midgrass Prairie State (1.0) from the Converted/Abandoned Land State (4.0) requires substantial energy input. Mechanical and chemical soil treatments will be required in conjunction with range planting and brush control. Chemical or hand brush control in combination with prescribed fire, proper grazing, and favorable growing conditions will be required to maintain the desired plant community if soil and planting challenges can be overcome.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Restoration of the Shortgrass Prairie State (2.0) from the Converted/Abandoned Land State (4.0) requires substantial energy input. Mechanical and chemical soil treatments will be required in conjunction with range planting and brush control. Chemical or hand brush control in combination with prescribed fire, proper grazing, and favorable growing conditions will be required to maintain the desired plant community if soil and planting challenges can be overcome.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Many of the areas that were previously cultivated or planted to introduced grasses or commercially available native species have been abandoned. These areas are characterized by extensive bare ground, and the resulting plant community is almost entirely annual forbs and grasses and early successional grasses referred to as “pioneer plants”. This is considered a terminal state because of the loss of topsoil at this stage. Restoration is not economically feasible.
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.