Sandy Upland Forests
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Site is cleared, tilled, seeded, and managed for crop production
More details -
Transition T1B
Site incurs large-scale disturbance and altered plant community
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Restoration inputs including desired species establishment, disturbance exclusion, invasive species eradication, and stand management
More details -
Transition T3A
Site cleared, soil tillage, crop establishment, and continued agriculture management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Sandy Upland Forests Reference State is a mature deciduous forest with canopy coverage ranging from interrupted to continuous (50-100%). Oak species include bur oak on drier areas within this site. More mesic areas will have northern red oak (Quercus rubra). Other canopy species include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), basswood (Tilia americana), white oak (Quercus alba), and American elm (Ulmus americana).
The shrub layer is patchy to interrupted (25%-75%) with variability influenced by soil characteristics, topography, and aspect. Common shrubs include chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), and prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati).
The ground-layer consists of a variety of native forbs, ferns, and fern allies. Few high-quality reference sites remain in MLRA 103.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include monitoring for invasive vegetation, applying herbicides as needed, and excluding grazing and logging.
Submodel
Description
The Tillage State contains the Row Crop Community and the Seeded Grassland Community. This state describes areas currently in crop production or areas that were tilled but now are seeded to grass. Pathway mechanisms include preparing the site, planting desired species, applying herbicide, applying fertilizer, and harvesting. Higher sloping areas within this ecological site are not appropriate for row crop production. When the slope gradient exceeds 20 percent, row crop production is unfeasible due to the farm machinery limitations.
Soil tillage is the primary trigger to State 2. Tillage alters dynamic soil properties, including bulk density, structure, organic carbon content, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Intensive tillage negatively impacts soil ecological functions. Conservation practices help mediate soil health impacts. Conservation tillage minimizes soil disturbance and improves soil structure and soil health. A cover crop rotation builds soil structure, improves infiltration rates, reduces runoff and erosion, and protects water quality.
Some areas within this ecological site have been converted to a warm-season grasses under the NRCS Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Common species include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Plantings include perennial native forbs to benefit wildlife and pollinators. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), hairy puccoon (Lithospermum caroliniense), asters (Aster spp.), gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), and prairie clovers (Dahlia spp.) are native forbs suitable for sandy and loamy soils.
Non-native, cool-season grasses are also feasible. Species include brome (Bromus spp.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arunidinacea L.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Seed mix selection will depend on landowner goals and objectives. Seeded grasslands are not as species rich or biologically diverse as native grasslands; however, they still offer ecological benefits for wildlife, especially grassland birds, water quality protection, and soil health.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include common agricultural practices such as seeding, fertilizing, and managing invasive plants with herbicides or field cultivation. Prescribed fire is a resilience management practice on warm-season grasslands. Seeding, fertilizing, and controlling weeds and brush are resilience management practices for cool-season grasslands.
Submodel
Description
The state has been disturbed and exhibits altered forest species composition. Numerous ruderal woodland and forest communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbances (selective harvest, grazing, invasive species), seed sources, and management activities. Fast-growing, shade tolerant tree species are typical in early successional communities. Numerous species of invasive plants may be present.
Submodel
Mechanism
Transition T1A is the conversion of the Reference State to agriculture. The triggers are site clearing, soil tillage. and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Hydrological modifications, such as ditching and tiling, may be present. Slope is a limiting factor for this transition on many areas.
Constraints to recovery
Site clearing and soil tillage preclude recovery of the former state.
Mechanism
Transition T1B is a transition from a mature deciduous forest to a disturbed (ruderal) forest. Triggers include timber harvest, surface site disturbance, grazing, and introduction of non-native species. The native plant community is altered, and these areas do not exhibit the ecological function or vegetative composition of State 1.
Mechanism
Restoration to the reference state may be feasible with long-term management inputs including establishment of desired species, forest stand management (selective thinning), and control of invasive species. Triggers include intentional plant establishment (planting desired species), absence of disturbance (site protected from grazing and other site altering disturbances), stand improvement inputs, and eradication of invasive plant species.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Brush Management |
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Tree/Shrub Site Preparation |
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Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Forest Stand Improvement |
Mechanism
Transition T3A is the transition of a disturbed forest state to agriculture production. This is a common pathway in MLRA 103. The mechanisms of change include site clearing, site preparation, tillage, and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Continued resilience management practices are necessary and include weed control (herbicide application), disturbance management (field cultivating), and harvest management.
Constraints to recovery
Soils tillage and the transition to agriculture preclude recovery of the former state.
Model keys
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