Loamy Floodplains
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 of natural hydrology; establishment of desired species; exclusion of anthropogenic disturbances; eradication of invasive species; long-term timber 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 Loamy Floodplain reference state is a mature, deciduous, riverine forest composed of multiple co-dominant canopy species including American elm, green ash, and maple. Early successional communities (young forests recovering from floods or other natural disturbances) will exhibit variable stages of succession. Common species including eastern cottonwood, willows, common hackberry, elm, and ash. Eastern cottonwood may be dominant on some successional sites.
The density and composition of the herbaceous groundcover is variable depending on the flooding regime and hydrology. Areas without long-term flooding have a diverse understory community composed of many different herbaceous and grass species. Common species include wood-nettle (Laportea canadensis), sedge (Carex spp.), Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus), beggar-ticks (Bidens spp.), jumpseed (Antenoron virginianum), waterleaf (Hydrophyllum spp.) , clearweed (Pilea spp.), false-nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), and jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Community composition and density, especially shrub cover and herbaceous species composition, will vary depending upon the hydrology and flooding regime.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include monitoring and treating for invasive vegetation. Successional communities may occur post-flooding if inundation is lengthy.
Submodel
Description
The Tillage State contains the Row Crop Community and the Seeded Grassland Community. This state describes areas within the Loamy Floodplain ecological site that are currently in crop production or areas that were previously tilled but now are seeded to grass. Pathway mechanisms include preparing the site, planting desired species, applying herbicide, applying fertilizer, and harvesting.
Depending on the flooding regime, some areas of this ecological site may not be feasible for agricultural uses. Hydrological modifications (tiling and ditching) may be installed to improve drainage on tilled areas. 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.
A few areas within this ecological site may have been converted to a warm-season or cool-season grass production. Seed mix selection will depend on landowner goals and objectives. Seeded grasslands are not as species rich or biologically diverse as native habitats; however, they still offer ecological benefits for wildlife, especially grassland birds, water quality protection, and soil health.
Submodel
Description
This state describes a forest site that has incurred significant anthropogenic disturbances which have altered the species composition and physiognomy of the canopy and understory. Site disturbance may include altered hydrology, selective harvest (tree removal), site clearing, and invasive species invasion. Numerous ruderal woodland and forest plant communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbance, the successional stage of the plant community, available seed sources, ongoing disturbances, and any restoration management activities. Numerous invasive non-native species often dominate the shrub and understory layers.
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). Resilience management practices include common agricultural practices such as seeding, fertilizing, and managing invasive plants with herbicides or field cultivation. Hydrological modifications, such as ditching and tiling, may be present.
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. Numerous species may be on site depending on hydrology, disturbance regime, and seed sources. 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 for some sites with long-term management inputs including restoration of natural hydrology, 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), timber stand improvement activities, and the monitoring/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 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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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.