Dry Outwash Mollisol
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 T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This is the reference or diagnostic plant community for this site. In reference condition, this site was a co-dominance of white and bur oaks with herbaceous prairie species, principally little bluestem and big bluestem. Fire was the main disturbance agent that maintained the site. Frequent, but lower intensity fires, in conjunction with wind throw would maintain the function of the site. Replacement fires would have occurred roughly every 200 years. The more recent the fire the greater the dominance of grasses. Longer time between fires would sway dominance towards the black oak trees.
Submodel
Description
Absence of fire and/or lack of woody vegetation management will move this site to the black oak woodland state. This state is characterized by an increase in tree canopy (61-100%) concomitant with shrub species becoming the dominant growth form in the understory. Black oaks will still be the dominant tree species, but white oaks and hickory become more dominant. Sub canopy and shrub species include the dogwood species, sassafras, and hazelnut species. Continued suppression of disturbance will lead to this site being a closed canopy oak-dominated forest at the higher end of the suggested canopy range. White oak eventually becomes the dominant tree species with black oak, shagbark hickory and black cherry also in the canopy.
Submodel
Description
This site has largely been converted to agricultural use. The majority of the historic acres are now in row crop agricultural use. Most common is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. A small portion of the site is used to grow hay or cool season forage and used for grazing.
Submodel
Mechanism
Increased fire absence and no woody species management will move this site toward State 2, characterized by the marked increase in shrubs.
Mechanism
Removal of woody vegetation, tillage and regular agricultural practices will convert this site to State 3.
Mechanism
Remove trees and woody vegetation, except small amounts of desired oak species, seeding, and fire restores the site to the reference state.
Mechanism
Removal of the trees, tillage and planting of the crop move this site to the agriculture state.
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.