Claypan Summit Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Fire suppression greater than 20 years, woody invasion
More details -
Transition T1B
Tillage, vegetative seeding, grassland management
More details -
Transition T1C
Tillage, conservation cropping system, surface drainage.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Woody removal, prescribed fire 1-3 years
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Transition T2A
Woody removal, tillage, vegetative seeding, grassland management
More details -
Transition T2B
Woody removal, tillage, conservation cropping system
More details -
Transition T3A
Tillage, conservation cropping system, surface drainage.
More details -
Transition T3B
Vegetative seeding, prescribed fire, grassland management
More details -
Transition T4A
vegetative seeding grassland management
More details -
Transition T4B
Vegetative seeding, prescribed fire, grassland management
More details -
Restoration pathway R5A
Vegetative seeding, prescribed fire 1-3 years
More details -
Transition T5A
Tillage, conservation cropping system, surface drainage.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Reference
Description
This State is native tall grass prairie dominated by little bluestem, switchgrass and forbs, but also a substantial component of wet tolerant sedges. This State occurs on level to gently sloping soils that have a seasonal high water table that is perched above the abrupt textural change or clayey subsoil during the spring months in most years. This condition influences the species composition and site productivity. Two phases can occur that will transition back and forth depending on fire frequencies. Longer fire free intervals will allow woody species to increase such as gray dogwood and eastern redcedar. When fire intervals shorten these woody species will decrease.
This State is extremely rare. Only one documented reference site in the Missouri portion of this MLRA still exists. Nearly all sites have been converted to cool season grasslands and croplands.
Submodel
Description
Degraded reference states that have experienced fire suppression for 20 or more years will transition to this state. With fire suppression, woody species such as pin oak (Quercus palustris), shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria), elm (Ulmus sp.) and eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) will begin to dominate transitioning this state from a prairie to a Woody Invaded Savanna. Native ground cover will also decrease and invasive species such as tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) may begin to dominate. Transition to cool season grasslands (State 3) or intensive cropland (State 4) is very common.
Submodel
Description
Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) and red clover (Trifolium pretense) has been common in the Missouri Central Claypan area. Occasionally, these pastures will have scattered pin oaks. This state is typically grazed or used for hay land. Long term uncontrolled grazing and a lack of grassland management can cause significant soil erosion and compaction and increases in less productive species such multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and weedy forbs.
Submodel
Description
This is the dominant state that exists currently with intensive cropping of corn (Zea mays), soybeans (Glycine max), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) occurring. Some conversion to cool season grassland occurs for a limited period of time before transitioning back to cropland.
Submodel
State 5
Native Warm Season Grassland
Description
Conversion from Cool Season Grassland (State 3) or Cropland (State 4) to this state is increasing due to renewed interest in warm season grasses as a supplement to cool season grazing systems or as a native restoration activity. This state is the most easily transformable state back to a reference state. Substantial restoration time and management inputs may be needed.
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire suppression activities for greater than 20 years and woody invasion will result in a transition to community phase 2.1.
Mechanism
Destroying the prairie sod with tillage, adding a cool season grass/legume vegetative seeding and grassland management will result in a transition to community phase 3.1.
Mechanism
Removing the prairie sod with tillage and adding a conservation cropping system and surface drainage will result in a transition to community phase 4.1.
Mechanism
This state can be restored to a reference state with woody removal, brush management, planting additional native grass and forb species (if needed) and initiating a prescribed fire regime (every 1 to 3 years). Limited controlled grazing may also be needed.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
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Forage and Biomass Planting |
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Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Woody removal, brush control, removing the prairie sod with tillage seeding cool season grass and legume species and incorporating grassland management will result in a transition to community phase 3.1.
Mechanism
Woody removal, brush control, removing the prairie sod with tillage and incorporating conservation cropping system and surface drainage will result in a transition to community phase 4.1.
Mechanism
Removing the cool season sod with tillage and adding a conservation cropping system and surface drainage will result in a transition to community phase 4.1.
Mechanism
Killing the existing cool season sod, reseeding to native warm season grasses and adding prescribed fire will result in a transition to community phase 5.1.
Mechanism
A seeding of cool season grasses and legumes and grassland management will result in a transition to community 3.1.
Mechanism
A seeding of native warm season grasses and grassland management will result in a transition to community 3.1. Prescribed fire is added in many cases.
Mechanism
This state can be restored to a reference state by planting additional native grass and forb species and initiating or maintaining a prescribe fire regime (every 1 to 3 years). Limited controlled grazing may also be needed.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
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Forage and Biomass Planting |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
Model keys
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