Calcareous Bottomland
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 > 20 years; repeated timber harvests
More details -
Transition T1B
Land clearing; brush management; prescribed grazing; prescribed burning
More details -
Transition T1C
Land clearing; conservation tillage; conservation cropping system; drainage installation
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Forest stand improvement; brush management; prescribed fire 3-10 years; herbaceous weed control
More details -
Transition T2A
Land clearing; brush management; prescribed grazing; prescribed burning
More details -
Transition T2B
Land clearing; conservation tillage; conservation cropping system; drainage installation
More details -
Transition T3A
No fire, no brush management
More details -
Transition T3B
Conservation tillage; conservation cropping system or pasture and hay land planting.
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
Range Planting, Herbaceous Weed Control, Prescribed Grazing; Prescribed Burning. Possibility of return to other plant communities depends on soil integrity and intensive restoration.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The reference state refers to what is presumed to be the historic plant community that existed prior to European settlement. Currently, detailed vegetation field data is lacking for the Calcareous Bottomland ecological site. The structure of the State and Transition model is adapted from surrounding MLRA’s and is assumed to be similar to other bottomland ecological sites.
Submodel
Description
Composition is altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. This state will slowly shift to more shade tolerant species. Without periodic canopy disturbance, stem density and fire intolerant species, like hackberry, will increase in abundance.
Submodel
Description
In this state, the forest and woodland has been converted to an open grassland dominated by tallgrasses and forbs. However, without proper management, this state may return to a woodland or shrubland.
Submodel
Mechanism
It is presumed that in the absence of fire, the woodland and tallgrass dominated vegetation community would transition to a closed canopy forest dominated by trees and shrubs.
Mechanism
This conversion takes place with land clearing, brush management, prescribed grazing, and possibly prescribed fire. Maintenance is required with brush management to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
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Land Clearing |
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Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
This conversion takes place with land clearing, conservation tillage and then planting of agricultural commodity crops or cool season pasture grasses. Maintenance is required with brush management to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing. Drainage installation might be required depending on the agricultural commodity to be grown.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Land Clearing |
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Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed |
Mechanism
Through intensive chemical brush management, and/or prescribed burning and grazing, the forested state might transition back to a prairie or woodland state dominated by tallgrasses or midgrasses with some trees and shrubs.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Forest Stand Improvement |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
This conversion takes place with land clearing, brush management, prescribed grazing, and possibly prescribed fire. Maintenance is required with brush management to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Land Clearing |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
This conversion takes place with land clearing, conservation tillage and then planting of agricultural commodity crops or cool season pasture grasses. Maintenance is required with brush management to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Land Clearing |
|
|
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed |
Mechanism
This conversion takes place with land clearing, conservation tillage and then planting of agricultural commodity crops or cool season pasture grasses. Maintenance is required with brush management to prevent trees and shrubs from establishing.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Forage and Biomass Planting |
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Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed |
Mechanism
The potential for this converted state to revert to another state varies greatly from site to site. It is dependent upon multiple factors including length of time in production, soil integrity, planned restoration methods, and precipitation patterns. Consult with local conservationists to develop a site-specific restoration plan. Practices that would be implemented include: range planting, herbaceous weed control, prescribed grazing, and prescribed burning. Possibility of return to other plant communities depends on soil integrity and intensive restoration. Conversion back to any semblance of the reference state is unlikely.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Range Planting |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Herbaceous Weed Control |
Model keys
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