Loamy Till Toeslope
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 T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This site occurs on gentle foot and toe slopes (0-15%) at the base of watersheds where water and nutrients accumulate near slope breaks. Soils are underlain by a densely compacted till layer within 43 inches of the soil surface, which perches water and nutrients in the plant rooting zone. Occasionally groundwater seeps out at the surface, leaving rivulets as useful site indicators. The resulting plant community is highly-productive and commonly dominated by northern hardwoods, though red spruce and balsam fir are often abundant, particularly in flatter areas. Abundant yellow birch is a good indicator of this site.
Characteristics and indicators
This site is dominated by northern hardwoods and can be co-dominant with conifers, particularly red spruce. Yellow birch is a good site indicator, and red and sugar maples are often dominant.
Resilience management
Treethrow and logging are the most common disturbances on this site. The site is resilient following these disturbances and succeeds through an herbaceous and shrubby phase prior to tree establishment and eventual return to the reference community. The young forest stands include several species not typically dominant in the reference community, including grey and white birch, aspen, balsam fir, etc. After about 80-100 years these species die out and the reference community species retain dominance.
This site may be cultivated for crop or pasture. When cropland or pastureland management ceases, the site either returns to northern hardwoods or may transition to a white pine forest. Once white pine is established, it tends to form a single age stand with low diversity and little understory.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the Semi-natural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics that are primary driven by anthropogenic disturbances and pressures (may have some associated natural drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Mechanism
climate change, old growth hardwood loss, canopy opened, introduction of invasive species, pests, and pathogens
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
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Hardwood Crop Tree Release |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
landscape alteration, logging, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape clearing, seeding, planting
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Cover Crop |
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Land Clearing |
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Precision Land Forming |
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Irrigation Land Leveling |
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Land Smoothing |
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Prescribed Grazing |
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Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment |
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Forest Land Management |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
management of invasive species, pests, and pathogens, restoration of key native plant species, restoration of terrestrial habitat, white pine thinning
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Critical Area Planting |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Upland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Pathogen Management |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Biological suppression and other non-chemical techniques to manage brush, weeds and invasive species |
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Biological suppression and other non-chemical techniques to manage herbaceous weeds invasive species |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
landscape alteration, logging, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape clearing, seeding, planting
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Cover Crop |
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Land Clearing |
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Precision Land Forming |
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Irrigation Land Leveling |
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Land Smoothing |
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Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment |
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Spoil Spreading |
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Planned Grazing System |
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Prescribed Grazing |
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Prescribed Forestry |
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Grazing management to improve wildlife habitat |
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Harvest hay in a manner that allows wildlife to flush and escape |
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Resource-Conserving Crop Rotation |
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Conversion of cropped land to grass-based agriculture |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
seeding, planting, restoration of compacted soil, establishment of key native plant species
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Critical Area Planting |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Upland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
seeding, planting, restoration of compacted soil, establishment of key native plant species
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Critical Area Planting |
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Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
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Upland Wildlife Habitat Management |
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Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
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Habitat Development for Beneficial Insects for Pest Management |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
Model keys
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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.