Loamy Acidic Till
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 in glacial till deposits on hill slopes, till plains, drumlins and ridges. Soils formed in lodgement till, which consists of 10-34 inches of loamy soil over a highly compacted layer of gravelly loam subsoil. This dense layer was compacted by the weight of overlying glaciers and impedes plant roots and water movement on the site. Drainage ranges from somewhat poorly to well drained. Slopes are typically moderate, but may be as high as 30 percent or higher. This site has a seasonally high water table between 16 and 41 inches in the winter and spring. During the summer and fall the water table is usually deeper, except following heavy rain events. Soil pH ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 and tends to be more acidic near the soil surface and less acidic in the dense subsoil.
Characteristics and indicators
Hardwoods are dominant on much of this ecological site, including yellow birch, sugar maple, red maple, American beech, and white ash. Softwood abundance tends to be higher where bedrock is within 40 inches of the soil, near drainageways, and on steeper slopes. Common understory species are intermediate woodfern, wild sarsasparilla, starflower, Canada mayflower, and striped maple.
Resilience management
This site is subject to logging, wind, insects and disease, and other natural and human disturbances resulting in a variety of alternative states. Cultivated sites occur on flatter slopes, and are mostly cropland, pasture or hay land. Abandoned farmland may transition to pine, spruce-fir, or reference hardwood-dominated forests, often with an intermediate early seral forest phase.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic influences). 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 influences). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Mechanism
Introduction of invasive species, pests, and/or pathogens that alter ecological site functions, dynamics, and properties
Mechanism
Timber management and harvesting, landscape clearing, mechanical landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, planting, seeding, cultivation
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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Land Smoothing |
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Spoil Spreading |
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Stripcropping |
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Nutrient Management |
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Managed Haying/Grazing |
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Harvest hay in a manner that allows wildlife to flush and escape |
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Creating forest openings to improve hardwood stands |
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Continuous No Till |
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Conversion of cropped land to grass-based agriculture |
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Crop management system on crop land acres recently converted |
Mechanism
Removal, remediation, or control of invasive species, pests, and/or pathogens through mechanical, biological, or chemical management; establishment of native plants through seeding and/or planting
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Prescribed Burning |
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Critical Area Planting |
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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Vegetated Treatment Area |
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Forest Stand Improvement |
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Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
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Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
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Pathogen Management |
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Invasive Plant Species Control |
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Pathogen Management |
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Invasive Species Pest Management |
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Precision Pest Control Application |
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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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Drainage water management for nutrient, pathogen, or pesticide reduction |
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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 |
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Herbaceous Weed Control |
Mechanism
Timber management and harvesting, landscape clearing, mechanical landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, planting, seeding, cultivation
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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Tree/Shrub Site Preparation |
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Spoil Spreading |
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Land Grading |
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Forest Land Management |
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Prescribed Forestry |
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Intensive Management of Rotational Grazing |
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Conversion of cropped land to grass-based agriculture |
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Patch Harvesting |
Mechanism
Restoration of native plant communities, planting, seeding, removal of obstructions or barriers
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Obstruction Removal |
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Vegetated Treatment Area |
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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 of Compacted Soils |
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Forest stand improvement for habitat and soil quality |
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Monitoring and Evaluation |
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.