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Ecological site VX161A01X009

Isothermic Ustic Naturalized Grassland

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 161A / Ecological site VX161A01X009
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States 1 and 5 (additional transitions)

T1A - State 1 Reference transitions to State 5 Weed Invaded Grassland by long-term continuous grazing and lack of weed control measures. Remnant desirable forages have been grazed out and replaced entirely by weedy grasses, forbs, shrubs, and small trees.
R2B - State 2 Invaded Understory can be restored to State 1 Reference by clearing the forest understory with heavy machinery, applying aggressive weed control measures, and replanting desirable forage species.
T2A - State 2 Invaded Understory transitions to State 3 Invaded Over and Understory through the process of fast-growing weeds inhibiting reproduction of native plants and gradually replacing them. This process is accelerated by feral ungulates directly damaging native plants and promoting the spread of weeds by disturbing the soil and spreading weed seeds.
R2A - State 2 Invaded Understory may be restored to a facsimile of State 4 Native Forest. Construction of a suitable fence and removal of all ungulates are necessary. Intensive weed control must then be initiated and maintained in the long term. In some cases, large amounts of dead weed biomass must be dealt with by removal or decomposition. Reintroduction of missing native species will be necessary.
R3A - State 3 Invaded Over and Understory can be converted to State 1 Reference by clearing vegetation using heavy machinery, appropriately dealing with slash piles, applying aggressive weed control measures, and planting desirable forage species.
T4B - State 4 Native Forest can transition to State 1 Reference by clearing the forest with heavy machinery or fire and planting desirable pasture species. Native forest may be cleared gradually by allowing cattle access to the forest. Cattle eventually eat or destroy understory ferns, forbs, shrubs, and saplings, opening the forest so that introduced grasses will thrive.
R5A - State 5 Weed Invaded Grassland can be restored to State 1 Reference by brush management, re-establishment of desirable forage species, persistent weed control, and prescribed grazing.
T5A - State 5 Weed Invaded Grassland transitions to State 3 Invaded Over and Understory due to the presence of fast-growing, introduced tree species; fire may delay this process.
P1.1A - Phase 1.1 changes to phase 1.2 by long-term continuous grazing. Remnant high-quality forages have been reduced in abundance and largely replaced by lower-value species. Weedy forbs and shrubs are increasing.
P1.2A - A grazing plan is needed that provides for intensive but temporary grazing of pastures to ensure that cattle consume some low-value forage species along with preferred forages and to allow preferred forages time to recover from defoliation. Kikuyugrass is highly competitive and able to recover with proper management. The grazing plan may require splitting the herd, creating additional water sources, and creating multiple pastures by cross-fencing. Weed control may be necessary to eliminate some species such as inedible shrubs.

State 3 submodel, plant communities

State 4 submodel, plant communities