Loamy Overflow
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Transition T2C More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway R4B More details
- Restoration pathway R4C More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The Reference State describes the range of vegetative communities that occur on the Loamy Overflow site where the range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes is mostly intact.
The Reference Community is representative of the native plant community historically maintained by frequent fire and herbivory (grazing) with adequate recovery periods. The Degraded Native Grass and Excessive Litter Communities result from management decisions that are unfavorable for the plant community and soil health.
High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Submodel
Description
The Native/Invaded Grass State has been degraded from the Reference State. Very few native, warm-season, tallgrasses remain. Significant amounts of native, mid- and shortgrasses persist with encroachment by introduced grasses and less desirable forbs such as western ironweed and Cuman ragweed. Other undesirable forbs will be present that indicate degraded forage productivity, reduced plant vigor, and poor soil quality.
Submodel
Description
The Sod-Busted State occurs when a threshold is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned, which will result in the Natural Reclamation Community, or seeded. When seeded the resulting community will be the Reseeded Native Grass Community or the Seeded Pasture Community depending upon the type of seeding implemented. Permanent alterations of soils and hydrology make restoration to the Reference State extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Submodel
Description
The Invaded Woody State is a result of the disruption of the natural fire regime, woody encroachment, and lack of management in response to an increase in woody species. The native component of woody species increases, as do invading introduced exotic species. Once the canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height exceeding 5 feet, the threshold is crossed to the Invaded Woody State.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy grazing during the summer, inadequate rest during the summer, repeated grazing of growing point, and grazing below recommended heights which allows for encroachment of non-native species and species more tolerant to heavy summer grazing are management actions which will cause the Reference State to cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded Grass State which is characterized by the predominance of introduced cool-season grasses and/or lower succession species such as dropseeds, blue grama, and Kentucky bluegrass.
Mechanism
The Reference State is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil, and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, woody encroachment, and the introduction of exotic species causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts to the system cross the threshold from the Reference State into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Native/Invaded Grass State to the Reference State is achieved by deferring grazing during the summer in conjunction with planned grazing events in the early spring and late fall to reduce cool-season grasses and to provide native remnants an opportunity to increase. Prescribed fire timed to improve native warm-season grasses once fuel loads are increased and grasses have an adequate root system. Use of burn down herbicides in the early spring and late fall when native warm-season grasses are dormant can also reduce competition from introduced and naturalized cool-season grasses. Once warm-season grasses have adequately recovered, ongoing prescribed grazing with adequate rest and recovery during the summer months is important.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Prescribed Burning |
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Access Control |
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
The site has been significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration unlikely.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, woody encroachment, and the introduction of exotic species can cause this Native/Invaded Grass State to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Disruption of the natural fire regime, woody encroachment, and the introduction of exotic species causes a major shift in the vegetative community. The resulting impacts to the system cross the threshold from the Sod-Busted State into the Invaded Woody State.
Mechanism
Restoration to the Reference State from the Invaded Woody State can be achieved with brush management for woody plant control. If resprouting brush such as honeylocust or Siberian elm is present, stumps must be treated after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting and chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required. If the site has a healthy warm-season grass component, once the woody species have been removed, the site could quickly return to the Reference State with the addition of prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
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|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Restoration from the Invaded Woody State to the Native/Invaded State can be achieved with brush management for woody plant control. If resprouting brush such as honeylocust or Siberian elm is present, stumps must be treated after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting and chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required.
Mechanism
Restoration from the Invaded Woody State can be achieved with brush management for woody plant control. If resprouting brush such as honeylocust or Siberian elm is present, stumps must be treated after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management, such as hand cutting and chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required.
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.