Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Clay Loam 25-28" PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T1B
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Adequate rest from defoliation and removal of woody canopy, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T2B
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation and removal of woody canopy, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
More details -
Transition T3A
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
State 1
Midgrass Prairie State
Midgrass Prairie State
Description
The reference plant community is the midgrass/tallgrass prairie. It is an open prairie dominated by midgrasses, with scattered tallgrasses, some perennial forbs, and a few widely scattered shrubs. Sideoats grama and vine mesquite are the most abundant grasses. Little bluestem, Indiangrass, big bluestem, and switchgrass may occur in areas with more open soil profiles.
The Midgrass Prairie Community is totally dominated by sideoats grama and vine mesquite with an increasing amount of Texas wintergrass, silver bluestem, and dropseeds. Early successional forbs and shortgrasses begin to increase. The canopy of shrubs and trees begins to gradually increase as mesquite, pricklypear, lotebush, and similar species encroach from adjacent areas. A viable population of primary midgrasses, little bluestem, and other tallgrasses still persists in remote or protected areas on the site.
Dominant plant species
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum), grass
Submodel
State 2
Mixed-grass Prairie State
Mixed-grass Prairie State
Description
The Mid/Shortgrass Prairie Community occurs as sideoats grama and vine mesquite decline in abundance, the plant community becomes dominated by midgrasses and shortgrasses such as silver bluestem, dropseeds, white tridens, Texas wintergrass, buffalograss, curlymesquite, and threeawns. Western ragweed and broomweed are the dominant forbs. Mesquite, lotebush, catclaw acacia, pricklypear, and tasajillo increase in density or invade from adjacent sites. Bare ground begins to appear in some areas and can become a serious problem.
Continued deterioration of the plant community eventually results in the Shortgrass/Annual Grasses/Forbs Community dominated by shortgrasses and midgrasses such as buffalograss, curlymesquite, threeawns, Texas wintergrass, and silver bluestem. Western ragweed and broomweed are the dominant forbs. Mesquite, pricklypear, tasajillo, juniper, and greenbriar begin to increase in density or invade from adjacent sites. Bare ground begins to appear in some areas and can become a serious problem in the most deteriorated state. Annual grasses such as Japanese brome and little barley are abundant in the early spring.
Dominant plant species
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia), shrub
dropseed (Sporobolus), grass
silver bluestem (Bothriochloa saccharoides), grass
white tridens (Tridens albescens), grass
Submodel
Description
The Shrubland Community is composed of brush species such as mesquite, lotebush, pricklypear, and tasajillo. The shrubs become well established by developing a canopy of more than 25% on the site. Annual forbs and grasses as well as early successional grasses and forbs dominate the herbaceous vegetation.
Dominant plant species
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass
Submodel
State 4
Converted Land State
Converted Land State
Description
The Clay Loam site is one of the most frequently converted sites because of its deep, fertile soils and level terrain. Hundreds of thousands of acres have been plowed up and converted to cropland, pastureland, or hayland. Wheat is the primary annual crop. Bermudagrass is the primary introduced pasture species used in this area. The Clay Loam site can be an extremely productive forage producing site with the application of optimum amounts of fertilizer. Refer to Forage Suitability Group Descriptions for specific recommendations, production potentials, species adaptation, etc.
Thousands of acres of clay loam soils have been broken out and converted to cropland, pastureland, or hayland. In time, many of these cultivated and intensively managed areas have been abandoned because of adverse economic conditions. These abandoned lands have deteriorated to the point that they will never return to historical vegetation because of soil degradation and lack of natural seed source.
Dominant plant species
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), grass
Submodel
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
Continued abusive grazing and a lack of fire will eventually result in further deterioration of the midgrass plant community. Sideoats grama and vine mesquite decline drastically. Texas wintergrass becomes the dominant grass. Silver bluestem, dropseeds, and white tridens increase significantly. Shortgrasses, forbs, and annuals begin to increase as well. Non-native and invasive shrubs begin to increase on the site and invade from adjacent sites. The increase in density and woody canopy of shrubs begins to have an adverse effect on the understory herbaceous vegetation because of increased shading and competition for space and soil moisture.
Transition T1B
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
Mechanism
Thousands of acres of the native vegetation on this site have been “broken out” and converted to other land uses such as cropland, introduced pasture, or seeded monocultures of native grasses. This is a favored site for conversion due to the relatively deep and fertile soils as well as the flat to gently rolling topography. Seedbed preparation can be accomplished with normal cultivation equipment and desired vegetation can be seeded or planted.
Restoration pathway R2A
Adequate rest from defoliation and removal of woody canopy, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
Mechanism
At this stage, there is no longer a viable population of the original primary midgrasses and tallgrasses to reproduce sufficient seed to enable the plant community to recover through management practices alone. Brush management is needed when the density and canopy of shrubs and trees begins to have an adverse effect on the desired grasses and forbs. Brush management treatment methods become more complicated, more expensive, and less effective. At this stage, Range planting will be required to re-introduce the original midgrasses and tallgrasses. Implementation of a grazing management plan is necessary to allow establishment of seeded vegetation and control the timing, frequency, duration, and degree of grazing following establishment. Prescribed burning will assist with the recovery and maintenance of the desired plant community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
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Prescribed Burning |
|
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Prescribed Grazing |
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Range Planting |
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Mechanism
Continuous abusive grazing, lack of fire, and extended drought can all be major factors in the deterioration of the plant community from an open prairie to a shrub dominated site. Woody canopy increases to 25% or more and has a noticeable detrimental effect on the understory vegetation. Extensive areas of bare ground may occur. Shortgrasses as well as annual grasses and forbs increase dramatically and invade from adjacent sites. Texas wintergrass and other shade tolerant species increase. Once the site has declined to this stage, it will not return to a higher state of vegetation through management practices alone.
Transition T2B
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
Mechanism
This plant community can be converted to cropland, introduced pasture, or orchard land, but it may require mechanical brush management to remove unwanted shrubs and trees if they are dense enough to interfere with seedbed preparation, seeding or planting operations, or management following establishment. Seedbed preparation methods may require heavier equipment, and seeding or planting methods may have to be modified to overcome more intensive land preparation treatments.
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation and removal of woody canopy, followed by reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes
Mechanism
It is probably not practical or economically feasible to attempt to restore the original plant community through brush management and revegetation. However, brush management can be carried out in selected areas to open up the canopy and reduce tree density to improve wildlife habitat, improve growing conditions for herbaceous vegetation, and provide access. Brush management followed by seeding or planting native vegetation can be expected to establish a midgrass/shortgrass plant community with most of the primary midgrasses, but lacking the diversity of forbs and minor grasses found in the reference plant community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
|
|
Range Planting |
Transition T3A
Extensive soil disturbance followed by seeding
Mechanism
Extensive brush management and seedbed preparation techniques with heavy equipment are required to clear the land in order to convert it to cropland, introduced pasture, or seeded monocultures at this point. These treatments are radical, expensive, and generally not recommended.
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