Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Basic Upland Flats and Depressions, Expansive Clay, Seasonally Wet and Dry
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
More details -
Transition T1B
Selective removals of the most valuable timber specimens, leaving inferior trees behind.
More details -
Transition T1C
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
More details -
Transition T2A
Long-term natural succession.
More details -
Transition T2B
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
More details -
Transition T3A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
More details -
Transition T3B
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, applications of fertilizer/lime, weed control, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
More details -
Transition T4A
Long-term cessation of grazing.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This mature forest state is generally dominated by dry-site oaks and pines, with variable cover from bottomland oaks.
Characteristics and indicators
Stands are uneven-aged with at least some old trees present.
Resilience management
Deer population management is critical to sustaining the diversity of herbaceous understory species.
Submodel
Description
This state develops in the immediate aftermath of agricultural abandonment, clearcut logging, or other large-scale disturbances that lead to canopy removal. Which species colonize a particular location in the wake of a disturbance does involve a considerable degree of chance. It also depends a great deal on the type, duration, and magnitude of the disturbance event.
Characteristics and indicators
Plant age distribution is even. Plants exhibit pioneering traits such as rapid growth, early reproduction, and shade-intolerance.
Submodel
Description
This state develops as a consequence of high-grading, where the most valuable trees are removed, leaving less desirable timber specimens behind. Trees left behind include undesirable timber species, trees of poor form, diseased trees, or genetically inferior trees.
Characteristics and indicators
Typically, high-graded stands consist of a combination of residual stems from the previous stand, a high proportion of undesirable shade-tolerant species, along with some regrowth from desirable timber species. In some cases, large-diameter trees of desirable timber species may be present, but upon closer inspection, these trees usually have serious defects that resulted in their being left behind in earlier cuts.
Resilience management
Landowners with high-graded stands have two options for improving timber production: 1) rehabilitate, or 2) regenerate. To rehabilitate a stand, the landowner must evaluate existing trees to determine if rehabilitation is justified. If the proportion of high-quality specimens present in the stand is low, then the stand should be regenerated. In many cases, poor quality of the existing stand is the result of decades of mismanagement. Drastic measures are often required to get the stand back into good timber production.
Dominant plant species
elm (Ulmus), tree
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), tree
maple (Acer), tree
eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), tree
oak (Quercus), tree
hybrid hickory (Carya), tree
pine (Pinus), tree
Submodel
Description
This converted state is dominated by herbaceous forage species.
Resilience management
Though flooding from streams does not occur, seasonal soil wetness should be accounted for when planning grazing rotations, budgeting forage, and planning fencing needs. Grazing is not practical in most years during the cooler months.
Dominant plant species
tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
beaked panicgrass (Panicum anceps), grass
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), grass
purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus), grass
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), grass
broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), grass
hairy crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), grass
white clover (Trifolium repens), grass
Submodel
Transition T1A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Mechanism
The reference state can transition to the secondary succession state through clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Transition T1B
Selective removals of the most valuable timber specimens, leaving inferior trees behind.
Mechanism
The reference state can transition to the high-graded hardwood forest state through selective removal of the most valuable trees, leaving undesirable timber specimens behind. This may occur through multiple cutting cycles over the course of decades or longer, each cut progressively worsening the condition of the stand.
Transition T1C
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Mechanism
The reference state can transition to the pasture/hayland state through 1) mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, 2) seedbed preparation, and 3) planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Context dependence
Herbicide applications, fire, and/or root-raking can be helpful in transitioning treed land to pasture. This is done in part to limit coppicing, as many woody plants are capable of sprouting from residual plant structures left behind after clearing. Judicious use of root-raking is recommended, as this practice can have long-term repercussions with regard to soil structure. Applications of fertilizer and lime can also be helpful in establishing perennial forage species. Grazing should be deferred until grasses and forbs are well established.
Mechanism
The secondary succession state can transition to the reference state through long-term natural succession. This process can be accelerated to some degree by a combination of prescribed burns and selective harvesting of pines and opportunistic hardwoods.
Transition T2B
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Mechanism
The secondary succession state can transition to the pasture/hayland state through through 1) mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, 2) seedbed preparation, and 3) planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Context dependence
A broad spectrum herbicide, fire, and/or root-raking can be helpful in transitioning wooded or semi-wooded land to pasture. This is done in part to limit coppicing, as many woody pioneers are capable of sprouting from residual plant structures left behind after clearing. Judicious use of root-raking is recommended, as this practice can have long-term repercussions with regard to soil structure. Applications of fertilizer and lime can also be helpful in establishing perennial forage species. Grazing should be deferred until grasses and forbs are well established.
Transition T3A
Clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Mechanism
The high-graded hardwood forest state can transition to the secondary succession state through clearcut logging or other large-scale disturbances that cause canopy removal.
Transition T3B
Mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, seedbed preparation, applications of fertilizer/lime, weed control, and planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Mechanism
The high-graded hardwood forest state can transition to the pasture/hayland state through 1) mechanical tree/brush/stump/debris removal, 2) seedbed preparation, and 3) planting of perennial grasses and forbs.
Context dependence
Herbicide applications, fire, and/or root-raking can be helpful in transitioning treed land to pasture. This is done in part to limit coppicing, as many woody plants are capable of sprouting from residual plant structures left behind after clearing. Judicious use of root-raking is recommended, as this practice can have long-term repercussions with regard to soil structure. Applications of fertilizer and lime can also be helpful in establishing perennial forage species. Grazing should be deferred until grasses and forbs are well established.
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.
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