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Site Type: Rangeland <br />MLRA: 69 -Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br />Loamy <br />R069XY006CO <br />Brush management fire and prescribed grazing will move this plant community back to the plant <br />community it came from prior to invasion. <br />Go-back Land <br />Go-back land is created when the soil is tilled or farmed (sodbusted) and abandoned. All of the native <br />plants are destroyed, soil organic mater is reduced, soil structure is changed and a plowpan or <br />compacted layer is formed. Residual synthetic chemicals often remain from past farming operations <br />and erosion processes may be active. <br />Go-back land evolves through several plant communities beginning with an early annual plant <br />community, which initiates the revegetation process. Plants such as Russian thistle, kochia and other <br />annuals begin to establish. These plants give some protection from erosion and start to build minor <br />levels of soil organic matter. This early annual plant community lasts for finro to several years. Red <br />threeawn, sand dropseed and several other early perennials can dominate the plant community for <br />five to eight years or more. Buffalograss establishes next and dominates for many years. Eventually <br />western wheatgrass, blue grama and other natives become reestablished. Broom snakeweed can be <br />a major component on some go-back areas. Invasive/noxious plants such as field bindweed and <br />cheatgrass can become established on some go-back fields. <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />Vern long-term prescribed grazing that allows adequate recovery periods following each grazing <br />event and proper stocking will most likely take this plant community to a blue grama/buffalograss <br />dominated plant community and eventually back to the HCPC assuming an adequate <br />seed/vegetative source is available. This process takes many years (40-80 years or more) to <br />achieve. <br />• Range seeding followed with prescribed grazing can be used to convert Go-back Land to Seeded <br />Rangeland, which can resemble the HCPC. <br />Seeded Rangeland <br />This plant community can vary considerably depending on the degree of erosion, the species seeded, <br />the stand that was established, how long ago the stand was established and the management of the <br />stand since establishment. <br />Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: <br />• Continuous grazing without adequate recovery period between grazing events can shift this plant <br />community to Go-back Land. <br />Technical Guide USDA NRCS <br />Section IIE 11 Rev. 3/04 <br />