Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R080AY083OK
Shallow Upland
Last updated: 9/19/2023
Accessed: 11/13/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 080A–Central Rolling Red Prairies
MLRA 80A is characterized by dark red Permian sandstones or shales that are exposed on gently sloping plains. The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a thermic soil temperature regime, an ustic soil moisture regime, and mixed, siliceous, or smectitic mineralogy. They generally are shallow to very deep, are well drained, and generally are loamy or clayey. These plains are dissected by rivers that flow from northwest to southeast. Major rivers of this MLRA include the Chickaskia and Bluff rivers in KS, the Salt Fork, Cimarron, North and South Canadian, Washita, Cache, Red River in OK, and branches of the Wichita River in TX.
Classification relationships
This ecological site is correlated to soil components at the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) level which is further described in USDA Ag Handbook 296.
Ecological site concept
These sites occur on shallow loamy soils over sandstone. The loamy soils are well suited for herbaceous plant growth, however, shallow depth to bedrock can limit the water holding capacity. Also, the position of these sites on upland ridges and hills can result in shedding of water to lower adjacent sites. The reference state consists of tallgrass and midgrass species with forbs and very few woody species. Shortgrasses will persist on the areas with the more shallow soils. Historically, a combination of frequent fires and the shallow soils have limited woody plant encroachment on these sites. However, in the absence of fire, these sites are susceptible invasion by Eastern Redcedar.
Associated sites
R080AY080OK |
Shallow Clay Upland Shallow clay soils over shale. |
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Similar sites
R080AY080OK |
Shallow Clay Upland Shallow clay soils over shale. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Schizachyrium scoparium |
Physiographic features
This ecological site consists of gently sloping to moderately steep soils on hills. Slopes range from 5 to 25 percent. Surface rock is typically less than 10 percent.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Upland
> Hill
|
---|---|
Runoff class | High to very high |
Elevation | 500 – 1,500 ft |
Slope | 2 – 25% |
Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate is characterized by moist, cool, springs; hot, often dry summers; mild autumns; and mild to cold winters. Variation in timing and amounts of precipition from year to year is quite common. Drought cycles range from three to five years duration with occasionally longer periods occurring at unpredictable intervals. Above normal rainfall cycles are usually just as random, but shorter in duration.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 173-187 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 194-203 days |
Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 33-37 in |
Frost-free period (actual range) | 157-192 days |
Freeze-free period (actual range) | 191-208 days |
Precipitation total (actual range) | 32-39 in |
Frost-free period (average) | 179 days |
Freeze-free period (average) | 199 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 35 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Climate stations used
-
(1) WATONGA [USC00349364], Watonga, OK
-
(2) PAULS VALLEY 4 WSW [USC00346926], Pauls Valley, OK
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(3) ANTHONY [USW00013980], Anthony, KS
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(4) STILLWATER 5 WNW [USW00053927], Stillwater, OK
-
(5) OKEENE [USC00346629], Okeene, OK
-
(6) WALTERS [USC00349278], Walters, OK
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(7) KINGFISHER [USC00344861], Kingfisher, OK
-
(8) JEFFERSON [USC00344573], Medford, OK
-
(9) CHEROKEE 4W [USC00341724], Cherokee, OK
Influencing water features
These sites occur in upland positions that are not subject to flooding or wetland influences.
Wetland description
N/A
Figure 6.
Soil features
Soils are mapped for each county within the MLRA. Mapunits are representations of the major soil series component(s) and named accordingly. Each Mapunit is spatially represented on a digital soils map as polygons of different shapes and sizes. Within these Mapunits, there are often minor soil series components included. These minor components are soils that occur within a Mapunit polygon but are of small extent (15% or less of the Mapunit area). However, it is difficult to separate these minor soils spatially due to the scale of soil mapping.
Ecological sites are correlated at the component level of the soil survey. Therefore, a single Mapunit may contain multiple Ecological Sites just as it may contain multiple soil components. This is important to understand when investigating soils and Ecological Sites. A soil survey Mapunit may be correlated to a single Ecological Site based on the major component; however, there may be inclusional areas of additional Ecological Sites which are correlated to the minor components of that particular soil Mapunit.
Representative soil components for this site include:
Ironmound & Lucien
The Lucien series consists of shallow, well drained soils on the summits and shoulders of low hills that formed in material weathered from sandstone, interbedded with clay, siltstone, or sandy shale of Permian age.
The Ironmound series consists of shallow, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from sandstone, or sandstone interbedded with siltstone or shale, of Permian age.
Surface textures range from silt loam to fine sandy loam.
Figure 7.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material |
(1)
Residuum
–
sandstone and shale
|
---|---|
Surface texture |
(1) Loam (2) Silt loam (3) Fine sandy loam |
Drainage class | Well drained |
Permeability class | Moderate to moderately rapid |
Soil depth | 10 – 20 in |
Surface fragment cover <=3" | 10% |
Surface fragment cover >3" | 5% |
Available water capacity (0-40in) |
1 – 4 in |
Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
Not specified |
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
Not specified |
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6 – 7 |
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
6% |
Ecological dynamics
Like many sites across the Great Plains, this Shallow Upland site evolved under periodic disturbances by fire, drought, and grazing(Frost 1998,Fuhlendorf 2009). The soils are well suited for herbaceous plant growth but are limited by their depth to sandstone bedrock. The shallow soils and run-off upland position make the shallow site susceptible to influence by drought. However, the reference state of this site is very resilient to natural disturbances. Alternative states include a woody encroached state and a converted state.
The reference state is dominated by native warm season tallgrasses and midgrasses. These grass species are tightly intermixed and well distributed over the site. Forbs are abundant. A limited variety of shrubs occur in sparse amounts. This plant community evolved under periodic grazing by large herbivores and a fire frequency of once every two to four years(Frost 1998). Shallow Prairie sites are well suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Soils typically are shallow, ranging from seven to twenty inches in depth over sandstone. In areas where underlying bedrocks are fragmented, roots of perennial grasses have deep penetration and vegetative production is significantly enhanced.
In addition to the reference community, other plant communities can exist on this site and are usually the result of management practices, or lack thereof. After the absence of fire for five or more years, shrub species will usually begin to increase. There are various transitional stages on this site, and transitional stage may result in a stable community for many years. While grazing may not, by itself, lead to an increase in shrubs or shrub canopy cover, it can reduce fuel loads necessary to carry a fire and thus restrict woody plant dominance.
Historically, the focus of conservation efforts has been on proper stocking rates and restoration of the woody encroached sites across the Great Plains. However, new research suggests that a more effective strategy involves addressing woody plants in the seed dispersal stage prior to the change in ecological states. Preserving intact prairie for both agricultural production and ecosystem services must become a priority for land managers and conservationist alike.
State and Transition Diagram:
The following diagram suggests some pathways that the vegetation on this site might take. There may be other states not shown on the diagram. This information is intended to show what might happen in a given set of circumstances. It does not mean that this would happen the same way in every instance. Local professional guidance should always be sought before pursuing a treatment scenario.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Land use 1 submodel, ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
Land use 2 submodel, ecosystem states
Land use 1
Rangeland
This land use is native rangeland. Dominant use is grazing by ruminant livestock.
State 1.1
Reference
The reference state is dominated by native warm season tallgrasses and midgrasses. These grass species are tightly intermixed and well distributed over the site. Forbs are abundant. A limited variety of shrubs occur in sparse amounts. This plant community evolved under periodic grazing by large herbivores and a fire frequency of once every two to four years(Frost). Shallow Upland sites are well suited to grazing by domestic livestock. Soils typically are shallow, ranging from seven to twenty inches in depth over sandstone. In areas where underlying bedrocks are fragmented, roots of perennial grasses have deep penetration and vegetative production is significantly enhanced.
Characteristics and indicators. This state is dominated by native, herbaceous species. The soils are shallow, but intact and show minimal sign of disturbance.
Resilience management. With a fire return interval of less than 4 years and managed grazing that is balanced with the carrying capacity, this state may be maintained as a grassland reference state.
Dominant plant species
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
Community 1.1.1
Tallgrass, Midgrass
The reference plant community is dominated by a mixture of big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass. These grasses comprise nearly 70 percent of the vegetation. Secondary grasses include composite dropseed, sideoats grama, bluegrama, hairy grama and Canada wildrye. Following periods of abundant rainfall, broad seeps are common along rock outcrops especially at the base of steeper slopes. Palatable perennial forbs are well represented over the site. These forbs include sensitive-brier, Maximilian sunflower, compassplant, pale purple coneflower, tall blazing star and fringeleaf wild petunia. Yellow sundrops, leadplant and Jersey tea are common. Shrub species including skunkbush sumac, roughleaf dogwood, and flameleaf sumac are usually present in small amounts. The amount of woody species on site is minimized through occasional fires.
Resilience management. Community phase 1.1 is a very resilient system under period, managed disturbance through fire and grazing. With a fire return interval of 3-5 years and grazing management within the carrying capacity, the community can be maintained in phase 1.1.
Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 2150 | 2700 | 3600 |
Forb | 300 | 400 | 500 |
Shrub/Vine | 50 | 100 | 150 |
Total | 2500 | 3200 | 4250 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001, Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Community 1.1.2
Midgrass/ Shortgrass
This plant community is dominated by a mixture of midgrasses and increased amount of shortgrass. The dominant midgrass little bluestem, produce 50 - 75 percent of the vegetation on the site. Other midgrasses are composite dropseed, sideoats grama, marsh bristlegrass, and silver bluestem. Shortgrasses make up 10 to 30 percent of the vegetation and include blue grama, buffalograss, hairy grama, Carolina crabgrass, Scribner’s rosette grass, windmill grass and tumblegrass. Many of the more palatable forbs such as Maximilian sunflower and compassplant have decreased significantly in abundance. Forbs that have increased include white heath aster, Missouri goldenrod, Cuman ragweed, slimflower scurfpea, blue wild indigo, and sagewort. The tallgrass species may remain in a state of relatively low vigor when grazing occurs. Annuals common to the site are lanceleaf ragweed, prairie broomweed, prairie threeawn and Japanese brome (introduced). Shrubs, including roughleaf dogwood, buckbrush, blackberry and flameleaf sumac usually increases in abundance where prescribed burning is not practiced. Prescribed grazing, involving deferment during all or a part of the growing season may revive the vigor and stature of the taller grasses. This type of grazing management, coupled with favorable growing season moisture may restore the vegetation to near reference proportions in two to five years.
Resilience management. With periodic use of prescribed fire and managed grazing that is balanced with carrying capacity, this community phase can be quite resilient and begin to move back towards community 1.1. Without fire, this community is at risk of transitioning to the woody state.
Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 1700 | 2400 | 3300 |
Forb | 150 | 200 | 400 |
Shrub/Vine | 150 | 200 | 300 |
Total | 2000 | 2800 | 4000 |
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001, Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Community 1.1.3
Midgrass/Shortgrass
This site has a long history of severe overgrazing by cattle. The plant composition is predominately midgrasses and shortgrasses. Little bluestem, sideoats grama, composite dropseed, western wheatgrass, thin paspalum and sand dropseed are the dominant grasses. Scattered throughout the site are remnants of big bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass. Generally, they are in a state of low vigor. Shortgrasses, including hairy grama, blue grama and buffalograss, are common and can comprise up to 30 to 40 percent of the total vegetation. Introduced Japanese brome, along with cheatgrass, sixweeks fescue and little barley are cool season annual grasses prevalent in fall and spring months depending on precipitation patterns. Most of the palatable forbs have been eliminated. They have been replaced by Cuman ragweed, white sagebrush, white heath aster, Missouri goldenrod, slimflower scurfpea, upright prairie coneflower, and Baldwin’s ironweed. With prescribed management this site can be restored to a plant community resembling the reference in fifteen to twenty years. The time period for complete restoration, if possible, is dependent upon the abundance and distribution of the remnant tallgrasses and the level of management applied.
Figure 12. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike | 1200 | 1800 | 2500 |
Forb | 200 | 300 | 500 |
Shrub/Vine | 200 | 300 | 400 |
Total | 1600 | 2400 | 3400 |
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OK0001, Native, Warm Season Grasses. Typically, the summer growing season for warm season grasses begins April 5 to 15 and ends October 15 to 25. Nearly three-fourths of the season production will occur before the first of July. This varies from year to year depending upon temperatures and precipitation..
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1.1 to 1.1.2
Through continuous heavy grazing that exceeds carrying capacity, this plant community may diverge to community phase 1.2. This may also occur under moderate grazing during periods of long term drought.
Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.1.2 to 1.1.1
Through an established prescribed grazing program with proper stocking rates, periodic rest, and adequate soil moisture, this community phase may be restored to the reference community 1.1.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.1.2 to 1.1.3
If carrying capacity is exceeded for an extended period of time, the plant community may shift to one that is dominated by less desirable midgrass and shortgrass species. Witthout the use of prescribed fire, woody species may begin to encroach this plant community.
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.1.3 to 1.1.2
Through the establishment of a prescribed grazing progam that includes extended periods of deferment or "rest" from grazing, this community phase may be reverted to community 1.2. With the accumilation of fine fuels through grazing deferment, a prescribed fire program may be implemented to address the encroaching woody species.
State 1.2
Woody Invasion
In this state, eastern redcedar, mesquite and various shrubs or some other invasive species, has invaded the plant community. Extreme energy input must be introduced to the site to clear the tree and shrub species to return the plant community to state 1. This site still has remnant midgrasses and shortgrasses, but now with a substantial amount of shrubs and trees. Usually, this plant community is the result of long term overgrazing and no fire which encourages an increase of woodies. Midgrasses are little bluestem, composite dropseed, sand dropseed, sideoats grama, purple lovegrass and purpletop tridens. Shortgrasses include blue grama, buffalograss and hairy grama. Remnants of tallgrasses occur throughout the site. Major shrubs are sumac, dogwood, blackberry and buckbrush. Other woody plants include skunkbush sumac, plum, elm, mesquite and easter redcedar. In general, the more abundant perennial forbs have a low grazing preference by livestock. These perennial forbs include goldenrods, mountainmint, Cuman ragweed, green antelopehorn and Baldwin’s ironweed. Annual ragweeds and prairie broomweed are abundant when the site is closely grazed. Prescribed brush control using herbicides and mechanical removal will help drive the community towards plant community towards the grass dominant state. Prescribed burning will provide satisfactory brush control in most cases, however, in some circumstances, due to the mixture of woody species present and their relative susceptibility to different brush control methods, a combination of methods may be required for complete and acceptable brush control. An example of this situation might be the combination of eastern redcedar and sumac. Fire is relatively effective on young redcedar, but not effective on sumac species. This situation will require a prescribed combination of controls. Prescribed grazing, affording periods of deferred grazing during the summer growing season, will be needed to restore overall productivity of the site.
Dominant plant species
-
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
-
sumac (Rhus), shrub
-
silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides), grass
State 1.3
Eroded
Once the soil is disturbed and vegetation is removed, these site are prone to soil erosion. Water erosion can leave a devastating impact on these sites due to the shallow soils. It is difficult to predict the vegetation response on these eroded sites. Site specific evaluations are need to access remaining soil resources.
Resilience management. With time, eroded sites may revegetate or be reseeded with native species. While the plant communities can resemble the reference state, the soil physical, chemical, and biological properties may take many years to recover.
Dominant plant species
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
Transition T1A
State 1.1 to 1.2
In the absence of fire or other brush management strategies, woody species may begin to encroach on the site. If left unchecked, some woody species will begin to dominate the ecological functions of the site such as nutrient cycling and hydrologic cycle.
Transition T1B
State 1.1 to 1.3
Through soil disturbance with heavy equipment or prior cultivation attempts, the site becomes suscetible to water erosion. The result of this erosion is displacement of the A horizon and transition to the Eroded State.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 1.2 to 1.1
Through the implementation of a prescribed burning program or alternative forms of brush management, the site may be restored to the reference state. Careful grazing management is often required to ensure proper fuel loads and allow for the recovery of herbaceous species.
Land use 2
Introduced Pastureland
While not common, this site is sometimes planted to introduced grasses such as bermudagrass. Primary use is livestock and/or hay production. Often, this land use is managed as a monoculture with little biotic diversity. However, in some cases, forb/legume/grass mixtures are maintained with may increase soil and ecosystem health.
State 2.1
Monoculture
This community consists of a planted monoculture of an introduced pasture grass used predominately for grazing and/or hay production. Adapted species include bermudagrass, old world bluestems, and weeping lovegrass (only on well drained sites). These species require a higher level of management inputs than native rangeland species. Soil tests should be performed prior to planting and or subsequent fertilizer applications. Without persistent nutrient management and proper grazing, some undesired "weedy" species may invade the site. While biodiversity can be beneficial to both plants, animals, and soil, it may be undesirable under certain management systems such as certified hay production. Proper grazing should be planned to allow for adequate residual heights in order to ensure the vigor of the grass. These heights vary by species and grazing system. They can be found in the OK NRCS Prescribed Grazing practice specification. Average yields are listed below as representative for the MLRA. These yields can vary greatly depending on precipitation amount and timing. As with any pasture management program, site specific evaluation and monitoring is essential. Yields are represented AUMs or Animal Unit Months. This represents the amount of dry matter required by one Animal Unit Equivalent for one month. For more on AUEs and AUMs consult local extension service fact sheets and publications. Keep in mind these yields are estimated under a high level of management which includes annual additions of nitrogen and other nutrients as required. It is important to note that while these introduced species can provide good grazing potential, often wildlife habitat is limited. These species are also known to expand offsite and become invasive in adjacent native ecosystems.
Dominant plant species
-
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), grass
State 2.2
Grass/Legume Mix
This community represents a planted mixture of introduced grasses and forbs/legumes. Bermudagrass and introduced clover is the most common pasture mix. Incorporation of a legume into the system can help offset inputs associated with nitrogen additions. Special strategies should be used to ensure the health and vigor of both the cool season legumes and warm season grasses. Yields for these pasture mixes are not available as the mixtures and ratios vary from site to site so yields for a monoculture community should be used as a baseline estimate.
Dominant plant species
-
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), grass
-
clover (Trifolium), other herbaceous
Conversion C1
Land use 1 to 2
With the cultivation and planting of perennial introduced forage grasses, this land use is converted to Introduced Pastureland.
Conversion C2
Land use 2 to 1
This land use conversion is achieved through reseeding native grasses and forbs or allowing native species to repopulate the site by reducing management of introduced species. While the site may be converted back to a rangeland land use, some soil properties and ecological function may not return to pre-disturbance levels.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | 800–1800 | |||||
big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 720–1170 | – | ||
Indiangrass | SONU2 | Sorghastrum nutans | 200–325 | – | ||
switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 160–260 | – | ||
2 | 600–1200 | |||||
little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 680–1100 | – | ||
composite dropseed | SPCO16 | Sporobolus compositus | 100–500 | – | ||
beaked panicgrass | PAAN | Panicum anceps | 40–65 | – | ||
Florida paspalum | PAFL4 | Paspalum floridanum | 40–65 | – | ||
3 | 200–500 | |||||
sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 160–260 | – | ||
blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 80–130 | – | ||
sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 40–65 | – | ||
white tridens | TRAL2 | Tridens albescens | 40–65 | – | ||
purpletop tridens | TRFL2 | Tridens flavus | 40–65 | – | ||
hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 40–65 | – | ||
silver beardgrass | BOLA2 | Bothriochloa laguroides | 40–65 | – | ||
purple lovegrass | ERSP | Eragrostis spectabilis | 40–65 | – | ||
plains muhly | MUCU3 | Muhlenbergia cuspidata | 40–65 | – | ||
thin paspalum | PASE5 | Paspalum setaceum | 40–65 | – | ||
4 | 80–120 | |||||
sedge | CAREX | Carex | 40–65 | – | ||
Scribner's rosette grass | DIOLS | Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum | 40–65 | – | ||
Canada wildrye | ELCA4 | Elymus canadensis | 40–65 | – | ||
Virginia wildrye | ELVI3 | Elymus virginicus | 40–65 | – | ||
prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 15–25 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
5 | 150–250 | |||||
Maximilian sunflower | HEMA2 | Helianthus maximiliani | 150–260 | – | ||
compassplant | SILA3 | Silphium laciniatum | 150–260 | – | ||
wholeleaf rosinweed | SIIN2 | Silphium integrifolium | 112–195 | – | ||
Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 75–130 | – | ||
yellow sundrops | CASE12 | Calylophus serrulatus | 75–130 | – | ||
pale purple coneflower | ECPA | Echinacea pallida | 75–130 | – | ||
eastern daisy fleabane | ERAN | Erigeron annuus | 75–130 | – | ||
yellow sundrops | CASE12 | Calylophus serrulatus | 75–130 | – | ||
Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 75–130 | – | ||
Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 75–130 | – | ||
pale purple coneflower | ECPA | Echinacea pallida | 75–130 | – | ||
white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 75–130 | – | ||
stiff sunflower | HEPA19 | Helianthus pauciflorus | 52–91 | – | ||
Canada goldenrod | SOCA6 | Solidago canadensis | 45–78 | – | ||
tall blazing star | LIAS | Liatris aspera | 37–65 | – | ||
dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 37–65 | – | ||
cobaea beardtongue | PECO4 | Penstemon cobaea | 37–65 | – | ||
narrowleaf mountainmint | PYTE | Pycnanthemum tenuifolium | 37–65 | – | ||
upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 37–65 | – | ||
fringeleaf wild petunia | RUHU | Ruellia humilis | 37–65 | – | ||
azure blue sage | SAAZ | Salvia azurea | 37–65 | – | ||
ashy sunflower | HEMO2 | Helianthus mollis | 37–65 | – | ||
prairie spiderwort | TROC | Tradescantia occidentalis | 37–65 | – | ||
Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 37–65 | – | ||
flowering spurge | EUCO10 | Euphorbia corollata | 37–65 | – | ||
hairy sunflower | HEHI2 | Helianthus hirsutus | 37–65 | – | ||
groovestem Indian plantain | ARPL4 | Arnoglossum plantagineum | 37–65 | – | ||
butterfly milkweed | ASTU | Asclepias tuberosa | 37–65 | – | ||
button eryngo | ERYU | Eryngium yuccifolium | 37–65 | – | ||
flowering spurge | EUCO10 | Euphorbia corollata | 37–65 | – | ||
Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 37–65 | – | ||
groovestem Indian plantain | ARPL4 | Arnoglossum plantagineum | 37–65 | – | ||
butterfly milkweed | ASTU | Asclepias tuberosa | 37–65 | – | ||
6 | 150–250 | |||||
fourvalve mimosa | MIQU2 | Mimosa quadrivalvis | 100–200 | – | ||
Illinois bundleflower | DEIL | Desmanthus illinoensis | 75–130 | – | ||
roundhead lespedeza | LECA8 | Lespedeza capitata | 75–130 | – | ||
Virginia tephrosia | TEVI | Tephrosia virginiana | 50–90 | – | ||
trailing lespedeza | LEPR | Lespedeza procumbens | 35–65 | – | ||
slender lespedeza | LEVI7 | Lespedeza virginica | 35–65 | – | ||
purple dalea | DALA4 | Dalea lasiathera | 35–65 | – | ||
blue wild indigo | BAAU | Baptisia australis | 35–65 | – | ||
white prairie clover | DACA7 | Dalea candida | 35–65 | – | ||
purple dalea | DALA4 | Dalea lasiathera | 35–65 | – | ||
slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 35–65 | – | ||
silverleaf Indian breadroot | PEAR6 | Pediomelum argophyllum | 20–40 | – | ||
large Indian breadroot | PEES | Pediomelum esculentum | 20–40 | – | ||
groundplum milkvetch | ASCR2 | Astragalus crassicarpus | 20–40 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
7 | 50–100 | |||||
leadplant | AMCA6 | Amorpha canescens | 50–100 | – | ||
Jersey tea | CEHE | Ceanothus herbaceus | 50–100 | – | ||
roughleaf dogwood | CODR | Cornus drummondii | 25–50 | – | ||
winged sumac | RHCO | Rhus copallinum | 25–50 | – | ||
skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 25–50 | – | ||
eastern poison ivy | TORA2 | Toxicodendron radicans | 25–50 | – |
Table 9. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | 710–1400 | |||||
big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 568–1120 | – | ||
switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 106–210 | – | ||
Indiangrass | SORGH | Sorghastrum | 106–210 | – | ||
2 | 533–1050 | |||||
little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 532–1050 | – | ||
3 | 320–630 | |||||
composite dropseed | SPCO16 | Sporobolus compositus | 142–280 | – | ||
sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 106–210 | – | ||
blue panicum | PAAN4 | Panicum antidotale | 71–140 | – | ||
purpletop tridens | TRFL2 | Tridens flavus | 71–140 | – | ||
thin paspalum | PASE5 | Paspalum setaceum | 49–98 | – | ||
marsh bristlegrass | SEPA10 | Setaria parviflora | 49–98 | – | ||
purple lovegrass | ERSP | Eragrostis spectabilis | 49–98 | – | ||
sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 35–70 | – | ||
silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 35–70 | – | ||
4 | 213–420 | |||||
fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 71–140 | – | ||
hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 71–140 | – | ||
tumblegrass | SCPA | Schedonnardus paniculatus | 49–98 | – | ||
windmill grass | CHLOR | Chloris | 49–98 | – | ||
prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 35–50 | – | ||
5 | 36–70 | |||||
winter bentgrass | AGHY | Agrostis hyemalis | 35–70 | – | ||
Scribner's rosette grass | DIOLS | Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum | 35–70 | – | ||
Canada wildrye | ELCA4 | Elymus canadensis | 35–70 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
6 | 150–400 | |||||
Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 75–200 | – | ||
white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 75–200 | – | ||
slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 75–200 | – | ||
Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 75–200 | – | ||
white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 75–200 | – | ||
eastern daisy fleabane | ERAN | Erigeron annuus | 75–200 | – | ||
Maximilian sunflower | HEMA2 | Helianthus maximiliani | 75–200 | – | ||
lespedeza | LESPE | Lespedeza | 75–200 | – | ||
groovestem Indian plantain | ARPL4 | Arnoglossum plantagineum | 52–140 | – | ||
prairie clover | DALEA | Dalea | 45–120 | – | ||
prairie broomweed | AMDR | Amphiachyris dracunculoides | 45–120 | – | ||
pale purple coneflower | ECPA | Echinacea pallida | 37–100 | – | ||
upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 37–100 | – | ||
blue wild indigo | BAAU | Baptisia australis | 37–100 | – | ||
dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 37–100 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
7 | 150–300 | |||||
blackberry | RUBUS | Rubus | 150–300 | – | ||
buckbrush | CECU | Ceanothus cuneatus | 150–300 | – | ||
roughleaf dogwood | CODR | Cornus drummondii | 150–300 | – | ||
winged sumac | RHCO | Rhus copallinum | 150–300 | – | ||
skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 75–150 | – | ||
Jersey tea | CEHE | Ceanothus herbaceus | 75–150 | – | ||
leadplant | AMCA6 | Amorpha canescens | 75–150 | – |
Table 10. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
1 | Midgrass/Shortgrass | 536–1120 | ||||
composite dropseed | SPCO16 | Sporobolus compositus | 201–420 | – | ||
sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 134–280 | – | ||
thin paspalum | PASE5 | Paspalum setaceum | 100–210 | – | ||
western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 67–140 | – | ||
sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 67–140 | – | ||
purpletop tridens | TRFL2 | Tridens flavus | 67–140 | – | ||
purple lovegrass | ERSP | Eragrostis spectabilis | 67–140 | – | ||
silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 33–70 | – | ||
white tridens | TRAL2 | Tridens albescens | 33–70 | – | ||
2 | Tallgrasses | 168–350 | ||||
big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 100–210 | – | ||
little bluestem | SCHIZ4 | Schizachyrium | 67–140 | – | ||
Indiangrass | SORGH | Sorghastrum | 33–70 | – | ||
switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 33–70 | – | ||
3 | Midgrasses/Shortgrasses | 436–910 | ||||
blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 201–420 | – | ||
hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 134–280 | – | ||
windmill grass | CHLOR | Chloris | 67–140 | – | ||
fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 67–140 | – | ||
Scribner's rosette grass | DIOLS | Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum | 67–140 | – | ||
tumblegrass | SCPA | Schedonnardus paniculatus | 67–140 | – | ||
4 | 67–140 | |||||
prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 67–140 | – | ||
cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | 67–140 | – | ||
little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 67–140 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
5 | 150–400 | |||||
Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 134–340 | – | ||
prairie broomweed | AMDR | Amphiachyris dracunculoides | 67–170 | – | ||
Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 67–170 | – | ||
white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 67–170 | – | ||
Baldwin's ironweed | VEBA | Vernonia baldwinii | 33–85 | – | ||
white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 33–85 | – | ||
annual ragweed | AMAR2 | Ambrosia artemisiifolia | 33–85 | – | ||
green antelopehorn | ASVI2 | Asclepias viridis | 33–85 | – | ||
snow on the mountain | EUMA8 | Euphorbia marginata | 33–85 | – | ||
slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 33–85 | – | ||
upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 33–85 | – | ||
blue wild indigo | BAAU | Baptisia australis | 20–51 | – | ||
Texas goldentop | EUGY | Euthamia gymnospermoides | 20–51 | – | ||
groundplum milkvetch | ASCR2 | Astragalus crassicarpus | 20–51 | – | ||
hoary verbena | VEST | Verbena stricta | 20–51 | – | ||
yarrow | ACHIL | Achillea | 13–34 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
6 | 201–390 | |||||
buckbrush | CECU | Ceanothus cuneatus | 134–260 | – | ||
roughleaf dogwood | CODR | Cornus drummondii | 134–260 | – | ||
smooth sumac | RHGL | Rhus glabra | 134–260 | – | ||
pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 67–130 | – | ||
American plum | PRAM | Prunus americana | 67–130 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
Domestic livestock and white-tail deer are the dominant grazers and browsers of the site. Various songbirds and small mammals may also find use of these areas. As the site changes towards the woody dominated community, the quality of the habitat may improve for some species and decline for others. Management must be applied to maintain a vegetative state in optimum habitat quality for the desired animal species.
Hydrological functions
These sites occur on uplands and shed water to adjacent sites lower on the landscape. The presence of deep rooted tallgrasses can help facilitate percolation of water into the soil profile. Minimizing bare ground is very important in reducing soil erosion by water movement.
Recreational uses
Camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding and many other outdoor recreational practices.
Wood products
There are no significant wood produts from this site.
Other products
N/A
Other information
N/A
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented has been derived from NRCS clipping data, research from Oklahoma State University, field observations and measurements by trained range personnel. Most of the clipping data was gathered by a team consisting of a range conservationist and a soil scientist and was site/soil specific. Yields were taken at the end of the growing season and, as near as possible, were obtained from areas that were un-grazed that year. Clipping data repository is in the NRCS State Office in Stillwater, OK.
References
-
Frost, C.C. 1998. Presettlement Fire Frequency Regimes of the United States: A First Approximation. Plant Conservation Program. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC.
-
Fuhlendorf, S.D., D.M. Engle, J. Kerby, and R. Hamilton. 2009. Pyric Herbivory: Rewilding Landscapes through the Recoupling of Fire and Grazing. Conservation Biology 23:588–598.
Other references
Bestelmeyer, B. T., Brown, J. R., Havstad, K. M., Alexander, R., Chavez, G., & Herrick, J. E. (2003). Development and use of state-and-transition models for rangelands. Journal of Range Management, 114-126.
Harlan, J. R. (1957). Grasslands of Oklahoma.
National Soil Information System (NASIS). Accessed 2013
Shantz, H. L. (1923). The natural vegetation of the Great Plains region. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 13(2), 81-107.
Shiflet, T. N. (1994). Rangeland cover types of the United States (Vol. 152). Denver, CO, USA: Society for Range Management.
USDA-NRCS (Formerly Soil Conservation Service) Range Site Descriptions (1960s)
USDA-NRCS (Formerly Soil Conservation Service) Ag Handbook 296 (2006)
Contributors
Dr. Jack Eckroat, Grazing Lands Specialist, NRCS, Oklahoma
Harland Dietz, Range Conservationist, NRCS, Oklahoma, (Retired)
Edits by Colin Walden, Soil Survey Office, Stillwater, OK
Approval
Bryan Christensen, 9/19/2023
Acknowledgments
Site Development and Testing Plan
Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document. Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) | Mark Moseley, Jack Eckroat |
---|---|
Contact for lead author | 100 USDA Suite 206, Stillwater, OK 74074 (405)742-1235 |
Date | 05/24/2004 |
Approved by | Colin Walden |
Approval date | |
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Very few. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Few, usually only after high intensity rains. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Some, but rarely more than 1 inch depth. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Variable, but should average less than 15%. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Very few. Stabilized sides and base. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Less than 12 inches, and usually only after high intensity rainfall. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Stability score 5 – 6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Dark reddish brown 0 – 6 inches. Subangular blocky structure, very hard.
Refer to specific description for component sampled. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Mid and shortgrass community. Tallgrasses random, occurring in drains and scattered along slopes. Slow permeability and moderate cover can results in high runoff. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None, fine textured, hard soils can be mistaken for compaction. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Midgrass (little bluestem)Sub-dominant:
shortgrassesOther:
tall grasses warm-season perennial forbs shrubs cool season grasses and grasslikes.Additional:
Midgrass (little bluestem) shortgrasses tall grasses warm-season perennial forbs shrubs cool season grasses and grasslikes. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There can be some plant loss due to droughty nature of the site, especially after severe drought, but should be less than 10%. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover should average 40 - 60% at a depth not more than ½ inch. Basal cover around 22%. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Reference production is 2,500-4,250#/acre, annually. -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Eastern redcedar with a lack of regular burning. Mesquite in the south. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All plants capable of reproducing at least every 2 – 3 years.
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