Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R102CY047NE
SALINE SUBIRRIGATED
Last updated: 10/03/2024
Accessed: 12/03/2024
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 102C–Loess Uplands
Most of this area is in the Dissected Till Plains part of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. This MLRA has broad, undulating to rolling ridgetops and hilly to steep valley sides. The valleys are generally narrow, but broad flood plains and terraces are along the major rivers and the large tributaries. Elevation ranges from 335 to 610 meters (1,100 to 2,000 feet) increasing from southeast to northwest. Peorian age loess covers most of the area with depths ranging from 2 to 20 meters (6 to 70 feet). Glacial till underlies the loess in most areas. Bedrock can be found at or near the surface predominantly along the Missouri River valley found on the eastern side of the MLRA, but some bedrock can also be found in the northern part of 102C in Minnesota and South Dakota. The soils are predominantly Mollisols but Entisols are prominent in the floodplains of the area. Nearly all the area is farmed with 70% of the area being used as cropland for corn and soybeans. Feed grains and hay crops are also grown. The major resource concerns are wind erosion, water erosion, maintenance of organic matter and soil tilth, and soil moisture management. (USDA/NRCS 2006)
Classification relationships
NE Natural Heritage Program/NE Game & Parks Commission: "Lowland Tallgrass Prairie"
General information for MLRA 102C:
*Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions*
Division - Interior Plains
East:
Province - Central Lowland
Section - Till Plains
West:
Province - Great Plains
Section - High Plains
*USFS (2007) Ecoregions*
Domain - Humid Temperate
Division - Prairie
Province - Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section - North-Central Glaciated Plains (251B)
*EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)*
I - Great Plains (9)
II - Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III - Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3) IV - Loess Prairies (47a)
IV - Northeastern Nebraska Loess Hills (47k)
IV - Transitional Sandy Plain (47l)
Ecological site concept
This ecological site is subirrigated with saline soils and a reference community dominated by grasses. The foremost diagnostic feature of this site is the high salt levels that limit plants that can occupy these sites and a seasonally high-water table from 60 to 102 centimeters (24 to 40 inches), with additional moisture received from higher adjacent areas as run-on. This site predominantly occurs on nearly level to gently sloping floodplains and stream terraces (0-2% slopes). A few areas are in micro-lows on toeslopes or flat basins on uplands. It predominantly receives runoff from adjacent sites, has a seasonally high-water table from 60 to 102 centimeters (24 to 40 inches) from November-May, does not pond, and may flood occasionally. These are mostly very deep, somewhat poorly to moderately well drained soils. The surface texture is predominantly silt loam or silty clay loam or silty clay from 0 to 20 centimeters (0 to 8 inches) and the Subsurface Texture Groups are Loamy or Silty from 18 to 203 centimeters (7 to 80 inches). These are saline soils with sodium absorption rate of 0 to 99.. The plant community consists of 80-95% grasses and grass-likes, 5-10% forbs and 0-5% shrubs. Dominant grasses include Western wheatgrass, Switchgrass, Slender wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Plains bluegrass. Other grasses and grass-likes are Blue grama, Canada wildrye, Foxtail barley, Fowl mannagrass, and sedges. Forb species are diverse and often include Western ragweed and Dandelion.
Associated sites
R102CY048NE |
Loamy Overflow Occurs on surrounding higher areas with significantly lower production. |
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R102CY053NE |
LIMY SUBIRRIGATED Occurs on similar landforms but have secondary carbonates throughout the profile. |
R102CY044NE |
WET LAND Typically occurs in the lowest areas, or where hydrology otherwise supports a community heavily dominated by hydrophytic vegetation. |
R102CY045NE |
WET SUBIRRIGATED Occurs on lower relief with a seasonally high-water table within 24 inches and a marked increase in hydrophytic vegetation. |
Similar sites
R102CY053NE |
LIMY SUBIRRIGATED Seasonally saturated 24 to 40 inches of the surface and secondary carbonates throughout the profile. |
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R102CY046NE |
Subirrigated Seasonally saturated 24 to 40 inches of the surface |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Pascopyrum smithii |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Disturbances makes resources available to opportunistic species. |
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T1B | - | Woody encroachment leading to woody dominance |
R2A | - | Restoration inputs; state transitioned to grassland |
T2A | - | Woody encroachment leading to woody dominance |
R3A | - | Woody removal for return to native herbaceous dominance |
T3B | - | Woody removal for return to herbaceous dominance |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Reduced tallgrass vigor due to excessive defoliation intensity and frequency; drought. |
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1.2A | - | Improved tallgrass vigor with adequate rest periods; return of normal precipitation. |