Approved. An approved ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model, enough information to identify the ecological site, and full documentation for all ecosystem states contained in the state and transition model.
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): 106X–Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills
Named the “Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills,” Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 is divided almost evenly between southeastern Nebraska (52 percent), and northeastern Kansas, (48 percent). The northern border is located on the north end of Saunders County, Nebraska, and the MLRA stretches into Douglas County, Kansas in the south. The Nebraska cities of Beatrice and Lincoln are the major population centers in the north, while Topeka and Lawrence in Kansas are the primary cities in the south. The approximately seven million-acre landscape covers all or parts of thirty counties between the two states. This dissected glacial drift plain primarily consists of broad, smooth ridgetops, and slopes ranging from nearly level to steep. The elevation in MLRA 106 decreases from west to east, and ranges from nearly 1,650 feet to less than 790 feet above sea level. Stream valleys in this landscape are narrow and bordered by steep hills, with 10 to 20 feet of local relief. The river valleys are broader, and may drop up to over 160 feet below the adjacent hilltops. The Platte, Little Nemaha, and the North Fork of the Big Nemaha Rivers flow through the Nebraska side of the MLRA, while the Black Vermillion, the Soldier, and the Delaware Rivers are the major waterways on the Kansas side. The Big Blue River runs through both states, while The Salt Creek hydrologic system located near Lincoln, Nebraska provides habitat for the only known population of the Federally-listed endangered Tiger Salt Beetle.
The uplands are primarily comprised of glacial drift underlying a mantle of loess, while alluvial deposits are found in the stream and river valleys. Limestone and shale quarries are also located in MLRA 106. The predominant soil orders in this MLRA are mesic, udic, Mollisols, Alfisols, and Entisols. Loams and clays are the primary soil textures in this landscape.
Sixty-two percent of the land in this MLRA has been broken out of native prairie and farmed, while only twenty three percent of the grasslands remain intact. Livestock grazing, primarily by cattle, is the main industry on these remnants. Corn, wheat, soybeans, and grain sorghum are the primary commodity crops, but a significant number of acres are also planted to alfalfa for harvest as hay.
With annual precipitation averaging from 40 inches in the southeast, to 28 inches in the northwest, irrigation for crop production is not a critical factor in most years.
The historical matrix vegetation type is Tallgrass Prairie, and big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, sideoats, and blue grama make up the bulk of the warm-season species; western wheatgrass is the dominant cool-season grass in the northern portion of MLRA 106, while tall fescue is in the southern part. Large- and small-patch vegetative communities are found primarily along the riparian zones, and on both upland and lowland saline sites. Woodlands make up about six percent of MLRA 106, consisting primarily of green ash, oak, hackberry, boxelder, and maple trees.
Wildlife flourishes in this combination of crop and grassland environments. In a landscape historically occupied by bison herds, white-tailed deer are now the most abundant wild ungulates. A variety of smaller species, including coyote, raccoon, opossum, porcupines, muskrat, beaver, squirrel, and mink thrive in the region, as do several species of upland birds. Native grassland bird populations are somewhat limited by the lack of contiguous native prairie and the fragmented habitat created by the farmland.
The rivers, streams, and lakes harbor excellent fisheries, and migrating and local waterfowl use the wetland complexes. These complexes provide ideal habitat for a number of wading and shore bird species as well.
This landscape serves as a backdrop for a disturbance-driven ecosystem, evolving under the influences of herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Historically, these processes created a heterogeneous mosaic of plant communities and structure heights across the region. Any given site in this landscape experienced fire every three to four years. The fires were caused by lightning strikes and also were set by Native Americans, who used fire for warfare, signaling, and to refresh the native grasses. The indigenous inhabitants understood the value of fire as a tool, and that the highly palatable growth following a fire provided excellent forage for their horses, and attracted grazing game animals such as bison and elk.
Land use patterns changed by European settlement have greatly altered the historical fire regime, allowing the expansion of the woody component. Introduction of eastern redcedar (ERC) as a windbreak species further facilitates invasion by this species.
While eastern redcedar is native to the landscape, the historic population in MLRA 106 was limited to isolated pockets in rugged river drainageways that were subsequently insulated from fire. Widespread plantings of windbreaks with eastern redcedar as a primary component have provided a seed source for the aggressive woody plant. The ensuing encroachment into the native grasslands degrades the native wildlife habit and causes significant forage loss for domestic livestock. However, since it is not a root-sprouter, eastern redcedar is very susceptible to fire when under six feet tall. Management with prescribed fire is exceedingly effective if applied before this stage.
Larger redcedars can also be controlled with fire, but successful application requires the use of specifically-designed ignition and holding techniques.
Fragmentation of the native grasslands by conversion to cropland, transportation corridors, and other developments have effectively disrupted the natural fire regime of this ecosystem. This has allowed encroachment by native and introduced shrubs and trees into the remnants of the native prairie throughout the MLRA. Aggressive fire-suppression policies have exacerbated this process to the point that shrub and tree encroachment is a major ecological issue in the majority of both native and reseeded grasslands.
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 106 Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006)
General information for MLRA 106:
*Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions* Division – Interior Plains
Province – Central Lowland
Section – Dissected Till Plains
*USFS (2007) Ecoregions*
Domain – Humid Temperate
Division – Prairie
Province – Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section – Central Dissected Till Plains (251C)
*EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)*
I – Great Plains (9)
II – Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III – Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3)
IV – Loess and Glacial Drift Hills (47i)
The Loamy Floodplain site is found on active floodplains subject to inundation. Additional moisture is received as run-on originating from higher on the landscape. Occasional to frequent flooding redistributes soil and plant materials through erosion and deposition, and can locally affect production and species composition.
Often located adjacent to the Loamy Floodplain site, the Subirrigated site has a higher water table, and a higher percentage of water-tolerant species in the vegetative community.
Loamy Floodplain is found on the flood plains of river valleys and in narrow drainage ways of uplands. It receives runoff from areas higher on the landscape and flooding is occasional to frequent. Sedimentation is common.
Figure 2.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms
(1) Flood plain (2) Drainageway (3) Alluvial fan
Runoff class
Low
Flooding duration
Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency
Rare to frequent
Elevation
747–1,692 ft
Slope
5%
Water table depth
39–70 in
Aspect
Aspect is not a significant factor
Climatic features
Like most Great Plains landscapes, the climate in this MLRA is under the sway of the continental effect. This creates a regime of extremes, with summer highs often in the triple digits, and winter lows plunging well below zero. Blizzards can occur anytime between early fall and late spring, often dropping the temperature more than 50 degrees in just a few hours. These events can pile up several feet of snow, often driven by winds in excess of 50 miles an hour. The resulting huge snow drifts can cause serious hardship for livestock, wildlife, and humans. Winters can be open, with bare ground for most of the season, or closed, with up to several feet of snow persisting until March. Most winters have a number of warm days, interspersed with dropping temperatures, usually associated with approaching cold fronts. Spring brings violent thunderstorms, hail, and high winds. Tornadoes occur frequently.
About three-fourths of the precipitation falls as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms from late in spring through early in autumn.
The average annual precipitation gradient trends higher from northwest (28”) to southeast (40”), and the average annual temperature gradient trends higher from north (50°F) to south (55°F).
Daily winds range from an average of 14 miles per hour during the spring to 11 miles per hour during the late summer. Occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 80 miles per hour.
Growth of native cool-season plants begins in early April and continues to about mid-June. Native warm-season plants begin growth in early June, and continue to early August. Green-up of cool-season plants may occur in September and October.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average)
164 days
Freeze-free period (average)
184 days
Precipitation total (average)
35 in
Bar
Line
Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Bar
Line
Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
(1) CENTRALIA [USC00141408], Centralia, KS
(2) HOLTON [USC00143759], Holton, KS
(3) HORTON [USC00143810], Horton, KS
(4) PERRY LAKE [USC00146333], Perry, KS
(5) ASHLAND NO 2 [USC00250375], Ashland, NE
(6) TECUMSEH 1S [USC00258465], Tecumseh, NE
(7) TOPEKA MUNI AP [USW00013996], Topeka, KS
(8) LINCOLN UNIV PWR PLT [USW00014971], Lincoln, NE
(9) MARYSVILLE [USC00145063], Marysville, KS
(10) PAWNEE CITY [USC00256570], Pawnee City, NE
(11) CLINTON LAKE [USC00141612], Lawrence, KS
(12) HIAWATHA 9 ESE [USC00143634], Robinson, KS
(13) VIRGINIA [USC00258875], Virginia, NE
(14) WEEPING WATER [USC00259090], Weeping Water, NE
(15) LINCOLN MUNI AP [USW00014939], Lincoln, NE
(16) LAWRENCE [USC00144559], Lawrence, KS
(17) OSKALOOSA 4 NE [USC00146100], Mc Louth, KS
(18) AUBURN 5 ESE [USC00250435], Auburn, NE
(19) BEATRICE 1N [USC00250622], Beatrice, NE
(20) CRETE [USC00252020], Crete, NE
(21) MEAD 6S [USC00255362], Ithaca, NE
(22) RAYMOND 2NE [USC00257055], Raymond, NE
(23) SYRACUSE [USC00258395], Syracuse, NE
(24) TABLE ROCK 4 N [USC00258410], Table Rock, NE
(25) WAHOO [USC00258905], Wahoo, NE
Influencing water features
This site occurs on nearly level areas that receive additional water from overflow of intermittent streams or runoff from adjacent slopes.
Soil features
These very deep soils are moderately well to well drained and typically receive extra water from runoff. They are subject to flooding.
The saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high, and the depth to carbonates is over 200 centimeters.
The weighted average of the clay content in the particle-size control section ranges from 18 to 35 percent, while the content of sand is less than 10 percent fine sand, or sand coarser than fine.
Two of the major soil series correlated to this ecological site are Nodaway and Kennebec.
Figure 7.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material
(1) Alluvium
Surface texture
(1) Silty clay loam
(2) Silt loam
Family particle size
(1) Loamy
Drainage class
Moderately well drained to well drained
Permeability class
Moderately slow to moderate
Soil depth
80 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)
11.5–15.99 in
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)
6.1–7
Ecological dynamics
Loamy Floodplain ecological sites developed under Northern Great Plains climatic conditions, light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores, sporadic natural or man-caused wildfire, and other biotic and abiotic factors that typically influence soil and site development. This continues to be a disturbance-driven site: by herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Changes occur in the plant communities due to short-term weather variations, impacts of native and/or exotic plant and animal species, and management actions. The landscape position and association with streams make this site somewhat less susceptible to fire, which allowed woody species to become more abundant than on less sheltered sites in the MLRA.
One of the primary impacts to the Loamy Floodplain site introduced by European settlers is season-long, continuous grazing by domestic livestock. This management practice causes the repeated removal of the growing point and excessive defoliation of the leaf area of individual warm-season tallgrasses. The resulting reduction of the ability of the plants to harvest sunlight depletes the root reserves, subsequently decreasing the root mass. This negatively impacts the ability of the plants to compete for life-sustaining nutrients, resulting in declining vigor and eventual mortality. The space created in the vegetative community is then occupied by a species that evades the negative grazing impacts by a growing season adaptation (such as a cool season), a shorter structure, or a reduced palatability mechanism.
The State-and-Transition Model (STM) is depicted below, and is made up of a Reference State, a Native/Invaded State, a Sod-busted State and an Invaded Woody State. Each state represents the crossing of a major ecological threshold due to alteration of the functional dynamic properties of the ecosystem. The main properties observed to determine this change are the soil and vegetative communities, and the hydrologic cycle.
Each state may have one or more vegetative communities that fluctuate in species composition and abundance within the normal parameters of the state. Within each state, communities may degrade or recover in response to natural and man-caused disturbances such as variation in the degree and timing of herbivory, presence or absence of fire, and climatic and local fluctuations in the precipitation regime. Periodic flooding and deposition events can cause a wide variability in plant communities and production on this site.
Interpretations are primarily based on the Reference State, and have been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long-term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics have been interpreted from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal-use pastures, and historical accounts. Plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds have been determined through similar studies and experience.
Growth of native cool-season plants begins about April 1, and continues to about June 15. Native warm-season plants begin growth about May 15, and continue to about August 15. Green-up of cool-season plants may occur in September and October if adequate moisture is available.
The following is a diagram that illustrates the common plant communities that can occur on the site and the transition pathways between communities.
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
This state describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Loamy Floodplain site where the natural processes are mostly intact.
The Reference Community is a representation of the native plant community phase that occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. The Degraded Native Grass, the At-Risk Grass, and the Excessive Litter Communities are the phases that result from management decisions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community. The Ephemeral Forb Community is the result of a high intensity disturbance event.
High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Community 1.1 Tallgrass Native Prairie
Figure 8. Tallgrass Prairie Community in Eastern Nebraska
The Tallgrass Native Prairie Community serves as a description of the native plant community that naturally occurs on the site when the natural disturbance regimes are intact, or are closely mimicked by management practices. This phase is dynamic, with fluid relative abundance and spatial boundaries between the dominant structural vegetative groups. These fluctuations are primarily driven by different responses of the species to changes in precipitation timing and abundance, and to fire and grazing events.
The potential vegetation consists of approximately 80-90 percent grasses and grass-like plants, 5-10 percent forbs, and 0-5 percent shrubs. Big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamma grass (in the southern part of the MLRA), prairie cordgrass, and switchgrass are the primary species in this community. Secondary species include little bluestem, sedges, dropseed, grama grasses, and western wheatgrass. The site has a diverse forb population.
A deciduous woody population also may be present.
This plant community is highly productive, diverse, and resistant to short-term stresses such as drought and short periods of heavy stocking. The well-developed root systems support resiliency when allowed adequate recovery periods between grazing events.
When exposed to long-term or frequent over-grazing events without adequate rest, this plant community will degrade.
The average annual total vegetative production
of this community ranges from a minimum of 4,000 lbs. per acre in the north, to a maximum of 9,000 lbs. per acre in the southern part of the MLRA.
The production and species data depicted in the associated species composition table are from the northern end of the MLRA, and should be interpreted accordingly. Some of the species discussed in the narrative originate from sources independent of the plant table. While prairie cordgrass and eastern gamma grass are common throughout the MLRA, they were not present in the data collection projects that provided the production data for the following plant table.
Figure 9. 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
3425
3760
4090
Shrub/Vine
0
100
205
Forb
75
140
205
Total
3500
4000
4500
Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1064, Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills. Warm season dominant: Ocasional overflow.
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
4
10
25
30
14
8
5
2
1
0
Community 1.2 Degraded Native Grass Community
Big bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, gamma grass, prairie cordgrass, and other desirable species lose productive capacity through loss of vigor and reproductive potential. Forb diversity is reduced. Maximillian sunflower, rosinweed, and compassplant numbers decline. Ironweed and other less palatable species increase.
Midgrasses such as little bluestem, western wheatgrass, grama grasses, and various sedges increase. Foxtail, Kentucky bluegrass, and dropseed begin to become apparent.
This community phase signals a significant loss of production. This is due to continuous season-long grazing with inadequate recovery periods. Grazing-evasive warm- and cool-season grasses increase. The composition of the forb component remains diverse, but the potential for encroachment by invasive woody species becomes more likely, due to fewer deep-rooted species and a reduced fuel load to carry fire.
While this plant community is less productive and less diverse than the Reference Plant Community, it remains sustainable in regard to site/soil stability, watershed function, and biologic integrity.
The average annual vegetative production in the northern portion of the MLRA is 3,200 lbs./acre.
Community 1.3 At-Risk Native Community
In this plant community, the more palatable tall warm-season grasses have been reduced to remnant populations by continued defoliation during their critical growth periods. Grazing-evasive warm-season and cool-season grasses increase significantly. Dropseed, smooth bromegrass, western wheatgrass, grama grasses, sedges, and Kentucky bluegrass become dominant. Tall fescue is prominent in the south. Annual bromes may be present, often in abundance.
Palatable forbs have been reduced. Goldenrod, ironweed, and heath aster become prominent.
Soil health is affected by reduced efficiency in the nutrient, mineral, and hydrologic cycles as a result of decreases in plant litter and rooting depths. Total annual vegetative production declines significantly. Without a management change, this community is at-risk to degrade to the Native/Invaded Grass State.
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1069, MLRA 106 Warm/cool-season mix.
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
4
10
23
26
17
8
6
4
1
0
Community 1.4 Excessive Litter Community
The Excessive Litter Community Phase describes the response of the community to the removal of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire. As the undisturbed duff layer deepens, infiltration of the precipitation is interrupted and evaporation increases significantly, simulating drought-like conditions.
Community 1.5 Ephemeral Forb Community
This community describes the flush of forbs that occurs in response to a major disturbance, or combination of disturbances. Growing season wildfire followed by hail, extreme prolonged drought, or extreme defoliation by herbivores are all examples of these disturbances. The native warm-season grasses re-establish dominance with-in a few years of the event.
Pathway CP 1.1-1.2 Community 1.1 to 1.2
A shift from the Tallgrass Native Prairie to the Degraded Native Grass Community occurs with continuous season-long grazing and inadequate recovery periods during the growing season
Pathway CP 1.1-1.4 Community 1.1 to 1.4
Prolonged interruption of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will result in conversion from this community to the Excessive Litter Community.
Pathway CP 1.1-1.5 Community 1.1 to 1.5
A high-impact disturbance event or combination of events causing excessive defoliation of the vegetation, i.e. a growing season wildfire followed by a significant hailstorm, or a prolonged intensive grazing event or long-term drought, etc.
Pathway CP 1.2-1.1 Community 1.2 to 1.1
A shift from the Degraded Native Grass community toward the Reference community can be achieved through prescribed grazing. Applying grazing pressure during the growth period of the undesirable cool season grasses, and allowing rest during the warm season growing season favors our desired species. This grazing regime will enable the deeply rooted tall warm season grasses to out compete the shallow rooted grazing evasive warm season and the cool season grasses.
Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning
Access Control
Prescribed Grazing
Pathway CP 1.4-1.1 Community 1.4 to 1.1
Re-introduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation to return to the previous community.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing
Pathway CP 1.5-1.1 Community 1.5 to 1.1
Restoration occurs naturally once the disturbance event has subsided. Allowing growing season rest will accelerate the recovery.
Conservation practices
Access Control
State 2 Native/Invaded Grass State
This state has been degraded from the Reference State and much of the native warm-season grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of tall and mid- warm-season grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of the grazing-evasive plant communities.
The Native Evaders/Invasives and the Invaded Cool Season communities are the components of the Native/Invaded Grass State.
Community 2.1 Native Evaders/Invaded Grass
This plant community represents a shift from the Reference State across a plant community threshold. With continued grazing pressure, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome (can be tall fescue in the southern part of the MLRA), grama grasses, and dropseed will become the dominant plant species, with only trace remnants of the more palatable warm-season midgrasses. Continuous and heavy grazing pressure will maintain this plant community in a sod-bound condition. Forb richness and diversity has decreased.
With the decline and loss of deeper-penetrating root systems, a compacted layer may form in the soil profile below the more shallow replacement root systems.
Some of the forbs associated with this phase are ironweed and heath aster.
Grazing management practices that allow for adequate periods of recovery between grazing events will favor mid and tall- warm-season grasses.
Appropriately-timed prescribed fire will accelerate the restoration process.
Figure 12. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067, Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant..
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
0
5
13
28
28
12
5
6
3
0
0
Community 2.2 Invaded Cool Season
This plant community contains predominately smooth brome (can be tall fescue in the southern part of the MLRA), and annual bromes. Some warm-season remnants are present. Production of this plant community is highly variable, depending upon the percentages of species present and outside inputs such as fertilizer and weed control.
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067, Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant..
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
0
5
13
28
28
12
5
6
3
0
0
Pathway CP 2.1-2.2 Community 2.1 to 2.2
This community will be converted to a smooth brome/fescue community through the following practices:
introduced grass seeding, excessive warm season grazing, inadequate warm season rest, multi season haying and nitrogen fertilizing in spring and/or fall.
State 3 Sod-busted State
This threshold is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned, which will result in the Naturally Reclaimed Community, or be re-seeded to a desired perennial forage mixture, which is described as the Re-seeded Community.
Permanent alterations of the soil community and the hydrologic cycle make restoration to the original native Reference Community extremely difficult, if not impossible. Formation of a compacted plowpan in the soil profile is likely.
Community 3.1 Re-Seeded Grass
This plant community does not contain native remnants, and varies considerably depending upon the seed mixture, the degree of soil erosion, the age of the stand, nitrogen fertilizer use, and past grazing management. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods will be needed to maintain productivity and desirable species.
Native range and seeded grasslands are ecologically different, and should be managed separately. Factors such as functional group, species, stand density, and improved varieties all impact the production level and palatability of the seedings. Species diversity is often limited, and when grazed in conjunction with native rangelands, uneven forage utilization may occur.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending upon precipitation, management, and grass species seeded.
Community 3.2 Natural Reclamation
This plant community consists of annual and perennial weeds and less desirable grasses.
These sites have been farmed and abandoned without being reseeded. Soil organic matter/carbon reserves are reduced, soil structure is changed, and a plow-pan or compacted layer can be formed which decreases water infiltration. Residual synthetic chemicals may remain from farming operations. In early successional stages, this community is not stable. Erosion is a concern.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending on the succession stage of the plant community and any management applied to the system.
State 4 Invaded Woody State
Once the tree canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height exceeding 5 feet, the threshold is crossed to the Invaded Woody State. Woody species are encroaching due to lack of prescribed fire and other brush management practices. Typical ecological impacts are a loss of native warm season grasses, degraded forage productivity and reduced soil quality.
This state consists of the Invasive Woodies Community.
Community 4.1 Invasive Woodies
Figure 14. Deciduous Tree Community in Doniphan County Kansas
This community has at least a 15 percent canopy of wooded cover. Locust, elm, ash, oak, and cottonwood are some of the deciduous invaders, while eastern redcedar is the primary evergreen encroacher. In the absence of fire and brush management, this site is very conducive to cedar seedling invasion, especially when adjacent to a seed source. Cedars can eventually dominate the site, resulting in a closed canopy monoculture which drastically reduces forage production and has limited value for either livestock grazing or wildlife habitat.
Eastern redcedar control can usually be accomplished with prescribed burning while the trees are six foot tall or less and fine fuel production is over 1,500 pounds per acre. Trees of all heights can be controlled with the use of specifically-adapted preparation, and ignition and holding techniques.
Mechanical removal followed by a chemical treatment on stumps is effective on locust.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly, depending upon the production level prior to encroachment and the percentage of canopy cover.
Transition T1-2 State 1 to 2
Heavy grazing or haying without adequate recovery periods will cause this state to lose a significant proportion of tall and mid- warm-season grass species and cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded State. Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod-forming grasses. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, soil structure and biological integrity are catastrophically degraded to the point that recovery is unlikely. Once this occurs, it is highly unlikely that grazing management alone will return the community to the Reference State.
Transition T1-3 State 1 to 3
The Reference State is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Transition T1-4 State 1 to 4
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Transition T 2-3 State 2 to 3
The state is significantly altered by mechanical tillage to allow the site to be placed into production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true reference state unlikely.
Transition T 2-4 State 2 to 4
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Transition T 3-4 State 3 to 4
Disruption of the natural fire regime and the planting of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause this state to shift to the Invaded Woody State.
Restoration pathway R4-1 State 4 to 1
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Conservation practices
Brush Management
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing
Restoration pathway R4-2 State 4 to 2
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Restoration pathway R4-3 State 4 to 3
Disruption of natural fire regime, planting of exotic and invasive native woody species. This can be reversed in all states by mechanical removal, immediate follow-up stump treatment of root-sprouting species. Development and implementation of a follow-up maintenance prescribed burn program is necessary to prevent re-invasion. States two and three cannot go back to state 1 through this process.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Animal Community
LIVESTOCK – GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS:
Grazing by domestic livestock, primarily cattle, is one of the primary uses of the native grasslands. During the dormant period, the protein levels of the forage may be lower than the minimum needed to meet livestock requirements. These sites are also hayed.
WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 lies primarily within the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Prior to European settlement, this area consisted of diverse grassland habitats interspersed with varying densities of depressional wetlands and limited woody riparian corridors. These habitats provided critical life cycle components for the grassland birds, prairie dogs, and herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn that historically occupied this landscape. Diverse populations of small mammals and insects provided a bountiful prey base for raptors and omnivores such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and opossums. Native Americans, bobcats, wolves, and mountain lions occupied the apex predator niche. In addition, a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians thrived in this landscape.
The tallgrass prairie was a disturbance-driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary disturbances. Following European settlement, elimination of fire, widespread conversion to cropland, and other sources of habitat fragmentation significantly altered the appearance and functionality of the entire ecosystem. The reduced stability of the system is reflected by major changes in the composition and abundance of the native flora and fauna. Introduced and invading species further degrade the ecological integrity of the plant and animal communities. Bison and prairie dogs were historically keystone species, but free-roaming bison herds and nearly all prairie dogs have been extirpated in this region. The loss of bison and fire as ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native grasslands and the habitats that they provide. Fragmentation has reduced habitat quality for numerous area-sensitive species, as highlighted by the decline of the greater prairie chicken. Many grassland-nesting bird populations, such as dickcissel and Henslow's sparrow, are also declining.
Historically, an ecological mosaic of the sites provided habitat for species requiring unfragmented grasslands. Important habitat features and components found commonly or exclusively on modern-day remnants include upland nesting habitat for grassland birds and game birds; nesting and escape cover for waterfowl; forbs and insects for brood-rearing habitat; and a forage source for small and large herbivores.
In this fragmented landscape, native grassland bird populations face increasing competition from the opportunistic European starlings and house sparrows, and are subject to nest parasitism from brown-headed cowbirds.
Tree encroachment creates habitat that favors generalist species such as American robin and mourning dove, and provides perches for raptors, increasing the predation mortality.
Introduced species such as smooth brome, reed canarygrass, Kentucky bluegrass, nodding plumeless thistle, and Canada thistle further degrade the biological integrity of many of these remnant prairies.
1. REFERENCE STATE: The predominance of tall grasses and forbs in this community makes it ideal for grazers and mixed-feeders. Pollinating insects play a large role in maintaining the forb community, and provide a food source for grassland birds and other grassland-dependent species. The vegetative structural diversity provides habitat for reptiles, amphibians, and a wide array of native and introduced bird species. The abundant prey base supports populations of Swainson’s hawk, short-eared and great horned owls, and other grassland raptors.
The grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including moles, mice, ground squirrels, and whitetail deer. The structure of this plant community provides suitable thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores and grassland birds. Many wide-ranging predators utilize this plant community, including coyote, badger, red fox, and least- and long-tailed weasels.
As the plant community degrades to more midgrasses and fewer tallgrasses, less winter and escape cover are provided. It also provides less cover for predators.
Hydrological functions
Hydrology Functions
The very deep, moderately well-drained soils of the Loamy Floodplain site place it in classes B and C of the hydrological rating scale. The proximity of groundwater to the rooting zone of the deeply-rooted tallgrasses during the growing season provides an abundance of water for the tallgrass component of the vegetative community. Production can be very high.
Recreational uses
This site provides hunting for upland game species and white-tailed deer, along with hiking, photography, and bird watching. The wide varieties of plants which bloom from spring until fall have an aesthetic value that appeals to visitors.
Wood products
In MLRA 106, the Loamy Floodplain sites often have scattered populations of deciduous trees. These stands can provide firewood, select hardwood finishing lumber, and in some cases, cottonwoods can be used to make pallets. In the Invaded Woody Phase, eastern redcedar may provide posts, and cedar boards from the larger trees.
Other products
None of significance.
Other information
Site Development and Testing Plan:
Additional data collection and evaluation will be needed to develop this ESD to the Correlated level. This could include field activities to collect low-, medium-, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Field reviews of the project plan should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been derived from new and historic data collection and field observations from range-trained personnel.
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. Available online. http://hpcc.unl.edu. Accessed 12/05/16.
Johnsgaard, P.A. 2001. “The Nature of Nebraska.” University of Nebraska Press.
Muhs, Daniel R., E. Bettis III, J. Aleinikoff, J. McGeehin, J. Beann, G. Skipp, B. Marshall, H. Roberts, W. Johnson, and R. Benton.
"Origin and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Evidence from stratigraphy, chronology, sedimentology, and geochemistry" (2008). USGS Staff -- Published Research, Paper 162. Available online. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/162. Accessed 12/05/16.
Spomer, S. and L. Higley. 2001. The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. In: Bio-graphica International. Available online. http://drshigley.com/lgh/sctb/default.htm. Accessed 1/02/2018.
Personal communications with professional ecologists and wildlife experts.
Rolfsmeier, S.B. and G. Steinauer. 2010. "Terrestrial Ecological Systems and Natural Communities of Nebraska", (version IV). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program.
USDA, NRCS. National Water and Climate Center, Portland, OR. Available online. http://wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS.1997. National Range and Pasture Handbook.
USDA, NRCS. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center, Fort Collins, CO. Available online. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Available online. http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS Soil Surveys from: Butler, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Saunders, and Richardson Counties in Nebraska; and Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas.
Contributors
Initiated By Stu Mcfarland And Joe May. Revised By Doug Whisenhunt
Approval
David Kraft, 2/05/2019
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my appreciation for all of the work done by the Soils Team, the Local Practitioners Team, the Technical Team, the editor, and the QC and QA folks.
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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)
Contact for lead author
Date
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on
Annual Production
Indicators
Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are
not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range
of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial
distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be
mistaken for compaction on this site):
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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or
decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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:
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.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.