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): 112X–Cherokee Prairies
MLRA 112 (Cherokee Prairies) is in Kansas (48 percent), Oklahoma (29 percent), and Missouri (23 percent) makes up about 20,885 square miles (54,092 square kilometers).
This area is in the Osage Plains Section of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. It is a gently sloping to rolling dissected plains. Elevation ranges from 120 to 1,540 feet (30 to 470 meters). Even though the area is thoroughly dissected, local relief typically is only 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters) and major valleys generally are less than 8 feet (25 meters) below the adjacent uplands.
The extent of the major hydrologic unit area is made up of major rivers such as the Neosho, Verdigris, Osage, and Marais des Cygnes. The Harry Truman reservoir lies in the western part of Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and is on the Osage and Grand Rivers.
This area is dominantly underlain by Pennsylvanian and in some areas, Permian and Mississippian sandstone, shale, and limestone bedrock. The northern part of the area has a thin mantle of loess. The dominant soils within this region are Mollisols and Entisols. Alfisols occur in the eastern part of the MLRA. There are small areas of Vertisols throughout the MLRA. It also contains small areas of Vertisols. Soils in this region are developed in residuum, loess, colluvium, and alluvium. These soils were developed under big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass on the western part of this area. The eastern part of the area and the valleys in the western part support hardwoods, mainly northern red oak, white oak, and shagbark hickory with islands of tall prairie grasses being common. Major wildlife species of this area are deer, cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, and bobwhite quail.
This MLRA is mostly rangeland, hayland, and pasture. More than two-fifths of the area supports pasture grasses and legumes. The western part of this area generally supports tall prairie grasses. Big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass are the main species. The cropland is used to produce winter wheat, soybeans, corn, grain sorghum, and other feed grains. The forested areas are mainly on steep valley sides and in low-lying areas on flood plains.
Classification relationships
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 112 - Cherokee Prairies
US Forest Service Ecoregions (1994-1995):
Domain name: Humid Temperate Domain
Division name: Prairie Division
Province name: Prairie Parkland (Temperate) Province
Province code: 251
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Wet-Mesic Bottomland Prairie.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Helianthus grosseserratus Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002024).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002): This ecological site occurs throughout the Cherokee Plains Subsection, and in southern Land Type Associations of the Scarped Osage Plains Subsection.
NatureServe (2018):
Class: Shrub & Herb Vegetation
Subclass: Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland
Formation: Temperate Grassland & Shrubland
Division: Central North American Grassland & Shrubland
Macrogroup: Central Lowlands Tallgrass Prairie
Group: Central Tallgrass Prairie
Alliance: Central Dry & Dry-Mesic Tallgrass Prairie
Ecological site concept
The Loamy Floodplain ecological sites are widespread along river and stream floodplains often adjacent to the current channel. They are often associated with Wet Floodplain ecological sites on larger floodplains, which are in backswamp positions farther from the stream channel. This site is made up of soils that are very deep and loamy, and are subject to flooding.
The Clayey Upland ecological site is above the Loamy Floodplain ecological site. This site is made up of poorly to moderately well drained soils with silt loam to silty clay surface layers and clayey subsoils. It has a parent material of loess over residuum and residuum from limestone and shale. It is generally on a slope range of 1 to 15 percent.
The Loamy Upland ecological site is above the Loamy Floodplain ecological site. This site is made up of somewhat poorly to well drained soils with silt loam, loam, and silty clay loam surface layers and has a parent material of loess over residuum and residuum from limestone, sandstone, and shale. It is generally on a slope range of 1 to 15 percent.
The Wet Terrace ecological site is slightly above the Loamy Floodplain ecological site. This site is made up of poorly to somewhat poorly drained soils with silt loam surface layers, and loamy to clayey subsoils. It has a parent material of clayey and loamy alluvium. It is generally on a slope range of 0 to 2 percent.
The Loamy Terrace ecological site is slightly above the Loamy Floodplain ecological site. This site is made up of moderately to well drained soils with silt loam and loam surface layers and has a parent material of loamy and clayey alluvium. It is generally on a slope range of 0 to 3 percent.
The Wet Floodplain ecological site is similar to the Loamy Floodplain ecological site because of the similar landscape position. However, the Wet Floodplain is wetter with a shallower water table (6-24 inches).
Figure 1. Location of Loamy Floodplain ecological sites for MLRA 112.
The Loamy Floodplain ecological site is located on floodplains and floodplain steps, with slopes of less than 2 percent. This ecological site generates some runoff to adjacent lower floodplain sites and receives some runoff from uplands. This site is subject to flooding.
The block diagram (adapted from Preston, 1977) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “4” on the figure and is typically adjacent to the active stream channel. Wet Floodplain (3) sites are often adjacent to this site, farther from the stream channel. The dashed lines within the Wet Floodplain area on the diagram indicate the various soils included in the ecological site.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms
(1) Flood plain (2) Flood-plain step
Runoff class
Very low to low
Flooding duration
Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency
Occasional to frequent
Ponding frequency
None
Elevation
460–1,560 ft
Slope
2%
Water table depth
24–72 in
Aspect
Aspect is not a significant factor
Climatic features
MLRA 112 (Cherokee Prairies) has a continental climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly influences ecological communities by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.
Representative climatic features shown in Table 3 were derived from the climate stations selected for use within the MLRA.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range)
178-190 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)
193-211 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)
42-46 in
Frost-free period (actual range)
165-191 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)
188-215 days
Precipitation total (actual range)
42-46 in
Frost-free period (average)
182 days
Freeze-free period (average)
202 days
Precipitation total (average)
44 in
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic range
Actual range
Bar
Line
Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
Bar
Line
Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
(1) NOWATA [USC00346485], Nowata, OK
(2) HOLDENVILLE 2SSE [USC00344235], Holdenville, OK
(3) WAGONER [USC00349247], Wagoner, OK
(4) COLUMBUS [USC00141740], Columbus, KS
(5) ELDORADO SPRINGS [USC00232511], El Dorado Springs, MO
Soils that make up the Loamy Floodplain ecological site have no rooting restriction. They were formed under a mixture of woodland and prairie vegetation, with periodic depositional flood events. The organic matter content is high, and the parent material is alluvium. These soils have silt loam to silty clay loam surface horizons, loamy substrata, and are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Cleora, Madill, Radley, Roxana, Severn, Tullahassee, and Verdigris.
The accompanying picture of the Verdigris series shows the nearly uniform dark silt loam alluvium characteristic of these soils. Picture from Peer (2004).
Figure 9. Verdigris series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material
(1) Alluvium
Surface texture
(1) Silt loam
(2) Fine sandy loam
(3) Silty clay loam
Family particle size
(1) Loamy
Drainage class
Moderately well drained to well drained
Permeability class
Moderate to moderately rapid
Soil depth
60–80 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"
2%
Surface fragment cover >3"
Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)
6–12 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)
Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)
2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)
Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)
5.1–7.3
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)
2%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)
Not specified
Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community is characterized as a tallgrass prairie unit dominated by big bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, Eastern gamagrass and a wide variety of prairie wildflowers while other species such as Culver’s root, Michigan lily, and bunchflower added to the mix of floodplain prairie species. Slightly higher areas within or at the edge of the floodplains supported widely scattered bur oak, pin oak, elm, shellbark hickory, and willow.
These areas periodically flooded. In addition to the flooding, fire played a key role, likely occurring at least once every three years. Fire removed dead plant litter and provided room for a lush growth of prairie vegetation. Fire also controlled woody species. During fire free intervals woody species would have increased in abundance and spread out onto the prairie. Grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison and deer, furthermore impacted these sites. Their activities altered the composition, fuel loads and structure of the vegetation, adding to the diversity of structure and composition.
Today, Loamy Floodplains are nearly extirpated from the region as the former floodplain prairies have been converted to intensive agriculture or non-native pasture. While re-establishing prairie on agriculture sites is beneficial to wildlife, restoration to the reference state from agricultural land is a long term proposition, potentially expensive and with uncertain outcomes.
The state and transition model is provided to diagram the complex interactions briefly discussed here. The model includes states, plant communities, transitions, and restoration pathways detailing what experts have gathered from available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. There may be other states or plant communities, with additional transitions and restoration pathways, not shown in the model, as well as noticeable variations within those illustrated.
The state and transition model consists of six states and seven community phases. These states and community phases interact based on the timing, intensity, and frequency of prescribe burning and prescribed grazing, flooding events, introduction of invasive species, and tillage practices. The Reference State (1) is typically burned every 1 to 3 years. Fire removes dead plant litter and provides room for a lush growth of prairie vegetation. Fires and intense flooding events also keep woody species from invading the rangeland. The Woody Invaded State (2) is characterized by a fire frequency and return interval greater than 20 years and a canopy cover percent between 40 and 60 percent. The Prior-Tilled State (3) consists of sites that were allowed to regenerate through natural revegetation or artificially reseeded after tillage practices have ceased. The Invasive Herbaceous State (4) is characterized by invasive, non-native grasses and forbs. The Cropland State (5) consists of land converted to agricultural cropland and dominated by row crops. The Pastureland State (6) is characterized by seeded grasses, usually cool season, that receive fertilizer and irrigation inputs to maintain the pasture, often used for grazing.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
The Reference State is dominated by warm season grasses and a wide variety of prairie forbs. In some areas, woody species occur in small groves or as scattered individuals across the landscape. Within this state are two plant community phases that can occur and will transition back and forth depending on fire return intervals and flooding events. Longer fire return intervals with a lack of flooding events, will allow woody species to increase such as prairie willow, dogwoods, and wild plum. When fire return intervals shorten, these woody species will decrease or be eliminated.
Characteristics and indicators. An introduction and/or increase of woody plants can occur in the Reference State and initiates the transition to the Woody State. The lengthening of fire return interval, lack of fire intensity, and lack of significant flooding, the greater the chance of woody species to establish and increase. Within the Reference State, the woody vegetation will generally be less than 15 percent canopy cover per acre. An introduction of seed from introduced or invasive plants can occur in the Reference State and is the starting point for transition to the Invasive Weedy State. If introduced or invasive plants are present, they should not exceed those percentages shown in the plant communities identified in the Invasive Weedy State. Tillage has not been a disturbance in the Reference State.
Resilience management. The Reference State is maintained through fire, flooding, and management. Longer fire return intervals and a lack of flooding events will allow woody species to increase. When fire return intervals shorten, or when there is significant flooding, these woody species will decrease or be eliminated. Management will include strategies to prevent non-native seed introduction (woody or herbaceous) and scouting with targeted control methods if initial establishment occurs.
The Reference Plant Community is characterized as a grassland that may have small groves of trees and shrubs around the site. It is dominated by native tall grasses such as big bluestem and eastern gamagrass. Some of the trees and shrubs that could be seen across the landscape include bur oak, pin oak, and prairie willow. This plant community is controlled by frequent flooding and a shorter fire interval (1-3 years) which results in a reduction in woody species.
Figure 10. 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
4250
5100
6800
Forb
500
600
800
Shrub/Vine
125
150
200
Tree
125
150
200
Total
5000
6000
8000
State 2 Woody Invaded
The Woody Invaded State is dominated by a shrub and/or plant community. The increase and spread of shrubs and trees resulted from an absence of fire and/or flooding and will be accelerated by seed introduction and spread. Woody plants can increase up to 34% from a lack of fire according to a study from 1937 to 1969, in contrast to a 1% increase on burned areas (Bragg and Hulbert, 1976). Periodic burning and significant flooding events will hinder the establishment of most woody species and favor forbs and grasses. However, not all unburned areas have a woody plant invasion. Birds, small mammals, and livestock are instrumental in the distribution and spread of seed for most tree and shrub species common to this site. The speed of encroachment varies considerably.
Characteristics and indicators. Hydrologic function in the Woody Invaded State is affected by the amount of shrub and/or tree cover compared to the Reference State. Canopy interception loss can vary from 25.4% to 36.7% (Thurow and Hester, 1997). A small rainfall event is usually retained in the foliage and does not reach the litter layer at the base of the tree. Only when canopy storage is reached and exceeded does precipitation fall to the soil surface. Interception losses associated with the accumulation of leaves, twigs, and branches at the bases of trees are considerably higher than losses associated with the canopy. The decomposed material retains approximately 40% of the water that is not retained in the canopy (Thurow and Hester, 1997). Soil properties affected include biological activity, infiltration rates, and soil fertility. The Woody Invaded State has not had tillage as a disturbance and could have plants identified in the Invasive Herbaceous State and/or the Pastureland State present on the site.
Resilience management. The Woody Invaded State is characterized as a degraded reference site that has experienced fire suppression for 20 or more years, a lack of significant flooding events, and insufficient woody plant control methods such as mechanical, chemical, biological. The lack of sunlight, due to shading by the shrubs and/or trees, will favor cool-season grasses that can reduce fire intensity if fire timing is during their active growth period and would help sustain the Woody Invaded State.
This community is characterized as a woody invaded savanna. It has increased tree and shrub species due to fire suppression (20+ years) and a lack of flooding events. Native groundcover species such as big bluestem have decreased and non-native species such as tall fescue have increased. Common woody species include bur oak, pin oak, shellbark hickory, and American hazelnut.
The Prior-Tilled State consists of abandoned cropland where the original plant community was destroyed through inversion by tillage but revegetation has occurred. Two plant communities are identified in the Prior-Tilled State and are identified by revegetation factors. The communities are identified as being naturally revegetated through succession (Go-back) or planted/seeded to species similar in composition to the reference plant community (Reseed). Plant species composition in the Prior-Tilled State is difficult to define due to the variability of plant communities that can exist.
Characteristics and indicators. The Prior-Tilled State is an alternative state since the energy, hydrologic, and nutrient cycles are significantly altered to that of the Reference State in its natural disturbance regime. Repeated tillage and planting of annual crops resulted in major changes in soil conditions. Reductions in organic matter, mineral levels, soil structure, oxygen levels, and water holding capacity, along with increased runoff/erosion and shifts in the populations of soil-dwelling organisms, are common in this state. The extent of these changes are dependent upon duration of cropping, crop types grown, and other management practices. Bulk density, aggregate stability, soil structure, and plant functional and structural groups are not fully restored to that of the Reference State. Mechanical tillage can destroy soil aggregation. Soil aggregates are an example of dynamic soil property change. Aggregate stability is critical for infiltration, root growth, and resistance to water and wind erosion (Brady and Weil, 2008).
Resilience management. The Prior-Tilled State is a result of a land use management decision and is sustained by diminished soil function. Implementation of practices that positively impact plant community diversity, energy flow, and nutrient and water cycle, should benefit rehabilitation. Documentation does not support rehabilitation to a Reference State within known management time frames.
This plant community occurs on areas that were formerly farmed. When tillage operations were discontinued, the areas were allowed to revegetate or “go back” naturally in contrast to artificial reseeding with a selected species or group of species. This is a slow, gradual process that entails many years and many successional changes or stages in the plant community.
The speed and extent of revegetation depends on the size of the area, level of grazing management and the proximity of the area to existing seed sources. In the initial stages of revegetation the site is usually dominated by annual forbs such as annual ragweed, great ragweed, Canadian horseweed, common sunflower, annual marshelder and golden tickseed. Gradually these are replaced by annual grasses including prairie threeawn, crabgrass, prairie cupgrass, little barley, cheatgrass and bearded sprangletop.
Usually plant succession will progress until the plant community is dominated by perennial grasses and grasslike plants including composite dropseed, foxtail barley, marsh bristlegrass, silver beardgrass, buffalograss, Torrey’s rush and sand dropseed. These plants can form a stable community. In time, with prescribed grazing management, other perennial grasses and forbs common in the Reference State return to the site. Adjoining areas with seed sources of big bluestem, Indiangrass and other tallgrasses may enhance recovery when included in a planned grazing system which includes significant growing season rest periods.
Some go-back areas are invaded by trees and shrubs. The more common include Siberian elm, common hackberry, eastern redcedar, eastern cottonwood, black willow, roughleaf dogwood and coralberry. Occasional burning effectively controls these woody plants.
This plant community occurs on areas that were formerly farmed. When farming operations ended, the area was seeded and established to a mixture of plants, usually native species common in the Reference State. Most seeding mixtures consisted of a blend of grasses that included big bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass and little bluestem. In some locations seed of additional plants such as eastern gamagrass, prairie bundleflower and Maximilian sunflower were included in the mixture.
Once these areas become fully established, production is comparable to that of the Reference State.
When reseeded areas and areas supporting native rangeland exist in the same pasture, they seldom are utilized at the same intensity because domestic livestock usually prefer plants on the native rangeland areas. When feasible, reseeded plant communities should be managed as separate pastures or units. These areas are also generally productive when managed for hay production.
Some seeded areas are invaded by trees and shrubs during the establishment period of the desired plants. These invader species commonly include Siberian elm, common hackberry, eastern redcedar, eastern cottonwood, black willow, and roughleaf dogwood. Occasional burning is effective in controlling the establishment of these woody plants.
The Invasive Herbaceous State is identified by a significant presence of non-native herbaceous plant species and is characterized by the composition of plant species and soil functions that govern the ecological processes.
Characteristics and indicators. Species that define this state include sericea lespedeza. Sericea lespedeza community phases are partially defined by the total production exceeding 15% by weight on a per acre basis. Ecological processes within this state that are affected and differ from the Reference State are hydrologic cycle and nutrient cycle. Water content and infiltration rates are also affected by the species in the plant community phase.
Resilience management. The Invasive Herbaceous State is sustained through continued reduction in health and vigor of native plant species and the increase in health and vigor, including seed production, of non-native herbaceous species. Ensuring a lack of forage quality due to season of grazing, and type of grazing animal, of the non-native plants will deter grazing of non-native plant species and increase grazing pressure on native plant species. A general lack of treatment measures for individual species control, maintenance, and/or eradication will also allow persistence of this state.
Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is present at levels exceeding 15% by weight on a per acre basis and governing the ecological processes and potential uses of this community. Sericea lespedeza is invasive and listed as a statewide noxious weed in Kansas. It competes with the native plant community for sunlight, water, and nutrients, and produces allelopathic compounds (toxic chemicals that negatively impact the germination and/or growth of other plants). It also contains tannins, that limit palatability, and produces copious amounts of seed that remain viable in the soil for decades. This species will quickly invade rangelands without proactive control measures.
Resilience management. Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is extremely competitive with its allelopathic nature, lower palatability compared to native species, and good seedling vigor. To prevent further loss of native plant composition, ensure native plant vigor remains high via a forage-animal balance based on forage composition and palatability, utilize spot application of herbicides to control new and existing sericea lespedeza plants, and consider diversifying grazing livestock type. Control measures for sericea lespedeza involve herbicide application following extension recommendations and product label for proper rates and timing. Utilization and control can also be provided through sheep and goat grazing. Conventional management practices such as prescribed grazing with cattle and dormant-season fire have been less than effective in preventing the spread of sericea lespedeza in rangelands. Some suppression of sericea lespedeza has been observed after mowing or summer burning. Late summer fire significantly reduces seed production the year of burn. An integrated approach is needed when treating this species.
The Cropland State is dominated by row crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. It occurs on areas that have been mechanically tilled and converted to agricultural cropland. After tillage, efforts are then taken to plant various crops through a conservation cropping system.
This state is common. Many sites have been converted to agricultural cropland.
Resilience management. This state is a result of a land use management decision.
This community occurs on areas where land use has been converted through mechanical tillage to intensive agriculture by conservation cropping. Primary crops are corn, soybeans, and wheat.
The Pastureland State is identified by a significant presence of non-native herbaceous plant species and is characterized by the composition of plant species, agronomic inputs from direct fertilization, and soil functions that govern the ecological processes. Sites consisting of introduced species and managed for their continued presence or spread should not be evaluated within this model and instead, consider using a separate land use model such as Pasture.
Characteristics and indicators. Tall fescue, smooth brome, and Kentucky bluegrass are partially defined by the total production exceeding 40% by weight on a per acre basis. Ecological processes within this state that are affected and differ from the Reference State are hydrologic cycle and nutrient cycle. Water content and infiltration rates are also affected by the species in the plant community phase.
Resilience management. Pastureland is sustained through continued reduction in health and vigor of native plant species and the increase in health and vigor, including seed production, of non-native herbaceous species. Agronomic inputs from direct fertilization or nutrient-rich runoff from adjacent crop fields will provide advantages for non-native cool-season grass species growth. Ensuring a lack of forage quality due to season of grazing, type of grazing animal, or chemical composition of the non-native plants will deter grazing of non-native plant species and increase grazing pressure on native plant species. A general lack of treatment measures for individual species control, maintenance, and/or eradication will also allow persistence of this state.
Tall fescue, smooth brome, and Kentucky bluegrass (all being cool-season grasses) are present at levels exceeding 40% by weight on a per acre basis and are governing the ecological processes and potential uses of this community. Timing of plant growth has shifted from summer (May through August) and now mostly occurs in spring and fall (March to May and September to November). Fire intensity of late spring burns can be greatly impeded due to the significant quantity of cool-season grass present. Any one or a combination of these species can be considered an invaded community. Soil dynamic property changes include biological activity and soil fertility.
Resilience management. Tall fescue, smooth brome, and Kentucky bluegrass are sustained or increased with nutrient additions and absence of fire. To prevent further loss of native plant composition, avoid nutrient additions, ensure native plant vigor remains high via a forage-animal balance based on forage composition and seasonal availability, utilize herbicides when natives are dormant but cool-seasons are actively growing, and utilize consecutive late spring prescribed burns. Chemical control will involve herbicide application following extension recommendations and product label for proper rates and timing. Intensifying grazing pressure (leaf removal of cool-season grasses) during the spring and fall and removing grazing pressure during the summer will reduce cool-season grass vigor and allow native warm-season plants an opportunity to maximize growth and gain vigor. Prescribed burning will require sufficient standing dead material in order to conduct a burn in late spring as warm-season grasses initiate growth. If the goal is continued presence or spread of tall fescue, smooth brome, or Kentucky bluegrass, consider using a separate land use model such as Pasture.
Long term fire suppression (20+ years) and no significant flooding events will transition the Reference State to a Woody Invaded State. A lack of fire and flooding events will allow woody species to establish and increase, shifting the site to dominant trees and shrubs with a reduction in desirable grasses and forbs in the understory.
Transition T1B State 1 to 4
A transition from Reference to an Invasive Herbaceous State occurs when the site is invaded by Sericea lespedeza with the total production exceeding 15% by weight on a per acre basis.
Transition T1C State 1 to 5
Tillage (or no-till if that management style is preferred) and seeding of agricultural crops will transition this site from a Reference State to a Cropland State.
Restoration pathway R2A State 2 to 1
Restoration actions to return to a Reference State may include machinery woody removal and prescribed fire every 1-3 years. A significant flooding event may also remove a large number of woody species. Efforts will be costly, labor-intensive, and can take many years, if not decades. Once canopy levels reach greater than 20 percent, estimated cost to remove trees is very expensive and includes high energy inputs.
Transition T2B State 2 to 5
Tillage (or no-till if that management style is preferred) and seeding of agricultural crops will transition this site from a Woody Invaded State to a Cropland State.
Transition T4A State 4 to 5
Tillage (or no-till if that management style is preferred) and seeding of agricultural crops will transition this site from an Invasive Herbaceous State to a Cropland State.
Transition T5A State 5 to 3
Allowing the site to naturally revegetate as it regenerates, or reseeding the site with native grasses and forbs with proper management afterwards will transition this site from a Cropland to a Prior-Tilled State.
Transition T5B State 5 to 6
Seeding of cool season grasses and forbs and proper pasture management will transition this Cropland to a Pastureland.
Transition T6A State 6 to 4
A transition from Pastureland to an Invasive Herbaceous State occurs when the site is invaded by Sericea lespedeza with the total production exceeding 15% by weight on a per acre basis.
Transition T6B State 6 to 5
Tillage (or no-till if that management style is preferred) and seeding of agricultural crops will transition this site from a Pastureland to a Cropland.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Game species that utilize this ecological site include: White-tailed Deer will utilize this ecological site for browse (plant leaves in the growing season, seeds and soft mast in the fall/winter). This site type also can provide escape cover.
Migratory Waterbirds: Sora, Common Snipe and Virginia Rail Furbearers: Muskrat, Beaver, and Mink.
Bird species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition:
Breeding birds: Sedge Wren, Red-Winged Blackbird, Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, and Common Yellowthroat.
Migratory birds: Sora, Virginia Rail, Sedge Wren, Least Bittern, Yellow Rail and Common Snipe.
Amphibian and reptile species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata triseriata), Plains Leopard Frog (Rana blairi), Graham’s Crayfish Snake (Regina grahamii), Midland Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi wrightourm), and prairies with crawfish burrows may have Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa).
Small mammals associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), and Mink (Mustela vison).
Many native insect species are likely associated with this ecological site, especially native bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and moths, and crickets, grasshoppers and katydids. However information on these groups is often lacking enough resolution to assign them to individual ecological sites.
Insect species known to be associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), Cordgrass Planthopper (Prokelisia crocea), Dion Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dion), Duke’s Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dukesi), native bees (Lasioglossum hartii, Hesperapis carinata, Svastra atripes and Cemolobus ipomoeae), Bullate Meadow katydid (Orchelimum bullatum) and Sedge Grasshopper (Stethophyma celatum).
Other invertebrates: Grassland Crayfish (Procambarus gracilis)
*This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013
Other information
Forestry
Management: This ecological site is not recommended for traditional timber management activity. Historically this site was dominated by a ground cover of native prairie grasses and forbs. Some scattered open grown trees may have also been present. May be suitable for non-traditional forestry uses such as windbreaks, environmental plantings, alley cropping (a method of planting, in which rows of trees or shrubs are interspersed with rows of crops) or woody bio-fuels.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Reference and alternative states within the state-and-transition model are not yet well- documented or supported and will require additional field sampling for refinement. Inventory Data References (narrative)
Loamy lowland ecological site for Kansas and Oklahoma in old range sites.
Other references
Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000a. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Ozark/Ouachitas. American Bird Conservancy. Brentwood, Missouri.
Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000b. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Dissected Till Plains. American Bird Conservancy. Brentwood, Missouri
Heitzman, J.R. and J.E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies and moths of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
NatureServe. 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Nigh, Timothy A., & Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Pitts, D.E. and W.D. McGuire. 2000. Wildlife management for Missouri landowners. 3rd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Schwartz, C.W., E.R. Schwartz and J.J. Conley. 2001. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia and Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2004. Soil Survey of Jasper County, Missouri. Washington D.C.
U.S. Dept. of Agric. Soil Conservation Service. 1977. Soil Survey of Vernon County, Missouri. Washington D.C.
Contributors
Doug Wallace, ACES, MO Andrea Brazell, Ecological Site Specialist, Clinton, MO Chris Tecklenburg, Ecological Site Specialist Hutchinson, KS Doug Spencer, State Grazinglands Specialist, Salina, KS Gene Campbell, Soil Survey Project Leader, Clinton, MO
Approval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 11/05/2024
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)
Chris Tecklenburg/Revision 12-10-2020
David Kraft, John Henry, Doug Spencer and Dwayne Rice/original authors 1-15-2005.
Contact for lead author
State Rangeland Management Specialist for Kansas.
Date
12/10/2020
Approved by
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on
Annual Production
Indicators
Number and extent of rills:
No natural rill formation common or part of the Loamy Floodplain ecological site.
Presence of water flow patterns:
There are no water flow patterns evidenced by litter, soil, or gravel redistribution, or pedestalling of vegetation or stones that break the flow of water as a result of overland flow.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
There is no evidence of pedestals or terracettes that would indicate the movement of soil by water and/or by wind on this site.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are
not bare ground):
Less than 5% bare ground is found on this site. It is the remaining ground cover after accounting for ground surface covered by vegetation (basal and canopy [foliar] cover), litter, standing dead vegetation, gravel/rock, and visible biological crust (e.g., lichen, mosses, algae).
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No evidence of accelerated water flow resulting in downcutting of the soil.
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
No wind-scoured or blowout areas where the finer particles of the topsoil have blown away, sometimes leaving residual gravel, rock, or exposed roots on the soil surface. Also, there are no areas of redeposited soil onto this site from another site due to the wind, i.e., depositional areas.
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
No evidence of litter movement (i.e., dead plant material that is in contact with the soil surface).
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range
of values):
Soil surfaces may be stabilized by soil organic matter which has been fully incorporated into aggregates at the soil surface, adhesion of decomposing organic matter to the soil surface, and biological crusts. A soil stability kit will score a range from 5-6.
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Verdigris OSD:
Ap--0 to 18 cm (0 to 7 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--18 to 71 cm (7 to 28 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; moderate medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable; scattered worm casts; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 28 to 86 cm (11 to 34 inches).]
AC--71 to 117 cm (28 to 46 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 4/3) dry; weak medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable; scattered worm casts; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. [23 to 76 cm (9 to 30 inches) thick]
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial
distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Functional and structural groups are that of the Reference Plant Community (see ESD for complete plant list). Note changes to plant communities if different than that of the functional and structural groups in #12..
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be
mistaken for compaction on this site):
There is no evidence of a compacted soil layer less than 6 inches from the soil surface. Soil structure is similar to that described in Indicator 9. Compacted physical features will include platy, blocky, dense soil structure over less dense soil layers, horizontal root growth, and increase bulk density (measured by weighing a known volume of oven-dry soil).
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:
Group 1 Warm season grasses Dominant 83%. )3200-4950) lbs. big bluestem 2000-2400, eastern gamagrass 450-900, Indiangrass 300-600, prairie cordgrass 225-450, switchgrass 225-450, all other species 10-40 lbs.; Florida paspalum, composite dropseed, marsh muhly, marsh bristlegrass.
Sub-dominant:
None
Other:
Group 3. Forbs Minor 10%.260-600lbs. See ESD for complete list
Group 2. Cool-season grasses Trace 2%. 40-150 lbs. all species 10-40; Canada wildrye, prairie Junegrass, sedge, Virginia wildrye
Group 4. Shrubs Trace 2.5% 0-150lbs; all species 0-50 lbs each; chokecherry, American black elderberry, false indigo bush
Group 5 Tree trace 2.5% 0-150 lbs. all species 0-50 lbs each; black walnut, bur oak, common hackberry.
Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or
decadence):
Recruitment of plants is occurring and there is a mixture of many age classes of plants. The majority of the plants are alive and vigorous. Some mortality and decadence is expected for the site, due to drought, unexpected wildfire, or a combination of the two events. This would be expected for both dominant and subdominant groups.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Plant litter is distributed evenly throughout the site. There is no restriction to plant regeneration due to depth of litter. When prescribed burning is practiced, there will be little litter the first half of the growing season.
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
All species (e.g., native, seeded, and weeds) alive in the year of the evaluation, are included in the determination of total above ground production. Site potential (total annual production) ranges from 5,000 lbs in a below-average rainfall year and 8,000 lbs in an above-average rainfall year. The representative value for this site is 6,000 lbs production per year.
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:
There are no noxious weeds present. Invasive plants make up a small percentage of plant community, and invasive brush species are < 5% canopy.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Plants on site exhibit the required vigor and growth to be able to reproduce vegetatively or by seed. Current management activities do not adversely effect the capability of plants to reproduce.
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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