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Ecological site F114XA302IN

Acidic Upland Forest

Last updated: 9/26/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024

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General information

Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 114X–Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain

MLRA 114A makes up about 4,550 square miles (11,795 square kilometers). The three parts of this MRLA are mostly in the Till Plains Section of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. The western third of the western part is in the Highland Rim Section of the Interior Low Plateaus Province of the Interior Plains. The eastern half of the eastern part is in the Kanawha Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province of the Appalachian Highlands. Both large and small tributaries of the Ohio River dissect the nearly level to very steep glaciated uplands in this area. The major streams and rivers have well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level to gently sloping. Elevation ranges from 320 feet (100 meters) on the southernmost flood plain along the Ohio River to 1,250 feet (380 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief is mainly 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters), but it can be 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) along drainageways and streams. Also, the Ohio River bluffs are as much as 300 feet (90 meters) above the river valley floor.

Classification relationships

USFS: 222 Eastern Broadleaf Forest (Continental) Province.

Homoya's Natural Regions of Indiana: Bluegrass Region

The following NatureServe Explorer Ecological System has a high level of probability to match the ecological site found on these soils. Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest-Unique Identifier: CES202.898

Ecological site concept

Acidic Upland Forest sites were historically a mature hardwood forest community with oaks and hickories being the dominant canopy species. These upland sites are found on acidic soils. Decades of disturbance (logging, grazing, invasive vegetation, fire suppression, etc.) have impacted most sites that are still wooded. These disturbances have transitioned most sites to a mixed hardwood forest with less of an oak component that was historically present and an increase in maple, ash and tulip poplar. The majority of areas have now been converted for agricultural use.

Associated sites

F114XA502IN	Till Uplands Till Upland Forest. These sites are on upland till plains.

F114XA502IN

Till Uplands

Till Upland Forest. These sites are on upland till plains.

Similar sites

F114XA305IN	Non-Acidic Upland Forest The non-acidic upland forest sites also are dominated by a oak-hickory forest; however the species on these sites are those adapted to calcareous soils.

F114XA305IN

Non-Acidic Upland Forest

The non-acidic upland forest sites also are dominated by a oak-hickory forest; however the species on these sites are those adapted to calcareous soils.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Quercus velutina (2) Carya glabra
Shrub	(1) Vaccinium
Herbaceous	(1) Agrimonia (2) Desmodium

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Physiographic features

These sites are generally located on hillsides, ridges, and till plains.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Upland > Hill (2) Upland > Ridge (3) Till plain > Till plain
Runoff class	Low to high
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	340 – 1,200 ft
Slope	6 – 18%
Water table depth	6 – 60 in
Aspect	W, NW, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW

Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)

Runoff class	Not specified
Flooding frequency	Not specified
Ponding frequency	Not specified
Elevation	Not specified
Slope	25%
Water table depth	Not specified

Climatic features

About 60 percent of the precipitation falls during the freeze-free period. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during summer. Snowfall is common in winter. The freeze-free period averages about 180 days.

Table 4. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	153-158 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	178-181 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	46-48 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	153-159 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	177-181 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	46-48 in
Frost-free period (average)	156 days
Freeze-free period (average)	179 days
Precipitation total (average)	47 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) SEYMOUR 2 N [USC00127935], Seymour, IN
(2) LEXINGTON 3N [USC00124977], Lexington, IN
(3) MILFORD [USC00335268], Milford, OH
(4) NORTH VERNON 2 ESE [USC00126435], North Vernon, IN

Soil features

Soils associated with this site are acidic, often on black or gray shale. Series include Deputy, Gilpin, Jennings, Jessietown, Loudon, Loudonville, Mechanicburg, Rarden Scottsburg Trappist, Weddel, and Whitcomb.

Table 5. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Residuum – shale (2) Till (3) Loess (4) Slope alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Silt loam (2) Silty clay (3) Silty clay loam
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to well drained
Permeability class	Slow to moderately rapid
Depth to restrictive layer	24 – 70 in
Soil depth	17 – 60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	2%
Surface fragment cover >3"	2%
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	4 – 6 in
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	4.5 – 6
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	5%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	5%

Table 6. Representative soil features (actual values)

Drainage class	Not specified
Permeability class	Not specified
Depth to restrictive layer	Not specified
Soil depth	Not specified
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	3 – 7 in
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

The historic plant community of this ecological site is an oak-hickory forest. Common species on these sites may include black oak (Quercus velutina), white oak (Q. alba), chestnut oak (Q montana), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). This site is naturally dominated by stable, uneven-aged forests with the canopy dynamics being driven by gap-phase regeneration.

Decades of disturbance (logging, grazing, fire suppression, etc.) have impacted these sites. Many sites now have a mixed hardwood forest with much less of an oak component that was historically present. Severe or long-term disturbances have transitioned sites toward a community of shade-tolerant species such as maple, ash and tulip poplar.

State and transition model

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Standard diagram

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Invaded State

3. Agricultural State

T1A	-	Disturbance; introduction of non-native plants
T1B	-	Clearing; site preparation; seeding; agricultural management
R2A	-	Brush control; weed control; timber stand improvement inputs
T2A	-	Clearing; site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; agricultural management.
T3A	-	Abandonment

3.1.A.	-	Planting; weed control; grassland management
3.2.A.	-	Site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; row crop management

State 1
Reference State

This ecological site is an oak-hickory forest. Tree species on these sites may include black oak (Quercus velutina), white oak (Q. alba), chestnut oak (Q montana), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Red maple (Acer rubrum) and black cherry (Prunus serotina) may be present. The herbaceous layer will vary depending on soil depth, rock content, and aspect, but often includes numerous vines, forbs, and herbs including: Vitis spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Botrychium virginianum, Carex spp., Agrimonia spp., Polygonatum biflorum, Maianthemum spp., Galium circaezans, Geranium maculatum, Aquilegia canadensis, Asarum canadense, Erythronium americanum, Mitchella repens, and Polystichum acrostichoides.

Dominant plant species

black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
white oak (Quercus alba), tree
pignut hickory (Carya glabra), tree
shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), tree
blueberry (Vaccinium), shrub
flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), shrub
ticktrefoil (Desmodium), other herbaceous
agrimony (Agrimonia), other herbaceous
bedstraw (Galium), other herbaceous

Community 1.1
Reference Community

This ecological site is a mature hardwood forest. Common species on these sites may include black oak (Quercus velutina), white oak (Q. alba), chestnut oak (Q montana), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum).

Dominant plant species

black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
white oak (Quercus alba), tree
pignut hickory (Carya glabra), tree
shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), tree
blueberry (Vaccinium), shrub
agrimony (Agrimonia), other herbaceous
ticktrefoil (Desmodium), other herbaceous

State 2
Invaded State

This state is characterized by disturbance and subsequent increase in non-native invasive species. Species present will vary depending on disturbance severity and available seed sources.

Dominant plant species

oak (Quercus), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
hybrid hickory (Carya), tree
honeysuckle (Lonicera), shrub
spindletree (Euonymus), shrub
garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), other herbaceous

Community 2.1
Invaded community

This state is characterized by the establishment and eventual dominance of invasive species in the understory. Species will depend upon disturbance and seed sources. Sites can quickly be invaded by non-native plant species, and without management control, these prolific plants will alter the community composition of the understory/shrub layers and may negatively impact tree reproduction due to shading.

Dominant plant species

oak (Quercus), tree
hybrid hickory (Carya), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
honeysuckle (Lonicera), shrub
spindletree (Euonymus), shrub
garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), other herbaceous

State 3
Agricultural State

This state is characterized by the conversion of the site to agricultural use. Most common practice is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. A small portion of the historic acres are used for forage and pasture. Some mapunits in this group are not appropriate for cropland due to high slopes, rock content, thin soils, and potential for erosion. Many of these sites are utilized as unmanaged pasture.

Dominant plant species

tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
brome (Bromus), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
white clover (Trifolium repens), other herbaceous
red clover (Trifolium pratense), other herbaceous

Community 3.1
Cropland

This state is characterized by the conversion of the site to agricultural use. Most common practice is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. Many different crops and small grains may be grown on lower sloping sites - depending on management goals and objectives. Note: Many mapunits in this group are not appropriate for cropland due to high slopes, thin soils, and potential for erosion.

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea), other herbaceous
soybean (Glycine), other herbaceous

Community 3.2
Pastureland

This phase is characterized by forage or grazing agriculture. Different mixes of, generally, cool season grasses and forbs, largely clovers, are grown. Some of the mapunits in this initial PES grouping have high slopes that would preclude mechanical management. Often these sites are best left in ungrazed forest to protect soil resources.

Dominant plant species

tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
brome (Bromus), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

Pathway 3.1.A.
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Management inputs are required to transition a cropland community to a pasture community. Site preparation, seeding, and weed control will be required. Species planted will depend on management goals and objectives.

Pathway 3.2.A.
Community 3.2 to 3.1

Planting, either by conventional or no-till methods, of row crop. Management that keeps the site in row crop production. Transitioning a pastureland to a crop field will require site preparation, seeding, and weed control. Species will depend on management goals and objectives. Note: some mapunits in this group are not suitable for cropland conversion due to thin soils and high slopes.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Disturbance and lack of post-management inputs can result in numerous non-native plants gaining a foothold on these sites. Species will depend upon seed sources introduced. Common invasives include honeysuckle, euonymus, and garlic mustard.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

This state is characterized by the conversion of the site to agricultural use. Most common practice is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. Many different crops and small grains may be grown on lower sloping sites - depending on management goals and objectives. NOTE: Many mapunits in this group are not appropriate for cropland due to high slopes, thin soils, and potential for erosion.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Treatment and control of non-native vegetation will help restore these sites. Additional forest management activities may be needed including planting, selective thinning, and brush control.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Transitioning an invasive wooded state to an cropland or pastureland community will require substantial management inputs. Clearing, site preparation, seeding, and weed control will be required. Species will depend on management goals and objectives. For pastures, many landowners utilize mixes of, generally, cool season grasses and forbs, largely clovers, are grown. Transitioning to a crop field will also require site preparation, seeding, and weed control. Note: Some of the mapunits in this initial PES grouping have high slopes that would preclude mechanical management. Often these sites are best left in ungrazed forest to protect soil resources.

Restoration pathway T3A
State 3 to 2

Agricultural sites that are abandoned will natural transition from a weedy herbaceous community to shrubs/saplings to a woodland state. Numerous non-native and native plants may be present depending on past use and adjacent seed sources. Fast growing trees such as maples, ash, locusts and poplars are often present on these sites.

Additional community tables

Supporting information

Inventory data references

No field monitoring was conducted as part of this PES development. Future ESD development will result in plant community edits, soil mapunits being added or removed from this grouping, and/or additions or modifications to the narratives, tables, vegetation descriptions and state and transition model.

Other references

Braun, E. Lucy. 2001. Deciduous forests of eastern North America. Caldwell, N.J.: Blackburn Press.

Homoya, M. A., Abrell, D. B., Aldrich, J. R., & Post, T. W. (1985). The Natural Regions of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science , 94, 245-269.

Kartesz, J. T. (2011). Density Gradient Map Samples Produced From BONAP's Floristic Synthesis. Retrieved 12 12, 2011, from Biota of North America Program: http://bonap.org/diversity/diversity/diversity.html

NatureServe. (2011). An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, VA, USA [Online: www. NatureServe. org/explorer] .

Jackson, Marion T. 1997. The Natural heritage of Indiana. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, published in association with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Academy of Science.

USDA. (2007). Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections for the Conterminous United States. Washington, DC: USDA - Forest Service.

USDA. (2006). Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. U. S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.

USGS. (2010). LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings. Retrieved from http://www.landfire.gov

Whitaker, John O., Charles J. Amlaner, Marion T. Jackson, George R. Parker, and Peter Evans Scott. 2012. Habitats and ecological communities of Indiana presettlement to present. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Approval

Greg Schmidt, 9/26/2024

Acknowledgments

PES documents developed for adjacent MLRAs in Indiana and Ohio served as a source of information as these regions often shared similar soil series with MLRA 114A. NRCS county soil surveys where a valuable reference including tree species observed on site by NRCS staff. Soil Survey and NRCS Indiana resource soil scientists contributed field observation, field notes, and extensive soil mapping expertise.

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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)	A Arends, ESI Specialist
Contact for lead author
Date	09/27/2024
Approved by	Greg Schmidt
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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Invaded State

3. Agricultural State

T1A	-	Disturbance; introduction of non-native plants
T1B	-	Clearing; site preparation; seeding; agricultural management
R2A	-	Brush control; weed control; timber stand improvement inputs
T2A	-	Clearing; site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; agricultural management.
T3A	-	Abandonment

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Reference Community

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Invaded community

State 3 submodel, plant communities

3.1. Cropland

3.2. Pastureland

3.1.A.	-	Planting; weed control; grassland management
3.2.A.	-	Site preparation; tillage; seeding; weed control; row crop management

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F114XA302IN

Acidic Upland Forest

Last updated: 9/26/2024 Accessed: 11/13/2024

General information

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 9/26/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024