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

This MLRA is a loess-covered till plain with broad, nearly level summits and steeper slopes in areas. dissected by tributaries of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. It is used to produce cash crops, feed grain, and livestock. This MLRA is in Indiana (47 percent), Illinois (38 percent), and Ohio (15 percent) in four separate areas. It makes up about 10,388 square miles (26,904 square kilometers).

This area is in the Till Plains section of the Central Lowland province of the Interior Plains. Well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces are along the major streams and rivers. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level or gently sloping. Steep slopes are along rivers and streams. Elevation ranges from 310 feet (90 meters) on the southernmost flood plains to 1,340 feet (410 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief is mainly 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters) but can be 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) along drainageways and streams.
The Little Miami River flows through the part of this MLRA in Ohio. The Ohio River flows along the southernmost boundary in some parts of this area in Ohio. The Kaskaskia River flows through the part of this area in Illinois. Tributaries to the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers drain this MLRA.

This area is covered dominantly by loess and Illinoian-age till or outwash. Most of the loess is Late Wisconsin-age Peoria Loess. In some places the Peoria Loess in underlain by Early Wisconsin-age Roxana Silt or by sandier or grittier loess. The loess ranges from 3 to 7 feet (1 or 2 meters) in thickness on stable summits and does not occur on some of the steeper slopes. The underlying Illinoian-age till and outwash commonly contain a paleosol. Meltwater outwash and lacustrine and alluvial deposits are on some of the stream terraces along the major tributaries. The till and outwash are underlain by several bedrock systems. Mississippian and Pennsylvanian bedrock occurs mostly in the western part of the MLRA. Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian bedrock occurs mostly in the central part. Bedrock outcrops are common on the bluffs along the large rivers and their major tributaries. They also are evident at the base of steep slopes along minor streams and drainageways.

The average annual precipitation ranges from 39 to 47 inches (990 to 1,190 millimeters) with a mean of 42 inches (1,060 millimeters). The annual temperature ranges from 53 to 56 degrees F (11.8 to 13.6 degrees C) with a mean of 55 degrees F (13 degrees C). The freeze-free period ranges from 185 to 215 days with a mean of 200 days.

The dominant soil orders are Alfisols and Entisols. The soils in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed or smectitic mineralogy. They are deep or very deep, poorly drained to well drained, and loamy, silty, or clayey. Although limited in extent, some soils have a natric horizon in the part of the MLRA in Illinois. The main soils and their series: Albaqualfs that formed in loess or loess over pedisediment on till plains (Marine series); Endoaqualfs that formed in loess or loess over pedisedimenton till plains (Oconee series); Fluvaquents that formed in alluvium on flood plains (Wakeland series); Fragiudalfs that formed in loess over pedisediment over till (Cincinnati series) and loess over till (Rossmoyne series) on till plains; Glossaqualfs that formed in loess over till on till plains (Avonburg, Clermont, and Cobbsfork series) Hapludalfs that formed in till (Hickory series) and loess over pedisediment (Homen series) on till plains.

The soils on uplands support natural hardwoods. Oak, hickory, beech, and sugar maple are the dominant species. Native grasses grow in some scattered areas between the trees. The soils in low-lying areas support mixed forest vegetation. Pin oak, shingle oak, sweetgum, and black oak are the dominant species on the wetter sites. White oak, black oak, northern red oak, hickory, yellow-poplar, ash, sugar maple, and black walnut grow on the better drained sites. Honey locust is dominant on soils that formed in shaly limestone residuum. Silver maple, eastern cottonwood, American sycamore, pin oak, elm, and sweetgum grow along rivers and streams. Black walnut is abundant on very deep, well drained soils on some small flood plains. Sedge and grass meadows and scattered trees are on some low-lying sites.

Most of this MLRA is in farms and used to produce corn, soybeans, and livestock. Some small grains, including winter wheat, oats, and grain sorghum, also are grown. A small acreage is used for specialty crops, such as popcorn and apple orchards. The grassland supports introduced and native grasses. The forested areas are mainly on steep valley sides and in low-lying parts of flood plains. Surface coal mines make up a small acreage. (USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2022).

LRU notes

LRU 114XB is in two separate areas in Illinois (66 percent) and Indiana (34 percent). It makes up about 7,005 square miles (18,150 square kilometers). It includes the towns of Brazil, Bloomfield, Cloverdale, and Spencer, Indiana, and Carlyle, Nashville, Hillsboro, Greenville, Vandalia, and Pinckneyville, Illinois. Interstates 55, 64, and 70 cross the part of the MLRA in Illinois. They converge in St. Louis, which is just west of this MLRA. The east edge of the Scott Air Force Base is on the western edge of the area in Illinois.

This area is in the Till Plains Section of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. Both large and small tributaries of the West Fork of the White River, the Eel River, the Kaskaskia River, and the Little Muddy River dissect the nearly level to very steep uplands. Well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces are along the major streams and rivers. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level to gently sloping. Elevation ranges from 350 feet (105 meters) on the southernmost flood plains along the Ohio and Wabash Rivers to 1,190 feet (365 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. It generally is low on broad, flat till plains and flood plains and high on the dissected hills bordering rivers or drainage systems.

Classification relationships

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (USDA-NRCS, 2022):
114X–Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain

U.S. Forest Service Ecoregions (Cleland et al. 2007):
Domain: Humid Temperate Domain
Division: Hot Continental Division
Province: Eastern Broadleaf Forest (Continental)
Province Code: 222

The following NatureServe Ecological System has a high level of probability to match the ecological site found on these soils: Central Tallgrass Prairie CES205.683

Ecological site concept

The Wet Upland Prairie sites are part of the Central Tallgrass Prairie System (NatureServe) which ranges from eastern Kansas and Nebraska to northwestern Indiana. This system differs from other prairie systems to the north and south by being the most mesic with primarily deep, rich Mollisol soils. These soils are usually greater than 1 meter deep. This system is dominated by tallgrass species such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). These species typically grow to 1-2 m tall in the rich soils found in this system. Wet grasses include prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), rush (Juncus spp.), and bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis). Other mid- and shortgrass species, such as sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) are often present and can be common or locally dominant on patches of this system, particularly slopes or other areas with drier habitats. Herbaceous species on Wet Upland Prairie sites include common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex), rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), fourflower yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora), sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus), and narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba).

Historically, fires prevented the invasion of shrubs and trees.

High-quality examples of Wet Upland Prairie sites have trees and shrubs widely scattered or clustered in areas that are wetter and/or more sheltered from fire than the surrounding grassland. Fire, drought, and grazing are the primary natural dynamics influencing this system and help prevent woody species from invading.

Most of these sites have been converted to agricultural production and few, high-quality communities still exist.

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species