Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site F115XB016MO

Sandstone Upland Woodland

Accessed: 12/22/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 115X / Ecological site F115XB016MO

USC

Metric

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.

Click to explore map

Figure 1. Mapped extent

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): 115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part (area outlined in red on the map) consists mainly of the deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers as well as the floodplains and terraces of these rivers. It wraps around the northeast corner of the Ozark Uplift, and constitutes the southern border of the Pre-Illinoisan-aged till plain. Elevation ranges from about 320 feet along the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau in the south to about 1,020 feet on the highest ridges near Hillsboro, MO in the east. Local relief varies from 10 to 20 feet in the major river floodplains, to 50 to 100 feet in the dissected uplands, with bluffs of 200 to 350 feet along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Underlying bedrock is mainly Ordovician-aged dolomite and sandstone, with Mississippian-aged limestone north of the Missouri River.

Classification relationships

Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Dry-Mesic Sandstone Woodland.

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Oak Woodland.

National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba - Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002150).

Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily in the Inner Ozark Border Subsection, in the following Land Type Associations:
Perry Oak Savanna/Woodland Dissected Plain
Meramec Highlands Oak Woodland/Forest Rugged Hills

Ecological site concept

NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.

Sandstone Upland Woodlands (green areas on the map) are in a few scattered upland locations in the Mississippi River watershed, not adjacent to the Mississippi River floodplain. Soils are typically moderately deep over sandstone bedrock, with an abundance of sandstone fragments in the subsoil. The reference plant community is woodland with an overstory dominated by white oak, with minor amounts of black oak and post oak, and a ground flora of native grasses and forbs.

Associated sites

F115XB005MO	Loamy Upland Woodland Loamy Upland Woodland sites underlain by sandstone are often upslope.
F115XB017MO	Sandstone Protected Backslope Forest Sandstone Protected Backslope Forest sites are typically downslope on northerly and easterly aspects
F115XB051MO	Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland sites are typically downslope on southerly and westerly aspects.
R115XB052MO	Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodland Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodland sites are usually closely associated with this site

Similar sites

F115XB016MO	Sandstone Upland Woodland There are no similar ecological sites.

F115XB016MO

Sandstone Upland Woodland

There are no similar ecological sites.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Quercus alba (2) Quercus velutina
Shrub	(1) Vaccinium pallidum (2) Rhus aromatica
Herbaceous	(1) Schizachyrium scoparium (2) Desmodium

Download full description

Physiographic features

This site is on upland summits, shoulders and backslopes with slopes of 3 to 15 percent. The site generates runoff to adjacent, downslope ecological sites. This site does not flood.

The accompanying figure (adapted from Skaer, 2004) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships among the major ecological sites in uplands that are underlain by sandstone. The site is within the area labeled “3”, on hillslope shoulders and upper backslopes. Loamy Upland Woodland sites underlain by sandstone are often upslope (labeled “2” on the figure), and Sandstone Backslope sites are typically downslope (labeled “4”). Shallow Sandstone Glade sites are usually closely associated with this site (labeled “1”), often as a narrow band or ledge.

Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Ridge (2) Hill (3) Interfluve
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Slope	3 – 15%
Water table depth	60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, 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, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, 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.

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line diagonally crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast. Both mean annual temperature and precipitation exhibit gradients along this line.

The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 38 to 48 inches. The average annual temperature is 53 to 57 degrees F. Mean January minimum temperature follows the northwest-to-southeast gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along the same gradient as temperature. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer. Snowfall is common in winter.

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 affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.

Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, for example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.

Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	165 days
Freeze-free period (average)	196 days
Precipitation total (average)	48 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) JACKSON [USC00234226], Jackson, MO
(2) UNION [USC00238515], Union, MO
(3) PERRYVILLE WTP [USC00236641], Perryville, MO

Influencing water features

The water features of this upland ecological site include evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and drainage. Each water balance component fluctuates to varying extents from year-to-year. Evapotranspiration remains the most constant. Precipitation and drainage are highly variable between years. Seasonal variability differs for each water component. Precipitation generally occurs as single day events. Evapotranspiration is lowest in the winter and peaks in the summer. Water stored as ice and snow decreases drainage and surface runoff rates throughout the winter and increases these fluxes in the spring. The surface runoff pulse is greatly influenced by extreme events. Conversion to cropland or other high intensities land uses tends to increase runoff, but also decreases evapotranspiration. Depending on the situation, this might increase groundwater discharge, and decrease baseflow in receiving streams (Vano 2005).

Soil features

These soils are underlain with sandstone bedrock at 20 to 40 inches deep. They have subsoils that are not low in bases. The soils were formed under woodland vegetation, and have thin, light-colored surface horizons. Parent material is slope alluvium and residuum weathered from sandstone, overlying sandstone bedrock. They have sandy loam or loam surface layers. Subsoils are loamy and are skeletal, with high amounts of sandstone fragments. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Pevely.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Slope alluvium – sandstone (2) Residuum – sandstone
Surface texture	(1) Very cobbly fine sandy loam (2) Gravelly loam (3) Very gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained to somewhat excessively drained
Permeability class	Slow
Soil depth	20 – 40 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	3 – 33%
Surface fragment cover >3"	38%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	5 – 6 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)	4.5 – 7.3
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	40%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	40%

Ecological dynamics

Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.

Sandstone Upland Woodlands are dominated by white oak with lesser amounts of black oak and post oak. The canopy is moderately tall (65 to 80 feet) but less dense (65 to 85 percent closure) than protected slopes and the understory is poorly developed with less structural diversity. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind and ice maintained the woodland structure and diverse ground flora species. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in both the density of trees and the abundance of shade tolerant species, especially hickories. Woodlands are distinguished from forest, by their relatively open understory, and the presence of sun-loving ground flora species. Characteristic plants in the ground flora can be used to gauge the restoration potential of a stand along with remnant open-grown old-age trees, and tree height growth.

Fire played an important role in the maintenance of this system. It is likely that this ecological site burned at least once every 5 to 10 years. These periodic fires kept woodlands open, removed the litter, and stimulated the growth and flowering of the grasses and forbs. During fire free intervals, woody understory species increased and the herbaceous understory diminished. The return of fire would open the woodlands up again and stimulate the abundant ground flora.

Sandstone Upland Woodlands were also subjected to occasional disturbances from wind and ice, as well as grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and deer. Wind and ice would have periodically opened the canopy up by knocking over trees or breaking substantial branches off canopy trees. Grazing by large native herbivores would have effectively kept understory conditions more open, creating conditions more favorable to oak reproduction.

Today, these ecological sites have been cleared and converted to pasture or have undergone repeated timber harvest and domestic grazing. Most existing wooded ecological sites have a younger (50 to 80 years) canopy layer whose species composition and quality has been altered by timber harvesting practices. In the long term absence of fire, woody species, especially hickory, encroach into these woodlands. Once established, these woody plants can quickly fill the existing understory increasing shade levels with a greatly diminished ground flora. Removal of the younger understory and the application of prescribed fire have proven to be effective restoration means.

Uncontrolled domestic grazing has also impacted this community, further diminishing the diversity of native plants and introducing species that are tolerant of grazing, such as buckbrush, gooseberry, and Virginia creeper. Grazed sites also have a more open understory. In addition, soil compaction and soil erosion related to grazing can be a problem along with lower site productivity.

Site productivity is fair to moderate for timber production. Oak regeneration is typically problematic. Ironwood, red elm, and hickories can be dominant competitors in the understory. Maintenance of the oak component will require disturbances such as prescribed burning and careful harvesting that will encourage more sun adapted species and reduce shading effects.

Clearcutting also occurs and results in dense, even-aged stands dominated by oak. This may be most beneficial for existing stands whose composition has been highly altered by past management practices. However, without some thinning of the dense stands and the application of prescribed fire, the ground flora diversity can be shaded out and diversity of the stand may suffer.

A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 7. State and transition diagram for this ecological s

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

State 1
Reference

This state is native oak woodland dominated by white oak and black oak, with a variety of prairie forbs and grasses in the understory. Maximum tree age was likely 150 to 300 years. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the woodland structure and diverse ground flora species. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in both the density of trees and the abundance of shade tolerant species. Two community phases are recognized in the reference state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency. Reference states are rare today. Many sites have been converted to non-native pasture (State 3). Others have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest coupled with domestic livestock grazing (State 4). Fire suppression has resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora (State 2).

Community 1.1
White Oak – Black Oak/Lowbush Blueberry – Aromatic Sumac/Little Bluestem – Tick Trefoil

This phase has an overstory that is dominated by white oak and black oak with hickory and post oak also present. This woodland community has a two-tiered structure with an open understory and a dense, diverse herbaceous ground flora. Periodic disturbances including fire, ice and wind create canopy gaps, allowing white oak and black oak to successfully reproduce and remain in the canopy. It is likely that this phase burned at least once every 5 to 10 years.

Community 1.2
White Oak – Black Oak/Lowbush Blueberry – Hickory/Little Bluestem – Tick Trefoil

This phase is similar to community phase 1.1 but oak and hickory understory densities are increasing due to longer periods of fire suppression. Displacement of some grasses and forbs may be occurring due to shading and competition from the increased densities of oak and hickory saplings in the understory.

State 2
Fire Suppressed Woodland

Degraded reference states that have experienced fire suppression and woody invasion for 20 or more years will transition to this state. With fire suppression, woody species such as black oak, post oak and hickory will begin to increase. Native herbaceous ground cover will also decrease.

Community 2.1
White Oak – Black Oak/Oak Saplings – Hickory/ Goldenrod

This long-term fire exclusion phase has experienced occasional harvesting (high grading) of northern red oak and post oak that has reduced the densities of these species, causing an increase in black oak, hickories, and blackjack oak. The remaining oaks are generally of lower quality.

State 3
Cool Season Grassland

Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as tall fescue and red clover has been common in this area. Occasionally, these pastures will have scattered oaks. Long term uncontrolled grazing and a lack of grassland management can cause significant soil erosion and compaction and increases in less productive species such as Kentucky bluegrass and weedy forbs such as ironweed. A return to the reference state may be impossible, requiring a very long term series of management options.

Community 3.1
Tall Fescue – Red Clover

This phase is well managed grassland, composed of non-native cool season grasses and legumes. Grazing and haying is occurring. The effects of long-term liming on soil pH, and calcium and magnesium content, is most evident in this phase. Studies show that these soils have higher pH and higher base status in soil horizons as much as two feet below the surface, relative to poorly managed grassland and to woodland communities (where liming is not practiced).

State 4
High-Graded - Grazed Woodland

Wooded sites subjected to repeated, high-graded timber harvests and uncontrolled domestic grazing transition to this State. This state exhibits an over-abundance of hickory and other less desirable tree species, and weedy understory species such as buckbrush, gooseberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. The vegetation offers little nutritional value for cattle, and excessive stocking damages tree boles, degrades understory species composition and results in soil compaction and accelerated erosion and runoff.

Community 4.1
Black Oak – Post Oak/Hickory - Buckbrush/ Greenbrier

This is the only phase in this state at this time. See the corresponding state narrative for details.

Additional community tables

Table 5. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter (in)	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
white oak	QUAL	Quercus alba	Native	–	–	–	–
post oak	QUST	Quercus stellata	Native	–	–	–	–
black oak	QUVE	Quercus velutina	Native	–	–	–	–
mockernut hickory	CATO6	Carya tomentosa	Native	–	–	–	–
shagbark hickory	CAOV2	Carya ovata	Native	–	–	–	–

Table 6. Community 1.1 forest understory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
whitetinge sedge	CAAL25	Carex albicans	Native	–	–
Muhlenberg's sedge	CAMU4	Carex muehlenbergii	Native	–	–
hairy woodland brome	BRPU6	Bromus pubescens	Native	–	–
variable panicgrass	DICO2	Dichanthelium commutatum	Native	–	–
poverty oatgrass	DASP2	Danthonia spicata	Native	–	–
Virginia wildrye	ELVI3	Elymus virginicus	Native	–	–
Bosc's panicgrass	DIBO2	Dichanthelium boscii	Native	–	–
little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	Native	–	–
Forb/Herb
birdfoot violet	VIPE	Viola pedata	Native	–	–
Virginia spiderwort	TRVI	Tradescantia virginiana	Native	–	–
eastern purple coneflower	ECPU	Echinacea purpurea	Native	–	–
hairy sunflower	HEHI2	Helianthus hirsutus	Native	–	–
St. Andrew's cross	HYHY	Hypericum hypericoides	Native	–	–
St. Andrew's cross	HYHY	Hypericum hypericoides	Native	–	–
Parlin's pussytoes	ANPA9	Antennaria parlinii	Native	–	–
American hogpeanut	AMBR2	Amphicarpaea bracteata	Native	–	–
manyray aster	SYAN2	Symphyotrichum anomalum	Native	–	–
nakedflower ticktrefoil	DENU4	Desmodium nudiflorum	Native	–	–
pointedleaf ticktrefoil	DEGL5	Desmodium glutinosum	Native	–	–
prostrate ticktrefoil	DERO3	Desmodium rotundifolium	Native	–	–
elmleaf goldenrod	SOUL2	Solidago ulmifolia	Native	–	–
eastern beebalm	MOBR2	Monarda bradburiana	Native	–	–
Shrub/Subshrub
fragrant sumac	RHAR4	Rhus aromatica	Native	–	–
Blue Ridge blueberry	VAPA4	Vaccinium pallidum	Native	–	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Wildlife (MDC 2006):

Oaks provide abundant hard mast; scattered shrubs provide soft mast; native legumes provide high-quality wildlife food;

Sedges and native cool-season grasses provide green browse; native warm-season grasses provide cover and nesting habitat; and a diversity of forbs provides a diversity and abundance of insects.

Birds species associated with late successional to mature ecological sites are Indigo Bunting, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Bobwhite, Summer Tanager, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will’s widow, Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Broad-winged Hawk.

Reptile and amphibian species associated with open woodlands include ornate box turtle, northern fence lizard, five-lined skink, broad-headed skink, six-lined racerunner, flat-headed snake, rough earth snake, and timber rattlesnake.

Other information

Forestry (NRCS 2002):

Management: Estimated site index values for oak range from 50 to 55. Timber management opportunities are fair. Sandy and gravelly textures and lower available water affects tree growth and increases windthrow hazards. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. Restrict cuttings to group selection cuttings of 2 to 5 acres or single tree selections. These sites respond well to prescribed fire as a management tool. Where possible, favor black oak, southern red oak, white oak and post oak.

Limitations: Lower available water capacity and lower fertility. Coarse fragments in lower profile; bedrock is within 40 inches. Disturbing the surface excessively in harvesting operations and building roads increases soil losses, which leaves a greater amount of coarse fragments on the surface. Hand planting or direct seeding may be necessary. Seedling mortality due to low available water capacity may be high. Mulching or providing shade can improve seedling survival. Mechanical tree planting will be limited. Erosion is a hazard when slopes exceed 15 percent. On steep slopes greater than 35 percent, traction problems increase and equipment use is not recommended.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Sandstone Upland Woodland – Potential Reference – F115BY016MO

Plot DABOCA_JK01 – Pevely soil
Located in Daniel Boone CA, Warren County, MO
Latitude: 38.77353
Longitude: -91.37517

Plot DABOCA_JK17 – Pevely soil
Located in Daniel Boone CA, Warren County, MO
Latitude: 38.780625
Longitude: -91.373528

Other references

MDC, 2006. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.

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.

Skaer, David M. 2004. Soil Survey of Jefferson County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Vano, Julie A. 2005. Land Surface Hydrology in Northern Wisconsin: Influences of climatic variability and land cover. University of Wisconsin-Madison.

University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/

Contributors

Fred Young
Doug Wallace

Acknowledgments

Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site.

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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Search

Natural ResourcesConservation Service