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): 122X–Highland Rim and Pennyroyal

MLRA 122 is in Tennessee (47 percent), Kentucky (43 percent), Indiana (7 percent), and Alabama (3 percent). It makes up about 21,530 square miles (55,790 square kilometers).

SOILS:
Many of the soils in this MLRA are Udalfs. The moderately deep to very deep, well drained, clayey soils formed in limestone residuum. They are dominantly in rolling to steep areas of the “Outer Basin” (Mimosa, Braxton, Gladdice, and Hampshire series) and the undulating to hilly areas of the “Inner Basin” (Talbott and Bradyville series). The most agriculturally productive soils are the very deep, well drained, clayey or loamy soils that formed in alluvium and/or loess over alluvium or limestone residuum in nearly level to undulating areas (Armour, Cumberland, Harpeth, Lomond, and Maury series). The less extensive soils generally are moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained and formed in loamy or clayey alluvium and/or residuum (Byler, Capshaw, Colbert, and Tupelo series). This MLRA has a significant acreage of Mollisols. Shallow or moderately deep, well drained, clayey Udolls (Ashwood and Barfield series) formed in limestone residuum dominantly in rolling to steep areas. Very shallow, well drained, clayey Rendolls (Gladeville series) formed in limestone residuum dominantly in undulating to rolling areas of the “Inner Basin.” Very deep, well drained or moderately well drained Udolls (Arrington, Egam, Lynnville, and Staser series) and somewhat poorly drained or poorly drained Aquolls (Agee, Godwin, and Lanton series) formed in loamy or clayey alluvium derived from limestone on flood plains. Most of the remaining soils on flood plains are moderately well drained or well drained Udepts (Lindell and Ocana series). Udults are of small extent in this area. Most are very deep, well drained, and loamy and formed in gravelly colluvium or colluvium and the underlying residuum on steep hillsides (Dellrose soils). Rock outcrops are common on uplands.

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES:
This area supports mixed oak forest vegetation. White oak, black oak, northern red oak, and some scarlet oak are the dominant tree species. Shagbark hickory, bitternut hickory, pignut hickory, and mockernut hickory also occur. Oak, blackgum, flowering dogwood, sassafras, Virginia pine, pitch pine, and shortleaf pine grow mostly on ridgetops.

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

Classification relationships

South-central Interior Large floodplain/
South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian

Possible NatureServe Associations:

Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua / Carpinus caroliniana - Asimina triloba Forest
Translated Name: American Sycamore - Sweetgum / American Hornbeam - Pawpaw Forest
Common Name: Sycamore - Sweetgum Streambottom Forest
Unique Identifier: CEGL007340
Classification Approach: International Vegetation Classification (IVC)

Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor - (Liquidambar styraciflua) Mixed Hardwood Forest
Translated Name: Pin Oak - Swamp White Oak - (Sweetgum) Mixed Hardwood Forest
Common Name: Pin Oak Mixed Hardwood Depression Forest
Unique Identifier: CEGL002432
Classification Approach: International Vegetation Classification (IVC)

Ecological site concept

This PES describes plant communities likely to be found on these soils but does not encompass the entire complexity or diversity potential of these sites. Future field work is required to delineate and develop a full ecological site description (ESD) which can be utilized for conservation and planning purposes.

Only two tree species can be selected for entry into the database as dominants; however, multiple tree species may be dominant on these sites and it will vary depending on aspect, soil depth, seed sources, management, and disturbance history.

State 1, Phase 1.1: Forestland.
Plant species dominant:
pin oak (Quercus palustris) – sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) /paw paw (Asimina triloba) – willows (Salix spp.) / smallspike false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) - giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea)

State 2, Phase 2.1: Pastureland.
Plant species dominant: Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue). Species present are dependent upon modification of hydrology, initial seeding, and any on-going management.

State: 3. Phase 3.1: Transitional (Abandoned Field)
Plant species dominant: maple (Acer spp.) – green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) / willows (Salix spp.) / fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

State 4: Phase 4.1. Abandoned Croplands
Plant species dominant: henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L.)
Abandonment of cropland would result in many weed species taking over the site. Initially, annual weeds would be predominate followed by grasses, shrubs and finally, pioneers trees.

State: 5. Cropland
Phase 5.1: Plant species dominants: Zea spp. – Glycine spp.
Plants on these sites will be dependent upon seeding and management. Most common crops are corn and soybeans. Due to the drainage issues on these soil, many have been tiled or ditched extensively to facilitate crop production.

Table 1. Dominant plant species