Ecological dynamics

MLRA 122
34 – Well Drained Gravelly Alluvium
Soil series included in this preliminary grouping: Ennis, Pruitton, Riverby

Future field work may determine that this grouping be modified or split into multiple ecological site descriptions (ESD). Additional soils may be added pending field verification.

The natural vegetation of these sites will vary in relationship to the setting, patterns of drainage, disturbances, and previous vegetation communities. Individual sites deserve a detailed understanding before conservation and restoration practices are implemented. The provisional ecological site (PES) communities described in this document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found but do not encompass the entire complexity or diversity of these sites. Future field work is required develop a full ESD which can be utilized for conservation planning purposes.

NASIS data list trees on site for mapunits in this group include: white oak, tulip poplar, American sycamore, sweetgum, common hackberry, and pines.

The NRCS county soil surveys list various hardwoods on site, including white oak, southern red oak, northern red oak, black oak, YP, black walnut, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, white ash, and black cherry.

Vegetation in the official soil series description (OSD):
Ennis: Most areas are cleared and used for growing corn, cotton, tobacco, soybeans, small grains, hay and pasture. The native vegetation was bottomland hardwoods, consisting chiefly of oak, hickory, maple, elm, yellow-poplar, and sycamore.
Pruitton: Most areas are cleared and used for growing corn, cotton, soybeans, small grain, grain sorghum, and pasture. The native vegetation was mixed bottomland hardwoods.
Riverby: Areas of this soil are used mainly for woodland and pasture. A few small areas are used as cropland. Native vegetation is woodland consisting of sycamore, sweetgum, hackberry, maple, walnut, poplar, and ironwood.

The following information is from Glendon Smalley’s U.S. Forest Service technical report SO-43 entitled, “Classification and Evaluation of Forest Sites on the Eastern Highland Rim and Pennyroyal.”

Description of Landtype 8: Footslopes, Terraces, and Stream bottoms With Good Drainage
Dominant soils include Pruitton, Ennis
Vegetation: white oak, yellow-poplar, northern red oak, blackgum, hickories, sweetgum, red maple, and American sycamore. Occasional - cottonwood, elms, American beech, hackberry, black oak, eastern redcedar, black walnut, black cherry, white ash, sugar maple, loblolly pine, river birch, shortleaf pine, and Virginia pine. Dogwoods, cane, persimmon, American hornbeam, spicebush, eastern redbud, vacciniums, sassafras, boxelder, pawpaw, euonymuses, hawthorns, and hydrangea are common in the understory.

Ecological Dynamics

State 1. Phase 1.1: Forestland.
Plant species dominant: Quercus spp. (oaks) – Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) / Lindera benzoin (spicebush) - paw paw (Asimina triloba) /Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)

Depending on previous management and past and present disturbances, these sites will have a mix of oak, hickory, and other hardwood species. Common trees could include white oak, northern red oak, red maple, sugar maple, tulip poplar, white ash, American sycamore, American elm, blackgum, sweetgum, black cherry and cottonwood.

State 2, Phase 2.1: Pastureland.
Plant species dominant: Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue).
Species present are dependent upon management in this State.
Pasture plant species present will depend on seeding, weed control, concurrent land uses, on-going levels of disturbance, and landowner goals. Individual site and soil characteristics, along with management activities, will influence production levels.

Many species of grass, both warm and cool season, are available. Common forage species include tall fescue, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, timothy, and various species of clover. Depending on levels of management, dozens of forbs, herbs, and weed species may be present.

Management of pasture sites should follow conservation planning standards and protocols which include watershed protection, soil health, and adequate forage species.

Transitioning this state to a reference condition would require long-term timber stand improvement practices to control non-native vegetation and manage for desired hardwood species.

State: 3. Phase 3.1: Transitional (Abandoned Field)
Plant species dominant: maple (Acer spp.) – tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) / roses (Rubus spp.) - berries (Rubus spp.)/ fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

This phase is best described as an old field habitat with a mixture of native and introduced grasses and a variety of native and non-native herbs, forbs, seedlings, and saplings. Species will depend on seed sources and ongoing disturbance levels.

State 4, Phase 4.1: Abandoned cropland
Plant species dominant: henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L.)

State 5. Phase 5.1: Cropland. Plant species dominants: dependent upon seeding and management. Most common crops are corn and soybeans.

Restoration of states 2-5 to the reference community would require long-term, intensive management inputs.

TO VALIDATE THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROVISIONAL ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION FUTURE FIELD WORK IS NEEDED. This will include detail field inspections and monitoring and multi-site data collection including medium to high intensity vegetation sampling, soil correlations, and an in-depth analysis of gathered data. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce a document to be utilized for accurate on-site conservation planning.