Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F134XY307LA
West Central Loess Ridge - PROVISIONAL
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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): 134X–Southern Mississippi Valley Loess
MLRA 134, Southern Mississippi Valley Loess, is in Mississippi (39 percent), Tennessee (23 percent), Louisiana (15 percent), Arkansas (11 percent), Kentucky (9 percent), Missouri (2 percent), and Illinois (1 percent). It makes up about 26,520 square miles (68,715 square kilometers). The northern part of the area includes Paducah and Murray, Kentucky; Paragould, Jonesboro, and Forrest City, Arkansas; and Memphis, Dyersburg, Bartlett, and Germantown, Tennessee. The southern part includes Yazoo City, Clinton, and Jackson, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Opelousas, Lafayette, and New Iberia, Louisiana. This portion is the central western part of the MLRA in Louisiana and Arkansas. It is in the Macon Ridge Section of the EPA Ecoregions in sub-section 73j. The dissected plains in this MLRA have a loess mantle that is thick at the valley wall and thins rapidly as distance from the valley wall increases. This portion of the MLRA is distinct from other portions of the MLRA because of the influences of the Mississippi River and it series of entrenchments and adjacent old channels of the Arkansas River, such channels as Bayou Bartholomew, Bayou Bonnne Idee, Boeuf River, and segments of the Ouachita River. The Macon Ridge has been inhabited prior to European Settlement, Poverty Point is located on the east central portion of the Macon Ridge and has earthworks dating back to 1700-1100 BC.
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) and Land Resource Unit (LRU) (USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006)
The Natural Communities of Louisiana - (Louisiana Natural Heritage Program - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries)
EPA Level IV Ecoregion
Ecological site concept
The site is characterized 0 to 5% slopes of Moderately Well Drained to Well Drained soils found on higher landscape positions of loess influence on the Macon Ridge. Potential Soil Limitations that may be found on the site could include fragipan or restrictive layers and/or high exchangeable Al (Aluminum). This soil chemistry limitation is significant because, Aluminum (Al) toxicity limits production on strongly acidic soils, pH values at or below 5, toxic forms of Al solubilized into the soil solution, inhibiting root growth and function (Kochian 2005). Potential species composition of this site will include White oak, Delta Post Oak, Cherrybark Oak, Shagbark Hickory, Shumard Oak, Swamp Chestnut, Sycamore, Loblolly Pine and Sweetgum. This site has been described as a very diverse Upland Community.
Associated sites
F134XY308LA |
West Central Scarp And Steep Loess Ridge - 5% & Greater Slope - PROVISIONAL The Scarp and Steep Loess Ridge site will be found adjacent to this site and will be the areas that are greater than 5% slope. |
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Similar sites
F134XY306LA |
West Central Well Drained Loamy Ridge - PROVISIONAL The Well Drained Loamy Ridge site will be found at a lower landscape position. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
Not specified |
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