Natural Resources
Conservation Service
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral 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): 106X–Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills
Named the “Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills,” Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 is divided almost evenly between southeastern Nebraska (52%), and northeastern Kansas, (48%). The approximately seven-million-acre landscape covers all or parts of thirty counties between the two states. The northern border is located on the north end of Saunders County, Nebraska, and the MLRA extends into Douglas County, Kansas in the south. The Nebraska cities of Beatrice and Lincoln are the major population centers in the north, while Topeka and Lawrence in Kansas are the primary cities in the south. The Platte, Little Nemaha, and the North Fork of the Big Nemaha Rivers flow through the Nebraska side of the MLRA, while the Black Vermillion, the Soldier, and the Delaware Rivers are the major waterways on the Kansas side. The Big Blue River runs through both states, while the Salt Creek hydrologic system located near Lincoln, Nebraska provides habitat for the only known population of the Federally listed endangered Salt Creek Tiger Beetle.
This dissected glacial drift plain primarily consists of broad, smooth ridgetops, and slopes ranging from nearly level to steep. The elevation in MLRA 106 decreases from west to east, and ranges from nearly 1,650 feet to less than 790 feet above sea level. Stream valleys in this landscape are narrow and bordered by steep hills, with 10 to 20 feet of local relief. The river valleys are broader and may drop up to over 160 feet below the adjacent hilltops. The uplands are primarily comprised of glacial drift underlying a mantle of loess, while alluvial deposits are found in the stream and river valleys. Limestone and shale quarries are also located in MLRA 106. The predominant soil orders in this MLRA are mesic, udic, Mollisols, Alfisols, and Entisols. Loams and clays are the primary soil textures in this landscape.
Sixty-two percent of the land in this MLRA has been broken out of native prairie and farmed, while only 23 percent of the grasslands remain. Livestock grazing, primarily by cattle, is the main industry on these remnants. Corn, wheat, soybeans, and grain sorghum are the primary commodity crops, but a significant number of acres are also planted to alfalfa for harvest as hay. With annual precipitation averaging from 40 inches in the southeast, to 28 inches in the northwest, irrigation for crop production is not a critical factor in most years.
The historical matrix vegetation type is Tallgrass Prairie, and big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, sideoats, and blue grama make up the bulk of the warm season species. Historically, western wheatgrass was the dominant cool-season grass but today the dominant cool-season grasses are introduced grasses, smooth brome in the north and tall fescue in the south. Large and small patch vegetative communities are found primarily along the riparian zones, and on both upland and lowland saline sites. Woodlands make up about six percent of MLRA 106, consisting primarily of green ash, oak, hackberry, boxelder, and maple trees.
Wildlife flourishes in this combination of crop and grassland environments. In a landscape historically occupied by bison herds, white-tailed deer are now the most abundant wild ungulates. A variety of smaller species, including coyote, raccoon, opossum, porcupines, muskrat, beaver, squirrel, and mink thrive in the region. Native grassland bird populations are limited by the lack of contiguous native prairie and the fragmented habitat created by the farmland. The rivers, streams, and lakes harbor excellent fisheries, and migrating and local waterfowl use the wetland complexes. These complexes provide ideal habitat for wading and shore bird species as well.
This landscape serves as a backdrop for a disturbance driven ecosystem, evolving under the influences of herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Historically, these processes created a heterogeneous mosaic of plant communities and structure heights across the region. Any given site in this landscape experienced fire every three to four years. Fires were caused by lightning strikes and also were set by Native Americans, who used fire for warfare, signaling, and to refresh the native grasses. The Indigenous inhabitants understood the value of fire as a tool and that the highly palatable growth following a fire provided excellent forage for their horses and attracted grazing game animals such as bison and elk.
Land use patterns by post European settlers have fragmented the native grasslands through conversion to cropland, transportation corridors, and other developments. This has significantly altered the natural fire regime allowing encroachment by native and introduced shrubs and trees into the native prairie remnants throughout the MLRA. Aggressive fire suppression policies have exacerbated this process to the point that shrub and tree encroachment is a major ecological threat in the majority of both native and reseeded grasslands. Introduction of eastern red cedar as a windbreak species further facilitates invasion by this species. While eastern red cedar is native to the landscape, the historic population in MLRA 106 was limited to isolated pockets in rugged river drainageways that were protected from fire. Widespread plantings of windbreaks with eastern red cedar as a primary component have provided a seed source for the aggressive woody plant. The ensuing encroachment into the native grasslands degrades the native wildlife habit and causes significant forage loss for domestic livestock. Since it is not a root sprouter, eastern red cedar is very susceptible to fire when under six feet tall. Management with prescribed fire is exceedingly effective if applied before this stage. Larger eastern red cedars can also be controlled with fire, but successful application requires the use of specifically designed ignition and holding techniques.Classification relationships
►USDA-NRCS (2022)◄
Land Resource Region – M, Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) – 106
►Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions ◄
Division – Interior Plains
Province – Central Lowland
Section – Dissected Till Plains
►USDA-USFS (2007) Ecoregions◄
Domain – Humid Temperate
Division – Prairie
Province – Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section – Central Dissected Till Plains (251C)
►EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)◄
I – Great Plains (9)
II – Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III – Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3)
IV – Loess and Glacial Drift Hills (47i)
►Associated Counties◄
Nebraska: Butler, Cass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward
Kansas: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, WyandotteEcological site concept
The Limy Upland ecological site is located on upland landscapes and does not receive additional moisture from runoff or overflow. The typical slope range is from 6 to 30 percent but may be as steep as 60 percent or higher. Soils are very deep (greater than 60 inches) with surface textures of silty clay loam, silty clay or silt loam that are typically 6 to 15 inches thick. These somewhat excessively drained soils are formed in calcareous till or fine silty loess. The diagnostic feature for the Limy Upland ecological site is the presence of calcium carbonate within ten inches (25 cm) with the amount of calcium carbonates increasing with depth. The vegetation in the Reference Community is mixed grass prairie. The primary grasses include big bluestem, little bluestem, and sideoats grama. Secondary grasses include switchgrass, Indiangrass, and blue grama. Forbs are common and diverse.
Associated sites
R106XY070NE Loamy Terrace
The Loamy Terrace ecological site is located below and often adjacent to the Limy Upland ecological site.
R106XY074NE Clayey Upland
The Clayey Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Limy Upland ecological site.
R106XY068NE Loamy Floodplain
The Loamy Floodplain ecological site is located below and often adjacent to the Limy Upland ecological site.
R106XY075NE Loamy Upland
Loamy Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Limy Upland site
Similar sites
R106XY074NE Clayey Upland
The Clayey Upland ecological is occurs on a similar landscape position but is not calcareous within 10 inches of the soil surface.
R106XY077NE Shallow Limy
The Shallow Limy ecological site is calcareous at or near the surface but limestone or shale bedrock is present within 20 inches of the surface while Limy Upland sites are very deep (greater than 60 inches).
R106XY075NE Loamy Upland
The Loamy Upland ecological site is located on a similar landscape position but is not calcareous within 10 inches of the soil surface.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Andropogon gerardii
(2) Schizachyrium scopariumPhysiographic features
The Limy Upland ecological site occurs on moderate to steeply sloping uplands with slopes typically ranging from 6 to 30 percent. The depth to the water table dictates that the vegetative community is completely reliant on precipitation as the water source.
Figure 2.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Upland > Hillslope
Runoff class Medium to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 730 – 2000 ft Slope 6 – 30 % Water table depth 80 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Like most Great Plains landscapes, the climate in this MLRA is under the sway of the continental effect. This creates a regime of extremes, with summer highs often in the triple digits and winter lows plunging well below zero. Blizzards can occur anytime between early fall and late spring, dropping the temperature more than 50 degrees in just a few hours. These events can pile up several feet of snow, often driven by winds in excess of 50 miles an hour. The resulting huge snow drifts can cause serious hardship for livestock, wildlife, and humans. Winters can be open, with bare ground for most of the season, or closed, with several feet of snow persisting until March. Most winters have a number of warm days interspersed with dropping temperatures, usually associated with approaching cold fronts. Spring brings violent thunderstorms, hail, and high winds. Tornadoes occur frequently.
About three-fourths of the precipitation falls as high intensity, convective thunderstorms from late spring through early autumn. The average annual precipitation gradient trends higher from northwest (28”) to southeast (40”), and the average annual temperature gradient trends higher from north (50°F) to south (55°F). Daily winds range from an average of 14 miles per hour during the spring to 11 miles per hour during the late summer. Occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 80 miles per hour.
Native cool season plants begin growth in early April and continue to about mid-June. Native warm season plants begin growth in early June and continue to early August. Green up of cool season plants may occur in September and October.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 140-150 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 160-190 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 30-40 in Frost-free period (actual range) 130-150 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 150-190 days Precipitation total (actual range) 30-40 in Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) 170 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) MARYSVILLE [USC00145063], Marysville, KS
-
(2) BEATRICE 1N [USC00250622], Beatrice, NE
-
(3) CRETE [USC00252020], Crete, NE
-
(4) MEAD 6S [USC00255362], Ithaca, NE
-
(5) RAYMOND 2NE [USC00257055], Raymond, NE
-
(6) TABLE ROCK 4 N [USC00258410], Table Rock, NE
-
(7) BONNER SPRINGS [USC00140957], Bonner Springs, KS
-
(8) CENTRALIA [USC00141408], Centralia, KS
-
(9) HIAWATHA 9 ESE [USC00143634], Robinson, KS
-
(10) HORTON [USC00143810], Horton, KS
-
(11) PERRY LAKE [USC00146333], Perry, KS
-
(12) SYRACUSE [USC00258395], Syracuse, NE
-
(13) TECUMSEH 1S [USC00258465], Tecumseh, NE
-
(14) WEEPING WATER [USC00259090], Weeping Water, NE
-
(15) TOPEKA MUNI AP [USW00013996], Topeka, KS
-
(16) CLINTON LAKE [USC00141612], Lawrence, KS
-
(17) ASHLAND NO 2 [USC00250375], Ashland, NE
-
(18) VIRGINIA [USC00258875], Virginia, NE
-
(19) LINCOLN MUNI AP [USW00014939], Lincoln, NE
-
(20) LINCOLN UNIV PWR PLT [USW00014971], Lincoln, NE
-
(21) LAWRENCE [USC00144559], Lawrence, KS
-
(22) OSKALOOSA 4 NE [USC00146100], Mc Louth, KS
-
(23) AUBURN 5 ESE [USC00250435], Auburn, NE
-
(24) PAWNEE CITY [USC00256570], Pawnee City, NE
-
(25) WAHOO [USC00258905], Wahoo, NE
-
(26) FALLS CITY BRENNER FLD [USW00094957], Falls City, NE
">Influencing water features
This site is not affected by water features such as water tables or wetlands.
Soil features
The soils associated with the Limy Upland ecological site are located on hillslopes on upland. Slopes typically range from 6 to 30 percent but may be higher. Soils were formed in calcareous loess or calcareous glacial till of mixed mineralogy. Soils are very deep (more than 60 inches) with surface textures of clay loam, loam or silty loam that are 6 to 15 inches thick. Soils are well drained to somewhat excessively drained. The depth to secondary calcium carbonates ranges from 0 to 10 inches. The clay content ranges from 24 to 35 percent, and the sand content from 20 to 52 percent. The A horizon may have up to 10 percent of mixed rock fragments. The A through the C horizons is slightly to moderately alkaline. These soils have high saturated hydraulic conductivity.
Steinauer and Netawaka are the primary soil series associated with this site. Additional information can be found in the various soil survey reports. Contact the local USDA Service Center for soil survey reports that include more detail specific to your location or visit Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov).
Figure 9. Steinauer Profile
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Till
(2) Loess
Surface texture (1) Clay loam
(2) Loam
(3) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to excessively drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 10 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)6.6 – 8.4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)2 – 19 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(0-40in)0 – 6 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(0-40in)0 – 2 % Ecological dynamics
The Limy Upland ecological site developed under Central Great Plains climatic conditions, light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores, sporadic natural or man caused wildfires, and other biotic and abiotic factors which typically influence soil/site development. This continues to be a disturbance driven site, by herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Changes occur in the plant communities due to weather variations, impacts of native and/or exotic plant and animal species, and management actions.
One of the primary impacts to this site introduced by European settlers is season long continuous grazing by domestic livestock. This management practice causes the repeated removal of the growing point and excessive defoliation of the leaf area of individual tall warm-season grasses. The resulting reduction of the ability of the plants to harvest sunlight depletes the root reserves, subsequently decreasing the root mass. This negatively impacts the ability of the plants to compete for life sustaining nutrients, resulting in declining vigor and eventual mortality. The space created in the vegetative community is then occupied by a species that evades the negative grazing impacts by a growing season adaptation such as a cool season, shorter structure, or reduced palatability mechanism.
The State and Transition Model (STM) is depicted following this section and includes a Reference State (1), a Native/Invaded State (2), a Sod-busted State (3), and an Invaded Woody State (4). Each state represents the crossing of a major ecological threshold due to alteration of the functional dynamic properties of the ecosystem. The main properties observed to determine this change are the soil and vegetative communities and the hydrologic cycle. The STM illustrates the common plant communities that can occur on the site and the transition pathways between communities (Bestelmeyer, 2010). The ecological processes will be discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.
Each state may have one or more vegetative communities which fluctuate in species composition and abundance within the normal parameters of the state. Within each state, communities may degrade or recover in response to natural and man caused disturbances such as variation in the degree and timing of herbivory, presence or absence of fire, and climatic and local fluctuations in the precipitation regime.
Interpretations are primarily based on the Reference State and have been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics have been interpreted from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts. Plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds have been determined through similar studies and experience.State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
T1A - Heavy grazing or haying with inadequate recovery periods. T1B - Tillage to facilitate production agriculture. T1C - Woody encroachment with no fire, harvest, or woody species management. T2A - Tillage to facilitate production agriculture. T2B - Woody encroachment with no fire, harvest, or woody species management. T3A - Woody encroachment with no fire, harvest, or woody species management. R4A - Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, brush management. R4B - Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, brush management. R4C - Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, brush management. State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate growing season recovery periods. 1.1B - Prolonged (> 5 years) absence of fire and grazing. 1.2A - Prescribed grazing with adequate growing season recovery periods. 1.2B - Grazing or haying with inadequate growing season recovery periods 1.2C - Prolonged (> 5 years) absence of fire and grazing. 1.3A - Prescribed grazing early and late in the growing season 1.3B - Prolonged absence (>5 years) absence of herbivory and fire. 1.4A - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. 1.4B - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. 1.4C - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A - Excessive warm-season grazing, inadequate growing season recovery, nitrogen fertilization in spring or fall. 2.2A - Herbicide treatment and reseeding. State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateThe Reference State (1) describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Limy Upland ecological site where the natural processes are mostly intact. The Reference State (1) includes the Reference Community (1.1), the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2), the At-Risk Community (1.3), and the Excessive Litter Community (1.4). The Reference Community (1.1) is a representation of the native plant community phase that occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. The Degraded Native Grass (1.2), the At-Risk (1.3), and the Excessive Litter (1.4) Communities result from management decisions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community (1.1). High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Dominant plant species
-
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
-
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
-
composite dropseed (Sporobolus compositus), grass
Community 1.1
Reference Community
Figure 10. Limy Upland ecological site, Reference Community (1.1), in eastern Nebraska, MLRA 106.
The Reference Community or Native Mixedgrass Prairie Community (1.1) is dominated by native, warm-season tall and mid grass prairie species. This community serves as a description of the native plant community that naturally occurs on the site when the natural disturbance regimes are intact or closely mimicked by management practices. This phase is dynamic, with fluid relative abundance and spatial boundaries between the dominant structural vegetative groups. These fluctuations are primarily driven by different responses of the species to changes in precipitation timing and abundance, and to fire and grazing events. The potential vegetation consists of approximately 70 to 85 percent grasses and grass-likes, 5 to15 percent forbs, and 0 to 5 percent shrubs. Big bluestem, little bluestem, and sideoats grama are the primary species in this community. Secondary species include switchgrass, Indiangrass, and blue grama. The site has a diverse forb population.
This plant community is less productive than similar upland sites and species diversity is limited. This is a resilient community and resistant to short term stresses such as drought and short periods of heavy stocking. The well-developed root systems support this resiliency when allowed adequate recovery periods between grazing events. When exposed to long term or frequent over grazing events without adequate rest, this plant community will degrade.
The annual vegetative production of this community averages about 3,000 lbs. per acre.Dominant plant species
-
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
-
switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), grass
-
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1061 , Mid and Tall Warm Season Grasses. This plant community is dominated by warm-season, tall and midgrasses in MLRA 106.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 0 5 25 35 20 10 5 0 0 0 Community 1.2
Degraded Native Grass CommunityIn the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2), warm-season tall grasses such as big bluestem, switchgrass, and Indiangrass lose productive capacity through loss of vigor and reproductive potential. While the deep root systems of the tall grasses on this site help to sustain that component of the plant community, as growing season defoliation continues the tall grasses become subdominant. The more grazing evasive species such as sideoats grama and little bluestem increase and become dominant. Blue grama, Kentucky bluegrass and tall dropseed begin to increase. Forb diversity is reduced.
This community phase signals a significant loss of production. The change is often due to continuous season long grazing with inadequate recovery periods during the growing season. Warm-season short grasses and cool-season grasses increase. The composition of the forb component favors less palatable species and the potential for encroachment by invasive woody species becomes more likely. Fewer high biomass producing deep rooted species result in a reduced fire friendly fuel load.
While this plant community is less productive and less diverse than the representative plant community, the site/soil stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity remain sustainable.Dominant plant species
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Community 1.3
At-Risk Community
Figure 12. At-Risk Mid and Tallgrass Prairie- Eastern Nebraska
In At-Risk Community (1.3), the more palatable warm-season tall grasses have been reduced to a minor component by continued defoliation during their critical growth periods. Warm-season short grasses and cool-season grasses increase significantly. Sideoats grama, composite dropseed, and warm-season short grasses have become dominant. Nonnative, cool-season grasses such as smooth brome, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass may be present as a minor component. Cheatgrass or other nonnative annual grasses may also be present in trace amounts.
Soil health is affected by reduced efficiency in the nutrient, mineral, and hydrologic cycles as a result of decreases in plant litter and rooting depths. This may result in formation of a compacted layer in the soil, and total annual vegetative production declines significantly. Without a management change, this community is at risk to transition to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).Dominant plant species
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
-
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
-
composite dropseed (Sporobolus compositus), grass
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1069 , MLRA 106 Warm/cool-season mix.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 1 4 10 23 26 17 8 6 4 1 0 Community 1.4
Excessive Litter CommunityThe Excessive Litter Community (1.4) develops when the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire are removed from the system for extended periods of time (five years or more). Litter significantly exceeds the amount expected on the site and the species present can tolerate a thatch layer. Individual plants tend to be clumped and there is an excessive amount of litter. Species that cannot tolerate an extensive litter layer have low vigor and reduced productivity.
Once the undisturbed litter layer develops to a certain level, a significant amount of precipitation is held in this layer increasing evaporation, limiting soil available moisture, and simulating drought conditions. If herbivory or fire are not reintroduced, the plant community will experience a significant amount of death loss.Dominant plant species
-
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
-
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2A shift from the Reference Community (1.1) to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) occurs with continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate recovery periods during the growing season. Repeated haying with inadequate recovery time can also cause this shift.
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (greater than 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will convert the Reference Community (1.1) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1A shift from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) toward the Reference Community (1.1) can be achieved through prescribed grazing. Applying grazing pressure during the rapid growth period of the undesirable cool-season grasses and allowing rest during the warm-season portion of the growing season favors the warm-season tall grass species. This grazing strategy will enable the deeply rooted warm-season tall grasses to outcompete the shallow rooted, warm-season, mid and short grasses and the cool-season grasses. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3Continued season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate recovery periods during the growing season further degrades the site from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the At-Risk Community (1.3). Repeated haying with inadequate recovery periods during the growing season can also cause this shift.
Pathway 1.2C
Community 1.2 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (greater than 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will convert the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.2Reversing the downward trend which converted the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the At-Risk Community (1.3) can be achieved with prescribed grazing early and late in the growing season to reduce cool-season grasses and increase the warm-season, tall and mid grasses. Targeting the peak growth period of cool-season grasses with high intensity grazing events followed by rest will allow the native, warm-season tall grasses to rejuvenate. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (greater than 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire convert the At-Risk Community (1.3) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation to return to the Reference Community (1.1) from the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.2Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation to return to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) from the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4C
Community 1.4 to 1.3Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation to return to the At-Risk Community,
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing State 2
Native/Invaded Grass StateThe Native/Invaded Grass State (2) has been degraded from the Reference State (1) and much of the native warm-season, tall and mid grass community has been replaced by warm-season short grasses and cool-season grasses. The loss of warm-season, tall and mid grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of the grazing evasive plant communities. The Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass (2.1) and the Non-Native Cool-Season Grass (2.2) Communities are the components of the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).
Dominant plant species
-
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
-
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
Community 2.1
Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass CommunityThe Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community (2.1) represents a shift from the Reference State (1) across a plant community threshold to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2). With continued grazing pressure, the dominant plant species will include warm-season short grasses, such as blue grama, and nonnative cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass in the north, and tall fescue in the south. The more palatable warm-season grasses, such as little bluestem and sideoats grama, will be present only as remnants. The more grazing tolerant warm-season short grasses become dominant. Cheatgrass may become a significant component of the community on some sites. Continuous and heavy grazing pressure will maintain this plant community in a sod bound condition. Forb richness and diversity has decreased. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, a compacted layer may form in the soil profile below the shallower replacement root systems.
Grazing management practices that allow for adequate periods of growing season recovery between grazing events will favor warm-season, tall and mid grasses. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate the process.Dominant plant species
-
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
-
composite dropseed (Sporobolus compositus), grass
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
-
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
-
tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
Figure 14. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067 , Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 13 28 28 12 5 6 3 0 0 Community 2.2
Invaded Cool-Season Grass Community
Figure 15. Limy Upland ecological site, Invaded Cool-Season Community- Eastern Nebraska
The Invaded Cool-Season Grass Community (2.2) is dominated by smooth bromegrass in the northern portion of the MLRA and by tall fescue in the southern portion. Kentucky bluegrass may also be dominant. Some warm-season remnants may be present. Annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, often have a significant presence. Production of nonnative cool season dominated plant communities is highly variable, depending upon the percentages of composition present and outside inputs such as fertilizer and weed control.
Dominant plant species
-
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
-
tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
Figure 16. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067 , Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 13 28 28 12 5 6 3 0 0 Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2The Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community (2.1) will be converted to an Non-Native Cool-Season Grass Community (2.2) through the following practices: introduced grass seeding, excessive warm season grazing, inadequate growing season recovery periods, multi season haying, and nitrogen fertilizing in spring and/or fall.
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1The Non-Native Cool-Season Grass Community (2.1) can return to the Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community (2.1) with herbicide treatment and reseeding. If adequate native remnants are present, appropriately timed prescribed fire and a follow up prescribed grazing program may achieve the desired results.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Range Planting Prescribed Grazing State 3
Sod-busted StateThe threshold to the Sod-busted State (3) is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. Extensive areas of this ecological site were plowed and converted to crop production by early European settlers and their subsequent generations. In addition to permanently altering the existing vegetative community, repeated tillage negatively impacted soil properties. Reductions in organic matter, mineral levels, soil structure, oxygen levels, and water holding capacity along with increased runoff and erosion as well as shifts in the populations of soil dwelling organisms were common on these sites. The extent of these changes depended upon the duration of cropping as well as crops grown and other management practices.
If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned or seeded to permanent vegetation. Seedings are either a tame pasture forage mixture, the Seeded Pasture Community (3.2), or a mixture of native grasses and forbs, the Reseeded Native Grass Community (3.1). Abandonment results in the Natural Reclamation Community (3.3). Permanent alterations of the soil, plant community, and the hydrologic cycle make restoration to the Reference State (1) extremely difficult, if not impossible.Community 3.1
Reseeded Native Grass CommunityThe Reseeded Native Grass Community (3.1) does not contain native remnants, and varies considerably depending upon the seed mixture, the degree of soil erosion, the age of the stand, fertility management, and past grazing management. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods will be required to maintain productivity and desirable species.
Native range and grasslands seeded to native species are ecologically different and should be managed separately. Factors such as functional group, species, stand density, and improved varieties all impact the production level and palatability of the seedings. Species diversity is often limited, and when grazed in conjunction with native rangelands, uneven forage utilization may occur.Community 3.2
Seeded Pasture CommunityThe Seeded Pasture Community (3.2) does not contain native remnants and varies considerably depending upon the extent of soil erosion, the species seeded, the quality of the stand that was established, the age of the stand, and management of the stand since establishment.
Several factors make seeded tame pasture a different grazing resource than native rangeland and land seeded to a native grass mixture. Factors such as species selected, stand density, improved varieties, and harvest efficiency all impact production levels and palatability. Species diversity on seeded tame pasture is often limited to a few species. When seeded pasture and native rangelands or seeded pasture and seeded rangeland are in the same grazing unit, uneven forage utilization will occur. Improve forage utilization and stand longevity by managing this community separately from native rangelands or land seeded to native grass species.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending upon precipitation, management, grass species seeded, and the extent to which soils and hydrologic function have been impacted by the previous farming operations. Improved varieties of warm-season or cool-season grasses are recommended for optimum forage production.Community 3.3
Natural Reclamation CommunityThe Natural Reclamation Community (3.3) consists of annual and perennial weeds and less desirable grasses. These sites have been farmed and abandoned without being reseeded. Soil organic matter and carbon reserves are reduced, soil structure is changed, and a plow pan or compacted layer can form, which decreases water infiltration. Residual synthetic chemicals may remain from farming operations. In early successional stages, this community is not stable. The hazard of erosion is a concern. Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending on the succession stage of the plant community and any management applied to the system.
State 4
Invaded Woody State
Figure 17. Limy Upland ecological site, Invaded Woody State (4), eastern Nebraska, MLRA 106.
The Invaded Woody State (4) is the result of woody encroachment. Once the tree canopy cover reaches 15 percent with an average tree height exceeding five feet, the threshold is crossed. Woody species are encroaching due to lack of prescribed fire and other brush management practices. Bur oak, eastern red cedar, coralberry, Osage orange, roughleaf dogwood, and honey locust are some of the first species to increase. Although these plants are native to North America, they were not historically a significant part of this reference state. If allowed to continue with little or no disturbance, eastern red cedar, oaks and elm trees will eventually dominate. If eastern red cedar is present, the transition to eastern red cedar forest is thought to occur when canopy cover reaches approximately 30 percent. As the overstory closes, various processes serve to increase woody dominance. Woody foliage shades the understory and intercepts rainfall increasing evaporative loss. Litterfall acts similarly and further reduces effective precipitation while also creating a less uniform resource distribution with nutrients concentrated under individual trees. At some critical point, the understory becomes incapable of carrying a fire of the intensity needed to kill the woody species, and the disturbance response is now dictated by the overstory. Mature oak forests are nearly invulnerable to stand replacement fire, while established eastern red cedar stands can only burn as crown fires. Typical ecological impacts are a loss of native grasses, degraded forage productivity, and reduced soil quality. This state consists of the Invaded Woody Community (4.1)
Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest and brush management will move this state toward a grass dominated state. If the Invaded Woody State (4) transitioned from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3), the land cannot be restored to the Reference State (1) as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted prior to the woody encroachment to allow restoration to the Reference State (1).Community 4.1
Invaded Woody CommunityThe Invaded Woody Community (4.1) has at least 15 percent canopy cover consisting of trees generally 5 feet or taller. Encroaching trees are primarily eastern red cedar. Additional woody cover from deciduous trees and shrubs may be present. In the absence of fire and brush management, this ecological site is very susceptible to eastern red cedar seedling invasion, especially when adjacent to a seed source. Eastern red cedar can eventually dominate the site resulting in a closed canopy monoculture which drastically reduces forage production, and which has limited value for either livestock grazing or wildlife habitat. Due to fire suppression over many years, this plant community will develop extensive ladder fuels which can lead to a removal of most tree species with a wildfire. With properly managed intensive grazing, encroachment of deciduous trees will be minimal; however, this will not impact encroachment of conifer species. The herbaceous component decreases proportionately in relation to the percent canopy cover, with the reduction being greater under a conifer overstory.
Eastern red cedar control can usually be accomplished with prescribed burning while the trees are six feet tall or less and fine fuel production is greater than 1,500 pounds per acres. Larger red cedars can also be controlled with prescribed burning, but successful application requires the use of specifically designed ignition and holding techniques (https://www.loesscanyonsburngroup.com). Resprouting brush must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal to achieve effective treatment. The forb component will initially increase following tree removal. To prevent return to a woody dominated community, ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required.
This plant community is resistant to change and resilient given normal disturbances. In higher canopy cover situations, the soil erosion will increase in relation to most of the plant communities from which this plant community originated. The water cycle is also significantly altered under higher canopy cover. Infiltration is reduced and runoff is typically increased because of a lack of herbaceous cover and the rooting structure provided by the herbaceous species. Total annual production during an average year varies significantly, depending on the production level prior to encroachment and the percentage of canopy cover.Dominant plant species
-
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
-
bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
-
honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), tree
-
roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), tree
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
-
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
-
tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), grass
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Heavy grazing or haying with inadequate recovery periods will cause the Reference State (1) to lose most of warm-season tall and mid grass species and cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (2). Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod forming grasses. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, soil structure and biological integrity are catastrophically degraded to the point that recovery is unlikely. Once this occurs, it is highly unlikely that grazing management alone will return the community to the Reference State (1).
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3The Reference State (1) is significantly altered by mechanical tillage converting site to the Sod-busted State (3) to facilitate production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, soils, and hydrology of the system make restoration to a true Reference State (1) unlikely.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Reference State (1) to transition to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3The Native/Invaded Grass State (2) is significantly altered by mechanical tillage converting site to the Sod-busted State (3) to facilitate production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, soils, and hydrology of the system make restoration unlikely.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) to transition to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Sodbusted State (3) to transition to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) toward the Reference State (1). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover may initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If re-sprouting brush is present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to the Invaded Woody State (4). Land that transitioned to the Invaded Woody State (4) from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3) cannot be restored to the Reference State (1) through removal of woody species.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 2Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) toward the Native/Invaded Grass State (2). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover may initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If resprouting brush is present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to the Invaded Woody State (4). Land that transitioned to the Invaded Woody State (4) from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3) cannot be restored to the Reference State (1) through removal of woody species.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Restoration pathway R4C
State 4 to 3Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) toward the Sod-busted State (3). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover may initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If resprouting brush is present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to the Invaded Woody State (4). Land that transitioned to the Invaded Woody State (4) from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3) cannot be restored to the Reference State (1) through removal of woody species.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 1.4 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 3.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
LIVESTOCK – GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS:
Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the major income producing industries in the area. Rangeland in this area may provide yearlong forage for cattle, sheep, or horses. During the dormant period, the protein levels of the forage may be lower than the minimum needed to meet livestock (primarily cattle and sheep) requirements. The following table lists suggested stocking rates for cattle under continuous season long grazing under normal growing conditions. These are conservative estimates that should be used only as guidelines in the initial stages of the conservation planning process. Often, the current plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in this ecological site description). Because of this, a field visit is recommended, in all cases, to document plant composition and production. More precise carrying capacity estimates should eventually be calculated using this information along with animal preference data, particularly when grazers other than cattle are involved. With consultation of the land manager, more intensive grazing management may result in improved harvest efficiencies and increased carrying capacity.
Production and Carrying Capacity*Community 1.1, Reference Community: 3,000 lbs/acre, 0.95 AUM/acre.
*Based upon the following conditions: continuous season long grazing with cattle under average growing conditions, 25 percent harvest efficiency. Air dry forage requirements are based on 3 percent of animal body weight or 790 lbs per animal unit (AU) per month (M). An AU is generally one mature cow of approximately 1,000 pounds and a calf as old as 6 months or their equivalent.
WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 lies primarily within the tall grass prairie ecosystem. Prior to European settlement of North America, this area consisted of diverse grassland habitats interspersed with varying densities of depressional wetlands and limited woody riparian corridors. These habitats provided critical life cycle components for the grassland birds, prairie dogs, and herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn that historically occupied this landscape. Diverse populations of small mammals and insects provided a bountiful prey base for raptors and omnivores such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and opossums. Native Americans, bobcats, wolves, and mountain lions occupied the apex predator niche. In addition, a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians thrived in this landscape.
The tall grass prairie was a disturbance driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary disturbances. Following European settlement, elimination of fire, widespread conversion to cropland, and other sources of habitat fragmentation significantly altered the appearance and functionality of the entire ecosystem. The reduced stability of the system is reflected by major changes in the composition and abundance of the native flora and fauna. Introduced and invading species further degrade the ecological integrity of the plant and animal communities. Bison and prairie dogs were historically keystone species, but free roaming bison herds and nearly all prairie dogs have been extirpated in this MLRA. The loss of bison and fire as ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native grasslands and the habitats they provide.
Historically, an ecological mosaic of the sites provided habitat for species requiring unfragmented grasslands. Important habitat features and components found commonly or exclusively on modern day remnants include upland nesting habitat for grassland birds and game birds; nesting and escape cover for waterfowl; forbs and insects for brood rearing habitat; and a forage source for small and large herbivores. Fragmentation has reduced habitat quality for numerous area sensitive species, as highlighted by the decline of the greater prairie chicken. Many grassland nesting bird populations, such as dickcissel and Henslow's sparrow, are also declining. In this fragmented landscape, native grassland bird populations face increasing competition from the opportunistic European starlings and house sparrows are subject to nest parasitism from brown headed cowbirds. Tree encroachment creates habitat that favors generalist species such as American robin and mourning dove, and provides perches for raptors, increasing the predation mortality. Introduced species such as smooth bromegrass, reed canarygrass, Kentucky bluegrass, nodding plumeless thistle, and Canada thistle further degrade the biological integrity of many of these remnant prairies.
1. REFERENCE STATE: The predominance of tall and mid grasses and forbs in this community make it ideal for grazers and mixed feeders. Pollinating insects play a significant role in maintaining the forb community and provide a food source for grassland birds and other grassland dependent species. The vegetative structural diversity provides habitat for reptiles, amphibians, and a wide array of native and introduced bird species. The abundant prey base supports populations of Swainson’s hawk, short eared and great horned owls, and other grassland raptors. The grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including moles, mice, ground squirrels, and white-tail deer. The structure of this plant community provides suitable thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores and grassland birds. Many wide-ranging predators utilize this plant community, including coyote, badger, red fox, and least and long tailed weasels. As the plant community degrades to more mid grasses and fewer tall grasses, less winter and escape cover are provided. It also provides less cover for predators.Hydrological functions
The soils series associated with the Limy Upland ecological site have medium to very high runoff. They have a T (tolerance to erosion) factor of 5, and are rated as hydrologic class C.
Recreational uses
The Limy Upland ecological site provides hunting for upland game species and white-tailed deer, along with hiking, photography, and bird watching. The wide varieties of plants which bloom from spring until fall have an aesthetic value that appeals to visitors.
Wood products
Although several tree species invade this site, they usually do not reach sufficient size to produce wood products except for firewood.
Other products
None of significance
Other information
Site Development and Testing Plan:
Future work is needed to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description. Additional data collection and evaluation may also be needed to develop this ESD to the Approved, then Correlated level. This could include field activities to collect low, medium, and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Field reviews of the project plan should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document.Supporting information
Inventory data references
The inventory data consists of four 417s, and three NRI data points.
Other references
Harms, R. 2009. Recovery Outline for the Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana). Available online. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/invertebrates/saltcreektiger/FinalRecoveryOutlineFeb2009.pdf. Accessed 1/02/2018.
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. Available online. http://hpcc.unl.edu. Accessed 12/05/16.
Johnsgaard, P.A. 2001. “The Nature of Nebraska.” University of Nebraska Press.
Muhs, Daniel R., E. Bettis III, J. Aleinikoff, J. McGeehin, J. Beann, G. Skipp, B. Marshall, H. Roberts, W. Johnson, and R. Benton. "Origin and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Evidence from stratigraphy, chronology, sedimentology, and geochemistry" (2008). USGS Staff -- Published Research, Paper 162. Available online. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/162. Accessed 12/05/16.
Personal communications with professional ecologists and wildlife experts.
Rolfsmeier, S.B. and G. Steinauer. 2010. "Terrestrial Ecological Systems and Natural Communities of Nebraska", (version IV). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program.
Spomer, S. and L. Higley. 2001. The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. Bio-graphica International. Available online. http://drshigley.com/lgh/sctb/default.htm. Accessed 1/02/2018.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Ecological Site Handbook. Available online. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232 Accessed January, 2014.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Section 4. Available online. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21422. Accessed August, 2011
USDA, NRCS. National Water and Climate Center, Portland, OR. Available online. http://wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS.1997. National Range and Pasture Handbook.
USDA, NRCS. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center, Fort Collins, CO. Available online. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Available online. http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS Soil Surveys from: Butler, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Saunders and Richardson Counties in Nebraska; and Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wyandotte Counties in Kansas.Contributors
Nadine Bishop
Doug WhisenhuntApproval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 6/09/2025
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) Original Authors: Joseph May and Doug Whisenhunt Version V Authors: Anna Ferguson, Aaron Hird, Justin Linder, Dusty Schwandt, Doug Spencer, Chris Tecklenburg, Nadine Bishop, Jeff Nichols Contact for lead author jeffrey.nichols@usda.gov Date 11/30/2024 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None. Rills are not expected on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Typically, none. Water flow patterns are not expected on this site except on slopes exceeding 15 percent. When present, water flow patterns will be rare, short (6 to 12 inches or 15 to 30 cm) and disrupted by perennial vegetation. On slopes exceeding 30 percent, they will be more common and of moderate length (12 to 24 inches). -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None. Pedestals and terracettes are not expected to occur on this site. Pedestals and terracettes may occasionally occur on slopes exceeding 15 percent, becoming more abundant as slopes increase but with no exposed roots. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground is 5 percent or less. Bare ground is exposed mineral soil that is not covered by vegetation (basal and/or foliar canopy), litter, standing dead vegetation, gravel/rock, and visible biological crust (e.g., lichen, mosses, algae). -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Gullies are not expected on this site except on slopes exceeding 30 percent. On these steeper slopes, gullies will be formed by naturally occurring concentrated water flow and vegetated with no active erosion. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. Wind scoured and/or depositional areas are not expected on this site. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Typically, none. Litter movement is not expected on this site except on slopes exceeding 15 percent and due to high intensity storms. In this case, fine litter movement will be short distances of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) and be associated with water flow patterns. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability ratings will be 5 to 6, typically 6. High root content and organic matter will be present in the soil surface. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
The surface horizon (A) typically ranges from 9 to 15 inches thick but be as little as 4 or as much as 18 inches. Soil colors in the surface horizon are typically dark brown, brown, or dark grayish brown (hue: 10YR, value: 3 or 4, chroma: 2 or 3) when moist and brown or grayish brown (hue: 10YR, value: 5, chroma: 2 or 3) when dry. Soil structure in the upper horizon ranges from moderate medium granular, moderate medium granular parting to moderate fine granular, to weak medium granular. See Official Soils Descriptions (OSD) for additional details. The primary soils correlated to the Limy Upland ecological site include Steinauer and Netawaka. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Plant community composition of 70 to 85 percent grasses and grass-likes, 5 to 15 percent forbs, and 0 to 5 percent shrubs will optimize infiltration on the site. The grass and grass-like component consist of native, perennial, warm-season, tall grasses; native, perennial, warm-season, mid grasses; native, perennial, warm-season, short grasses; and native, perennial cool-season grasses and grass-likes. Infiltration can be adversely impacted by the invasion of Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, tall fescue, and trees when present above10 percent (subdominant designation). -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. No compaction layers are expected for 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:
Phase 1.1: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass (3 species minimum): big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, switchgrass. 2. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass (2 species minimum): little bluestem, composite dropseed, sideoats grama, purple lovegrass. Phase 1.2: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass (3 species minimum): little bluestem, composite dropseed, sideoats grama, purple lovegrass. Phase 1.3: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass (2 species minimum): little bluestem, composite dropseed, sideoats grama, purple lovegrass.Sub-dominant:
Phase 1.1: 1. Native forbs (6 species minimum): forbs present will vary from location to location. 2. Native, perennial, warm-season, short grass (1 species minimum): blue grama, buffalograss, hairy grama. Phase 1.2: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass (2 species minimum): big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, switchgrass. 2. Native, perennial, warm-season, short grass (1 species minimum): blue grama, hairy grama. Phase 1.3: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, short grass (1 species minimum): blue grama, hairy grama. 2. Native, perennial, cool-season grass (2 species minimum): porcupinegrass, Canada wildrye, prairie junegrass, western wheatgrass, Scribner's rosette grass, fall rosette grass.Other:
Minor - Phase 1.1: 1. Native, perennial, cool-season grass: porcupinegrass, Canada wildrye, prairie junegrass, western wheatgrass, Scribner's rosette grass, fall rosette grass. 2. Grass-likes: sedges. 3. Shrubs: coralberry, leadplant, Jersey tea, smooth sumac, prairie rose, western snowberry. Minor - Phase 1.2: 1. Native, perennial, cool-season grass: porcupinegrass, Canada wildrye, prairie junegrass, western wheatgrass, Scribner's rosette grass, fall rosette grass. 2. Native forbs: forbs present vary from location to location. 3. Grass-likes: sedges. 4. Shrubs: shrub present vary from location to location. Minor - Phase 1.3: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass: big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, switchgrass. 2. Non-native, cool-season grass: Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, tall fescue. 3. Shrubs: shrubs present vary from location to location. 4. Native forbs: forbs present vary from location to location. 5. Grass-likes: sedges. Trace - Phase 1.2: 1. Non-native, cool-season grass.Additional:
The Reference Community (1.1) includes seven F/S groups. These groups in order of abundance are native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; native forbs; native, perennial, warm-season, short grass; native, perennial, cool-season grass; grass-likes; shrubs. The Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) includes eight F/S groups. These groups are native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; native, perennial, warm-season, short grass; native, perennial, cool-season grass; native forbs; grass-likes; shrubs; non-native, cool-season grass. The At-Risk Native Grass Community (1.3) includes eight F/S groups. These groups in order of abundance are native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; native, perennial, warm-season, short grass; native, perennial, cool-season grass; native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; non-native, cool-season grass; shrubs; native forbs; grass-likes. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There is a diverse mixture of age classes among the plants. A few (less than 3 percent) dead centers may occur in bunchgrasses. Shrubs and trees may show some dead branches (less than 5 percent) as plants age. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Plant litter is expected to be 70 to 80 percent cover, at a depth of approximately 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) and evenly distributed throughout the site. Kentucky bluegrass is known to produce excessive litter accumulations that negatively impact site functionality. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Production is shown in air-dry values. Representative Value (RV) = 3,000 pounds per acre Low production years = 2,500 pounds per acre. High production years = 3,500 pounds per acre. -
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:
No nonnative invasive species are present. Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, Caucasian bluestem, tall fescue, eastern red cedar, honey locust, roughleaf dogwood, Siberian elm, Osage orange, green briar, leafy spurge, and sericea lespedeza are known invasives that have the potential to be dominant or co-dominant on the site. Consult the state noxious weed and state watchlists for potential invasive species on each ecological site. NOTE: Invasive plants (for the purposes of the IIRH protocol) are plant species that are typically not found on the ecological site or should only be in trace or minor categories under the natural disturbance regime and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the site if their establishment and growth are not actively controlled by natural disturbances or management interventions. Species listed characterize degraded states AND have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial species exhibit high vigor relative to climatic conditions. Perennial grasses should have vigorous rhizomes or tillers; vegetative and reproductive structures are not stunted. All perennial species should be capable of reproducing annually.
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement
