Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F116BY015MO
Loamy Terrace Woodland
Last updated: 10/07/2020
Accessed: 07/15/2026
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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.
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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): 116B–Springfield Plain
The Springfield Plain is in the western part of the Ozark Uplift. It is primarily a smooth plateau with some dissection along streams. Elevation is about 1,000 feet in the north to over 1,700 feet in the east along the Burlington Escarpment adjacent to the Ozark Highlands. The underlying bedrock is mainly Mississippian-aged limestone, with areas of shale on lower slopes and structural benches, and intermittent Pennsylvanian-aged sandstone deposits on the plateau surface.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mesic Bottomland Woodland.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (Missouri Department of Conservation, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Hardwood Mesic Bottomland Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to an Acer saccharum - Quercus rubra - Carya cordiformis / Asimina triloba Forest (CEGL002060).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily within the following Land Type Associations:
Shoal Creek Oak Savanna/Woodland Low Hills
Spring River Prairie/Savanna Dissected Plain
Upper Sac River Oak Savanna/Woodland Low HillsEcological 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”.
Loamy Terrace Woodlands occur on floodplain steps and low stream terraces throughout the Springfield Plain. Soils are very deep and loamy, and are subject to flooding. The historic reference condition is a woodland dominated by an overstory of Shumard oak and white oak.Associated sites
F116BY002MO Loamy Floodplain Forest
Loamy Floodplain Forests and other floodplain ecological sites are downslope.
F116BY006MO Chert Limestone Upland Woodland
Chert Limestone Upland Woodlands and other upland ecological sites are upslope.
F116BY014MO Wet Terrace Woodland
Wet Terrace Woodlands are often adjacent, where soils are somewhat poorly drained.
Similar sites
F116BY013MO Loamy Footslope Woodland
Loamy Footslope Woodlands were higher on the landscape but species composition was generally similar. The sites were generally less productive.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus alba
(2) Quercus shumardiiShrub (1) Cercis canadensis
Herbaceous (1) Elymus virginicus
(2) CarexPhysiographic features
This site is on floodplain steps with slopes of 0 to 1 percent. The site generates some runoff to adjacent lower floodplain sites, and receives some runoff from higher stream terraces and uplands. Although this site is subject to flooding, ecological processes more closely resemble those of stream terrace systems.
The following figure (adapted from Kichler and Henderson, 1999) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. This site is within the area labeled “4”, and is typically on floodplain steps, above the level of the most active floodplain, labeled “5”, and adjacent to the uplands, labeled “1”. In some areas a Wet Terrace Woodland ecological site is present, directly above the Loamy Terrace site, labeled on the figure as “3”.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Flood-plain step
(2) Flood plain
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency Occasional Ponding frequency None Slope 0 – 1 % Water table depth 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Springfield Plain 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 Springfield Plain experiences few regional differences in climates. The average annual precipitation in this area is 41 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 55 to 58 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only one or two degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along a west to east gradient. 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.
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. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. 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; 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 (characteristic range) 150-160 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 190-190 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 140-160 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 180-200 days Precipitation total (actual range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (average) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) 190 days Precipitation total (average) 50 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
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(1) NEOSHO [USC00235976], Neosho, MO
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(2) CARTHAGE [USC00231356], Carthage, MO
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(3) SPRINGFIELD [USW00013995], Springfield, MO
">Influencing water features
This ecological site is typically associated with, but not adjacent to, a perennial stream. Stream levels typically respond quickly to storm events, especially in watersheds where surface runoff is dominant. Short- to medium- duration flooding is common in many areas, particularly during spring and early summer storm events. However, scour and deposition are uncommon, so the effects on ground flora are minimal. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the hydrology and flooding dynamics in many places.
Soil features
These soils have no rooting restriction. They were formed under a mixture of prairie and woodland vegetation. Parent material is alluvium. They have silt loam surface horizons, and loamy subsoils that may be skeletal. They are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Bearthicket and Secesh.
The accompanying picture of the Secesh series shows a dark brown loam surface horizon over a brown silty clay loam subsoil. Very gravelly, loamy sediments are below about 30 inches in this picture. Scale is in feet. Picture courtesy of Dennis Meinert, Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Figure 9. Secesh series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow Soil depth 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)7 – 8 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)5.1 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified 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.
Loamy Terrace Woodlands occur along most streams throughout the region. The historic reference condition is woodland dominated by an overstory of Shumard oak and white oak, with scattered bur oak and hickory. The canopy is moderately tall but somewhat closed with a dense understory of native grasses and forbs. Increased light from the more open canopy causes a diversity of woodland ground flora species to flourish. 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.
Because of their proximity to prairies, fire played a significant role in the maintenance of these systems. It is likely that these ecological sites burned at least once every 3 to 5 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.
Loamy Terrace Woodlands were also subjected to occasional disturbances from flooding, wind and ice, as well as grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. Wind and ice would have periodically opened the canopy up by knocking over trees or breaking substantial branches off canopy trees. Grazing by native herbivores would have effectively kept understory conditions more open, creating conditions more favorable to oak reproduction and woodland ground flora species.
Today, these ecological sites have been cleared and converted to pasture or cropland or have undergone repeated timber harvest and domestic grazing. Most existing forested 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 and sugar maple, 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.
These ecological sites are productive. Oak regeneration is typically problematic. Maintenance of the oak component will require disturbances that will encourage more sun adapted species and reduce shading effects. Single tree selection timber harvests are common in this region and often results in removal of the most productive trees (high grading) in the stand leading to poorer quality timber and a shift in species composition away from more valuable oak species. Better planned single tree selection or the creation of group openings can help regenerate and maintain more desirable oak species and increase vigor on the residual trees.
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 application of prescribed fire, the ground flora diversity can be shaded out and diversity of the stand may suffer.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 10. State and transition diagram for this ecological site
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 textEcosystem states
States 1 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe reference state was dominated by white oak and black oak. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the dominance of oaks by opening up the canopy and allowing more light for oak reproduction. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in more shade tolerant species such as hickory and sugar maple. Two community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
The reference state is rare today. Some sites have been converted to grassland (State 4). Others have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest coupled with uncontrolled domestic livestock grazing (State 5). Fire suppression has also resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora. Many reference sites have been managed for timber harvest, resulting in either even-age (State 2) or uneven-age (State 3) forests.Community 1.1
White Oak – Shumard Oak/ Eastern Redbud / Virginia Wildrye – Little BluestemForest overstory.The Overstory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Forest understory. The Understory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Community 1.2
White Oak – Black Oak/Eastern Redbud – Hickory/ Virginia Wildrye – SedgePathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2No disturbances (10+ years)
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Disturbances (fire, wind, ice) 3-5 years
State 2
Even-Age Managed ForestThese former woodland are now rather dense, with an under developed understory and ground flora. Thinning can increase overall tree vigor and improve understory diversity. Continual timber management, depending on the practices used, will either maintain this state, or convert the site to uneven-age (State 3) forests.
Dominant resource concerns
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Plant structure and composition
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Wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation
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Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 2.1
White Oak – Black Oak/ Red Bud/ WildryeState 3
Uneven-Age Managed ForestComposition and age are altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. In addition, without a regular 15 to 20 year harvest re-entry into these stands, they will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species such as hickory and white oak will become less dominant.
Dominant resource concerns
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Plant structure and composition
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Wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation
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Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 3.1
Shumard Oak – Northern Red Oak – White Oak /Redbud/ Indian WoodoatsState 4
GrasslandConversion of forests to planted, non-native pasture species such as tall fescue has been common in this MLRA. Steep slopes, surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make non-native pastures challenging to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site. If grazing and active pasture management is discontinued, the site will eventually transition, over time, to State 2 (Even-Age).
Community 4.1
Tall Fescue - Red CloverDominant resource concerns
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Plant structure and composition
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Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 4.2
Tall fescue - Broomsedge/Oak SproutsDominant resource concerns
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Sheet and rill erosion
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Ephemeral gully erosion
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Nutrients transported to surface water
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Plant productivity and health
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Plant structure and composition
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Plant pest pressure
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Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
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Feed and forage imbalance
Pathway P4.1A
Community 4.1 to 4.2Over grazing; no fertilization
Pathway P4.2A
Community 4.2 to 4.1Brush management; grassland seeding; grassland management
State 5
High-Graded/Grazed WoodlandWoodland 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 coralberry, 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. Exclusion of livestock from sites in this state coupled with uneven-age management techniques will cause a transition to State 3 (Uneven-Age).
Dominant resource concerns
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Ephemeral gully erosion
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Plant productivity and health
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Plant structure and composition
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Plant pest pressure
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Wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation
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Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 5.1
Black Oak – Hickory/ Hophornbeam/BuckbrushTransition T1A
State 1 to 2Harvesting; even-aged management; fire suppression
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Harvesting; uneven-age management; fire suppression
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Clearing; grassland planting; grassland management
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5High-grade harvesting; uncontrolled grazing
Restoration pathway R1B
State 2 to 1Extended rotations; prescribed fire; forest stand improvement
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Uneven-age management
Restoration pathway R1A
State 3 to 1Extended rotations; prescribed fire; forest stand improvement
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2Even-age management; thinning
Transition T4A
State 4 to 2Tree planting; long-term succession; no grazing
Transition T5B
State 5 to 3Uneven-age management; tree planting; no grazing
Transition T5A
State 5 to 4Clearing; grassland planting; grassland management
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Treenorthern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – 10-20 – 0 mockernut hickory CATO6 Carya tomentosa Native – 10-20 – 0 bitternut hickory CACO15 Carya cordiformis Native – 10-20 – 0 white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – 10-20 – 0 shellbark hickory CALA21 Carya laciniosa Native – 10-20 – 0 Shumard's oak QUSH Quercus shumardii Native – 10-20 – 0 bur oak QUMA2 Quercus macrocarpa Native – 10-20 – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus Native – 5–20 eastern star sedge CARA8 Carex radiata Native – 5–20 eastern bottlebrush grass ELHY Elymus hystrix Native – 5–20 James' sedge CAJA2 Carex jamesii Native – 5–20 Indian woodoats CHLA5 Chasmanthium latifolium Native – 5–20 American beakgrain DIAM Diarrhena americana Native – 5–20 Forb/HerbAmerican hogpeanut AMBR2 Amphicarpaea bracteata Native – 5–20 American bellflower CAAM18 Campanulastrum americanum Native – 5–20 eastern beebalm MOBR2 Monarda bradburiana Native – 5–20 eastern purple coneflower ECPU Echinacea purpurea Native – 5–20 cutleaf coneflower RULA3 Rudbeckia laciniata Native – 5–20 roundleaf ragwort PAOB6 Packera obovata Native – 5–20 clustered blacksnakeroot SAOD Sanicula odorata Native – 5–20 bur-reed sedge CASP3 Carex sparganioides Native – 5–20 bearded shorthusk BRER2 Brachyelytrum erectum Native – 5–20 Shrub/Subshrubeastern redbud CECA4 Cercis canadensis Native – 5–10 American hazelnut COAM3 Corylus americana Native – 5–10 burningbush EUAT5 Euonymus atropurpureus Native – 5–10 Table 8. Community 1.2 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 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife Species (MDC 2006):
Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrel depend on hard and soft mast food sources and are typical upland game species of this type.
Birds associated with late-successional woodlands are Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler (Ozark Border), Northern Parula (near streams), and Louisiana Waterthrush (near streams).
Reptiles and amphibians associated with these sites include: ringed salamander, spotted salamander, marbled salamander, central newt, long-tailed salamander, dark-sided salamander, southern red-backed salamander, small-mouthed salamander, three-toed box turtle, ground skink, western worm snake, western earth snake, and American toad.Other information
Forestry (NRCS 2002; 2014)
Management: Estimated site index values range from 60 to 70. Timber management opportunities are good. Create group openings of at least 2 acres. Large clearcuts should be minimized if possible to reduce impacts on wildlife and aesthetics. Uneven-aged management using single tree selection or small group selection cuttings of ½ to 1 acre are other options that can be used if clear cutting is not desired or warranted. Maintain adequate riparian buffer areas.
Limitations: No major limitations or restrictions. Occasional periods of seasonal wetness; Use of equipment may be restricted in spring and other excessively wet periods. Equipment use when wet may compact soil and damage tree roots. Tree planting may be difficult during spring flooding periods.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Loamy Terrace Woodland No quality reference sites are known to exist
Other references
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Kichler, Larry E., and Richard L. Henderson. 1999. Soil Survey of Polk County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Ladd, D. 1991. Reexamination of the role of fire in Missouri oak woodlands. Pp. 67-80 in G.V. Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
Missouri Department of Conservation. 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.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx
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., and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Peer, Alan C. 2004. Soil Survey of Jasper County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 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. 682 pgs.Contributors
Doug Wallace
Fred YoungApproval
Nels Barrett, 10/07/2020
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 09/24/2020 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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