Ecological site F119XY001AR

Tree	(1) Quercus stellata
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Desmodium

Landforms	(1) Dike
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	600 – 1200 ft
Slope	3 – 20 %
Aspect	SE, NW

Frost-free period (average)	200 days
Freeze-free period (average)	230 days
Precipitation total (average)	60 in

Parent material	(1) Residuum – granite
Surface texture	(1) Stony loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderately slow to moderately rapid
Soil depth	31 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	4.7 – 5 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	5.5 – 6.1
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	4 – 10 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	1 – 15 %

Ecological dynamics

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 5. Igneous Upland, F119XY001AR

Figure 6. Igneous Upland, F119XY001AR

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

State 1
Reference State

Narrative: The historical reference state for this ecological site was old growth oak woodland with an open understory and a dense ground flora of native grasses and forbs. This state was dominated by white oak, with occasional red oak, post oak, and shortleaf pine. Maximum tree age was likely 150 to 300 years. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the woodland structure and diverse ground flora species. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in both the density of trees and the abundance of shade tolerant species. Two community phases are recognized in the reference state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency. Reference sites are very rare today.
Most of these sites have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest (State 3). Fire suppression has resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora (State 4). Relatively few Igneous Upland Woodlands have been managed effectively for timber harvest (State 2), resulting in either even-age or uneven-age forests.

Additional community tables

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
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on 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:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F119XY001AR

Igneous Upland

Accessed: 08/29/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service