Geographic Analysis and Exploration in the South Central United States

Mark P. Widrlechner

USDA-ARS

North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

Ames, IA

Acknowledgments

ISU Media Graphics (Rex Heer) for moisture balance map

Spatial Climate Analysis Service - Oregon State University for precipitation maps

Cris Nass and Robert Stebbins for help with scanning

Outline of Presentation

Overview Applying geographic factors to the South

Central US Plants and potential sites

Overview

Location-specific factors influencing the adaptation of woody plants in the Midwest Photoperiod regimen Winter injury Moisture balance Soil type

Photoperiod Regimen

Key factor to signal growth and the cessation of growth

Directly correlated with latitude Plants evolve in response to the interaction of

photoperiod and correlated events

Winter Injury

Three main aspects Timing of hardening Mid-winter low temperature survival Timing of dehardening

Also, interaction with moisture conditions, especially for evergreens

USDA Hardiness Zones (average annual minimum temperature) are an easily obtainable surrogate (especially for regions resembling the target environment)

Moisture Balance

Perhaps as important as winter hardiness (especially in low maintenance situations) Widrlechner et al. (1992) J. Environ. Hort. 10: 192-

198 and J. Environ. Hort. 16: 27-32.

Can visualize based on the Moisture Index of Mather and Yoshioka: Im = 100((mean annual precipitation/potential evapotranspiration)-1)

From Widrlechner (1999) "A Zone Map for Mean Annual Moisture Balance in the North Central United States," Landscape Plant News 10(2): 10-14.

Valuable Soil Types

pH (neutral to alkaline) High Ca or Na content Relatively poor drainage Thin (for drought tolerance)

Applying this Approach to the South Central United States

Latitude (35 to 40° North) USDA Hardiness Zones (6a and b)

Resulting Region

Southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma on the west

Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee on the east

Adding the Moisture Balance Criterion

Areas in the western two-thirds of Kansas and Oklahoma have negative moisture balances (too dry)

Kentucky and Tennessee have high positive moisture balances (too wet)

Parts of eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, and southern Illinois have appropriate moisture balances

(Im between 0 and 40)

Working with the Moisture Balance Criterion

In areas that are too dry, target extremely wet sites along rivers, lakes, springs and significant north-facing slopes

In areas that are too wet, target limestone barrens and other drought-prone sites

In areas that are a good match, one can be broader in collecting

Too dry

Im < 00 to 20 20 to 40 Too wet

Im > 40

Can we find the “right” soils in this region?

Neutral to alkaline, calcareous or saline soils

Thin soils Poorly draining soils

Can we find interesting woody plant populations?

Plants adapted to appropriate soils Species reaching the northwest edge of

their native ranges Endemic species Species with attractive aesthetic

characteristics

Oklahoma Soils

Neutral to alkaline, calcareous soils Apperson, Catoosa, Foraker, Grainola, Labette,

Lenapah, Mayes, Newtonia, Summit (mostly silty clay loams)

Thin soils Shidler, Sogn, Talpa (mixed with limestone)

Poorly drained soils Choska, Latanier, Lela, Miller, Osage, Wynona

(clays)

Oklahoma Plants

John E. Williams (1973) Atlas of the woody plants of Oklahoma (QK 155 W55 1973)

Forrest L. Johnson and Bruce W. Hoagland (1999) Catalog of the Woody Plants of Oklahoma http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/cover.htm

Arkansas Soils

Neutral to alkaline, calcareous soils Clareson, Mayes, Newtonia, Summit silt

loams and silt clays Thin and rocky soils

Arkana, Elsah, Moko, Sogn, Ventris mostly stony silt loams (often with rock outcrops)

Alluvial soils Razort silt loam

Arkansas Plants

Gary E. Tucker (1976) Guide to the woody flora of Arkansas (QK 153 .T84 1976)

Arkansas Biodiversity – The Vascular Flora

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/arkansas/arkfamyy.htm

Missouri Soils

Neutral to alkaline, calcareous soils (rocky or thin) Blueye, Brussels, Cedargap, Gasconade,

Hercules, Knobby, Moko Rock outcrops

Dolomite and other non-cherty limestones Poorly drained soils

Gasconade, Snead

Missouri Plants

Julian Steyermark (1963) Flora of Missouri (being revised and updated by George Yatskievych)

Kansas Soils

Neutral to alkaline, calcareous soils Apperson, Catoosa, Kenoma silt loam

Thin and rocky soils Shidler, Sogn silty and rocky clay loam

Poorly drained soils Clime, Lanton, Osage, Verdigris, Zaar silty

loam and silty clay

Kansas Plants

H.A. Stephens (1973) Woody Plants of the North Central Plains

Great Plains Flora Association (1977) Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains

Illinois Soils Neutral to alkaline, some calcareous soils

Bold silt loam, La Hogue loam, Hurst, Sable and Virden silty clay loam

Upland natric (with sodium) soils Darmstadt, Grantfork, Huey, and Piasa silt loams and

silty clay loams Thin soils

Rare, isolated limestone outcrops in Jackson Co. Alluvial soils

Ambraw, Beaucoup, Birds, Darwin, Dupo, Lawson, McFain, Nameoki, Tice, Titus, Wakeland

Illinois Plants

Works by Robert Mohlenbrock Series on the Flowering Plants of Illinois 2002 edition of the Vascular Flora of Illinois Mohlenbrock and Ladd (1978) Distribution of

Illinois Vascular Plants Mohlenbrock and Voigt (1959) A Flora of

Southern Illinois

Some Potential Target Sites

OK-KS E ½ of Kay Co., W ½ of Osage Co., W ½ of

Chautauqua Co., and all of Cowley Co. Much of Rogers Co., W Craig Co., E Nowata

Co., much of Labette Co., and E Montgomery Co.

Mayes Co. (W side of Lake Hudson and SW of Locust Grove)

More Potential Target Sites

AR-MO W edge of Fulton Co., N ½ of Baxter, Marion,

and Boone Cos., SE ¼ of Taney Co., and possibly S ½ of Ozark Co.

W 2/3 of Carroll Co., SE ¼ of Barry Co., and small parts of adjacent Benton and Madison Cos.

More Potential Target Sites

MO-IL Mississippi floodplain from Perry Co. north

towards St. Louis and Jackson to Monroe Cos. ( + limestone outcrops in Jackson Co.)

Lower Kaskaskia River and tributaries Natric soils in E ½ of Madison, Bond, and

Clinton Cos. and near Hecker in Randolph and St. Clair Cos.

And now a few maps…