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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PAGE 3 OF a
<br /> NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE 01/18/00
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<br /> WILDLIFE HABITAT
<br /> Endnote -- WILDLIFE HABITAT
<br /> Soils affect the kind and amount of vegetation that is available to wildlife as food and cover. They also affect
<br /> the construction of water impoundments. The kind and abundance of wildlife depend largely on the amount and
<br /> distribution of food, cover, and water. Wildlife habitat can be created or improved by planting appropriate
<br /> vegetation, by maintaining the existing plant cover, or by promoting the natural establishment of desirable plants.
<br /> In this report the soils are rated according to their potential for providing habitat for various kinds of
<br /> wildlife. This information can be used in planning parks, wildlife refuges, nature study areas, and other developments
<br /> for wildlife; in selecting soils that are suitable for establishing, improving, or maintaining specific elements of
<br /> wildlife habitat; and in determining the intensity of management needed for each element of the habitat. The
<br /> potential of the soil is rated -Good," "Fair," "Poor," or "Very poor." A rating of 'Good' indicates that the element
<br /> or kind of habitat is easily established, improved, or maintained. Few or no limitations affect management, and
<br /> satisfactory results can be expected. A rating of "Fair- indicates that the element or kind of habitat can be
<br /> established, improved, or maintained in most places. Moderately intensive management is required for satisfactory
<br /> results. A rating of -Poor- indicates that limitations are severe for the designated element or kind of habitat.
<br /> Habitat can be created, improved, or maintained in most places, but management is difficult and must be intensive.
<br /> A rating of "Very poor- indicates that restrictions for the element or kind of habitat are very severe and that
<br /> unsatisfactory results can be expected. Creating, improving, or maintaining habitat is impractical or
<br /> impossible. The elements of wildlife habitat are described in the following paragraphs.
<br /> GRAIN AND SEED CROPS are domestic grains and seed-producing herbaceous plants. Soil properties and features that affect
<br /> •growth of grain and seed crops are depth of the root zone, texture of the surface layer, available water
<br /> city, wetness, slope, surface stoniness, and flood hazard. Soil temperature and soil moisture are also
<br /> considerations. Examples of grain and seed crops are corn, wheat, oats, and barley.
<br /> GRASSES AND LEGUMES are domestic perennial grasses and herbaceous legumes. Soil properties and features that
<br /> affect the growth of grasses and legumes are depth of the root zone, texture of the surface layer, available water
<br /> capacity, wetness, surface stoniness, flood hazard, and slope. Soil temperature and soil moisture are also
<br /> considerations. Examples of grasses and legumes are fescue, lovegrass, bromegrass, clover, and alfalfa.
<br /> WILD HERBACEOUS PLANTS are native or naturally established grasses and £orbs, including weeds. Soil properties and
<br /> features that affect the growth of these plants are depth of the root zone, texture of the surface layer, available water
<br /> capacity, wetness, surface stoniness, and flood hazard. Soil temperature and soil moisture are also considerations.
<br /> Examples of wild herbaceous plants are bluestem, goldenrod, beggarweed, wheatgrass, and grams.
<br /> HARDWOOD TREES and woody understory produce nuts or other fruit, buds, catkins, twigs, bark, and foliage. Soil
<br /> properties and features that affect the growth of hardwood trees and shrubs are depth of the root zone, available water
<br /> capacity, and wetness. Examples of these plants are oak, poplar, cherry, sweetgum, apple, hawthorn, dogwood, hickory,
<br /> blackberry, and blueberry. Examples of Eruit-producing shrubs that are suitable for planting on soils rated
<br /> are Russian-olive, autumn-olive, and crabapple.
<br /> CONIFEROUS PLANTS furnish browse and seeds. Soil properties and features that affect the growth of coniferous trees,
<br /> shrubs, and ground cover are depth of the root zone, available water capacity, and wetness. Examples of
<br /> coniferous plants are pine, spruce, fir, cedar, and juniper.
<br /> SHRUBS are bushy woody plants that produce fruit, buds, twigs, bark, and foliage. Soil properties and features that
<br /> affect the growth of shrubs are depth of the root one, available water capacity, salinity, and soil moisture.
<br /> .tiles of shrubs are mountainmahogany, bitterbrush, snowberry, and big sagebrush.
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