1\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR GRAIN HABITAT

> Ratings are for domestic grain or other seed-producing annuals planted
> to produce wildlife food. Examples are
>
> corn, sorghum, wheat, oats, barley, millet, buckwheat, cowpeas,
> soybeans, and sunflowers.

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for repeated
    annual planting, individually, in combination, or in rotation, of
    all climatically adapted species.

Expected seed production, above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for the planting,
    individually or in combination, of climatically adapted species, but
    require a conservation cropping

system for soil improvement, protection, and maintenance. Expected seed
production, about average.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for the planting
    individually or in combination, of a limited number of climatically
    adapted species, but require

intensive conservation treatment for soil improvement, protection, and
maintenance. Expected seed production, below average.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions severely limit the
    variety of species and the amount of grain or seed production.
    Practices for soil improvement, protection,

and maintenance is impossible or impractical to apply. Seed production,
extremely low and unreliable.

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating    | **Good**    | **Fair**    | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria**  |             |             |             | Poor**      |
|             | **1**       | **2**       | **3**       |             |
|             |             |             |             | **4**       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Land        | I, II       | III, IVe    | IVw,s,c, VI | V, VII,     |
| Capability  |             |             |             | VIII        |
| Cla         |             |             |             |             |
| ssification |             |             |             |             |
| 1/          |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Texture of  | Fine sandy  | Silty clay, | Loam sand,  | Coarse      |
| surface     | loam, very  | clay, sandy | loamy fine  | sand, muck, |
|             | fine sandy  | clay        | sand,       | peat        |
|             | loam, silt  |             | medium and  |             |
|             | loam, loam, |             | fine sand   |             |
|             | silty clay  |             |             |             |
|             | loam, sandy |             |             |             |
|             | loam, sandy |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam,  |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam   |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Available   | 4 or more   | 3 -- 4      | 2 -- 3      | Less than 2 |
| water       | inches      | inches      | inches      | inches      |
| capacity to |             |             |             |             |
| 40" depth   |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil        | Well        | Somewhat    | Poorly      | Very poorly |
| drainage    | drained &   | poorly      | drained 3/  | drained 3/  |
| class       | Moderately  | drained,    | Excessively |             |
|             | well        | somewhat    | drained     |             |
|             | drained 2/  | excessively |             |             |
|             |             | drained     |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Surface     | None to     | None to     | Stony       | Very stony, |
| stoniness   | slight      | slight      |             | extremely   |
|             |             |             |             | stony       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Flood       | None to     | None to     | Frequent    | Very        |
| hazard      | occasional  | occasional  |             | frequent    |
| (during     |             |             |             |             |
| growing     |             |             |             |             |
| season)     |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Slope range | 0 -- 5      | 5 -- 15     | 15 -- 25    | Over 25     |
|             | percent     | percent     | percent     | percent     |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

[2. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR DOMESTIC GRASS HABITAT]{.underline}

> Ratings are for domestic perennial grasses and herbaceous legumes that
> are planted for wildlife cover and food. Examples are fescue,
> bluegrass, lovegrass, switchgrass, brome, timothy, orchardgrass,
> clover, alfalfa, trefoil, and crownvetch.

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for establishing
    a wide variety of climatically adapted species and for maintaining
    adequate stands for wildlife

cover and food. Expected growth rates and forage or seed production,
above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for the
    establishment of a wide variety of climatically adapted species, but
    require fertilization or renovation to

maintain adequate cover and food. Expected growth rates and forage or
seed production, about average.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions include severe limitations
    that make renovation difficult or that may limit successful
    establishment to a very few species. Growth

rates and forage or seed production, below average usually, but may be
high for one or two species.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions preclude the
    establishment of any but very sparse stands or make seeding, liming,
    fertilization, or renovation impossible or

impractical.

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating    | **Good**    | **Fair**    | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria**  |             |             |             | Poor**      |
|             | **1**       | **2**       | **3**       |             |
|             |             |             |             | **4**       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Land        | I, II,      | IIIw,s,c,   | IVs,        | VII, VIII   |
| Capability  | IIIe, IVe   | IVw,c, VIe  | VIw,s,c, V  |             |
|             |             |             |             |             |
| Cla         |             |             |             |             |
| ssification |             |             |             |             |
| 1/          |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Thickness   |             |             | 10 to 20    | Less than   |
| of soil     |             |             | inches      | 10 inches   |
|             |             |             |             |             |
| (useful to  |             |             |             |             |
| crops)      |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Texture of  | Sandy loam, | Loamy sand, | Sand        | \- - -      |
| surface     | fine sandy  | loamy fine  |             |             |
| layers      | loam, very  | sand, silty |             |             |
|             | fine sandy  | clay, clay, |             |             |
|             | loam, loam, | sandy clay  |             |             |
|             | silt loam,  |             |             |             |
|             | silty clay  |             |             |             |
|             | loam, sandy |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam,  |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam   |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Available   | 3 or more   | 2-3 inches  | Less than 2 | \- - -      |
| water       | inches      |             | inches      |             |
| capacity to |             |             |             |             |
| 40" depth   |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil        | Well        | Poorly      | Very poorly | \- - -      |
| drainage    | drained     | drained     | drained     |             |
| class       |             |             |             |             |
|             | Moderately  | Somewhat    | Excessively |             |
|             | well        | excessively | drained     |             |
|             | drained     | drained     |             |             |
|             |             |             |             |             |
|             | Somewhat    |             |             |             |
|             | poorly      |             |             |             |
|             | drained     |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Surface     | None to     | Stony       | Very Stony  | Extremely   |
| stoniness   | slight      |             |             | stony       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Flood       | None to     | Frequent    | Very        | \- - -      |
| hazard      | occasional  |             | frequent    |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Slope range | 0 -- 15     | 15 -- 35    | Over 35     | \- - -      |
|             | percent     | percent     | percent     |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

3\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR HERBACEOUS HABITAT

> Wild herbaceous plants refer to native or naturally established
> dryland herbaceous grasses and forbs (including weeds) that provide
> food and cover for wildlife. Examples are bluestem, Indiana grass,
> goldenrod, beggar weed, partridge pea, pokeweed, wheat grasses,
> fescues, and gramas.

1\. [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for the
establishment and vigorous growth of a wide variety of species. Expected
growth rates and seed

production, above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for a limited
    number of species. Expected growth rates and seed production , about
    average, but may be high for one

or two species.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for only a few
    species. Growth rates and seed production, below average.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are unfavorable. The
    number of adapted species and the total annual production is so low
    or unreliable that no significant food or cover for wildlife is
    produced.

+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating   | **Good**      | **Fair**   | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria** |               |            |             | Poor**      |
|            | **1**         | **2**      | **3**       |             |
|            |               |            |             | **4**       |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Thickness  | Over 20       | 10 -- 20   | Less than   | \- - -      |
| of soil    | inches        | inches     | 10 inches   |             |
| (useful to |               |            |             |             |
| plants)    |               |            |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Texture of | Loamy sand,   | Sandy clay | \- - -      | \- - -      |
| surface    | sand, sandy   | 2/, silty  |             |             |
| layers     | loam, fine    | clay 2/,   |             |             |
|            | sandy loam,   | clay 2/,   |             |             |
|            | very fine     | clay 2/    |             |             |
|            | sandy loam,   |            |             |             |
|            | loam, silt    |            |             |             |
|            | loam          |            |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Available  | 3 or more     | 2 - 3      | Less than 2 | \- - -      |
| water      | inches        | inches     | inches      |             |
| capacity   |               |            |             |             |
| to 40"     |               |            |             |             |
| depth      |               |            |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil       | Well drained  | Somewhat   | Very poorly | Inundated   |
| drainage   |               | e          | drained 3/  | most of     |
| class      | Moderately    | xcessively |             | growing     |
|            | well drained  | drained,   |             | season      |
|            |               | e          |             |             |
|            | Somewhat      | xcessively |             |             |
|            | poorly        | drained,   |             |             |
|            | drained       | poorly     |             |             |
|            |               | drained 3/ |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Surface    | \- - -        | \- - -     | \- - -      | Stony land  |
| stoniness  |               |            |             |             |
|            |               |            |             | Rubble      |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Flooding   | None to       | Frequent   | Very        | \- - -      |
| and        | occasional    |            | frequent    |             |
| ponding    |               |            |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Salinity   |               |            | 4 -- 8      | \>8 mmhos;  |
| or         |               |            | mmhos;      | or \>15% Na |
| alkalinity |               |            | \<15% Na    | Sat/        |
| within 20" |               |            | Sat/        |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+
| Moisture   | Udic; Xeric;  | Aridic     | Aridic      | > \- - -    |
| regime     | Ustic         | (Torric)   | (Torric);   |             |
|            |               | -- Ustic;  | Aquic 3/    |             |
|            |               |            |             |             |
|            |               | Us         |             |             |
|            |               | tic-Aridic |             |             |
|            |               | (Torric);  |             |             |
|            |               |            |             |             |
|            |               | Xe         |             |             |
|            |               | ric-Aridic |             |             |
|            |               | (Torric);  |             |             |
|            |               |            |             |             |
|            |               | Aridic     |             |             |
|            |               | (Tor       |             |             |
|            |               | ric)-Xeric |             |             |
+------------+---------------+------------+-------------+-------------+

4\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR SHRUB HABITAT

(NOT USED IN WISCONSIN)

5\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR CONIFER HABITAT

> Coniferous plants are cone-bearing trees, shrubs, or groundcover that
> furnish wildlife cover or supply food in the form of browse, seeds, or
> fruit-like cones. Commonly established through natural processes, but
> may be planted or transplanted. Examples are pine, spruce, hemlock,
> fir, yew, cedar, and juniper.

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for
    establishment, vigorous growth, and reproduction of a wide variety
    of climatically adapted species. Growth

> rates and seed production, above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for a dependable
    growth of a number of adapted species. Growth rates and seed
    production, above average.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions severely limit the number of
    species. Growth rates and seed production, both below average.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are such that very few or
    no species of value to wildlife will grow. Wildlife food and cover
    produced is insignificant.

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating    | **Good**    | **Fair**    | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria**  |             |             |             | Poor**      |
|             | **1**       | **2**       | **3**       |             |
|             |             |             |             | **4**       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Thickness   | Over 20     | 10 - 20     | Less than   | \- - -      |
| of soil     | inches      | inches      | 10 inches   |             |
| (useful to  |             |             |             |             |
| crops)      |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Available   | 4 or more   | 3 -- 4      | 2 -- 3      | Less than 2 |
| water       | inches      | inches      | inches      | inches      |
| capacity to |             |             |             |             |
| 40" depth   |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil        | Well        | Poorly      | Very poorly | Inundated   |
| drainage    | drained     | drained     | drained     |             |
| class       |             |             |             |             |
|             | Moderately  | Somewhat    | Excessively |             |
|             | well        | excessively | drained     |             |
|             | drained     | drained     |             |             |
|             |             |             |             |             |
|             | Somewhat    |             |             |             |
|             | poorly      |             |             |             |
|             | drained     |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

6\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR HARDWOOD HABITAT

> Hardwood trees in the humid parts of the country (udic moisture
> regime) include nonconiferous tress and associated woody understory
> plants that provide wildlife cover or that produce nuts, buds,
> catkins, twigs, bark, or foliage used as food by wildlife.

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for
    establishment, vigorous growth, and reproduction of a wide variety
    of climatically adapted species. Growth rates and seed production,
    above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suitable for a dependable
    growth of a number of adapted species. Growth rates and seed
    production, about average.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions severely limit the number of
    species. Growth rates and seed production, both below average.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are such that very few or
    no species of value to wildlife will grow. Wildlife food and cover
    production is insignificant.

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating    | **Good**    | **Fair**    | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria**  |             |             |             | Poor**      |
|             | **1**       | **2**       | **3**       |             |
|             |             |             |             | **4**       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Thickness   | Over 20     | 10 - 20     | Less than   | \- - -      |
| of soil     | inches      | inches      | 10 inches   |             |
| (useful to  |             |             |             |             |
| crops)      |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Available   | 4 or more   | 3 -- 4      | 2 -- 3      | Less than 2 |
| water       | inches      | inches      | inches      | inches      |
| capacity to |             |             |             |             |
| 40" depth   |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil        | Well        | Poorly      | Very poorly | Inundated   |
| drainage    | drained     | drained     | drained     |             |
| class       |             |             |             |             |
|             | Moderately  | Somewhat    | Excessively |             |
|             | well        | excessively | drained     |             |
|             | drained     | drained     |             |             |
|             |             |             |             |             |
|             | Somewhat    |             |             |             |
|             | poorly      |             |             |             |
|             | drained     |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

7\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR WETLAND HABITAT

> Ratings are for annual and perennial wild herbaceous plants of moist
> to wet sites, exclusive of submerged or floating aquatics, that
> produce food or cover used extensively by wetland forms of wildlife.
> Examples are smartweed, wild millet, rushes, sedges, reeds, wildrice,
> cutgrass, cordgrass, saltgrass, and cattail..

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for the growth
    of a wide variety of climatically adapted species, particularly
    food-producing annuals. Vigor of

> growth and amount of seed production, above average.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are suited for food-producing
    annuals. Perennial species may grow well. Growth rate and food
    production of adapted annuals,

> average.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions severely limit numbers of
    species; normally a dominant stand of perennials with very low food
    value is produced\...

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are such that wetland
    plants do not grow.

+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Rating    | **Good**    | **Fair**    | **Poor**    | **Very      |
| Criteria**  |             |             |             | Poor**      |
|             | **1**       | **2**       | **3**       |             |
|             |             |             |             | **4**       |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Texture of  | Sandy loam, | Loamy sand, | Sands,      | \- - -      |
| surface     | fine sandy  | loamy fine  | sandy clay, |             |
| layers      | loam, very  | sand        | silty clay, |             |
|             | fine sandy  |             | clay        |             |
|             | loam, loam, |             |             |             |
|             | silt loam,  |             |             |             |
|             | silty clay  |             |             |             |
|             | loam, sandy |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam,  |             |             |             |
|             | clay loam   |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Soil        | Poorly      | Somewhat    | Moderately  | Somewhat    |
| drainage    | drained     | poorly      | well        | excessively |
| class       |             | drained 1/  | drained 1/, | drained,    |
|             | Very poorly |             | Well        | Excessively |
|             | drained     |             | drained 1/  | drained     |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Surface     | \- - -      | \- - -      | \- - -      | Rubble      |
| stoniness   |             |             |             |             |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Slope range |             |             | 2 -- 6      | Over 6      |
|             |             |             | percent     | percent     |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

8\. CRITERIA FOR RATING SOILS FOR WATER HABITAT

> Shallow water areas are areas of surface water with average depth of
> less than 5 feet, useful to wildlife. They may be natural wet areas or
> those created by dams or levees or by water-control devices in marshes
> or streams. Examples are muskrat marshes, waterfowl feeding areas,
> wildlife watering developments, wildlife ponds, and beaver ponds.

1.  [Good]{.underline} -- Soil conditions are favorable for natural wet
    areas that remain ponded for long periods or for the construction
    and maintenance of shallow water

> areas requiring control of water levels.

2.  [Fair]{.underline} -- Soil conditions either somewhat limit natural
    wet areas because of unreliable water levels or present difficulties
    in creating or maintaining

> shallow water areas.

3.  [Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions severely limit choice of
    measures, present serious construction problems, or pose major
    difficulties in maintaining desired

> water control.

4.  [Very Poor]{.underline} -- Soil conditions make it impossible or
    impractical to obtain sufficient water control to be of value to
    wildlife.

Worksheet for determining suitability of soils for wildlife habitat

RANGELAND NOT

USED IN WI

Adjective Rating Range of sums

[Good 10 -- 14]{.underline}

[Fair 15 - 24]{.underline}

[Poor 25 -- 34]{.underline}

[Very Poor 35+]{.underline}

\* Use the one most applicable habitat element.