Relationship of soil and plant characteristics to erosion and runoff on pasture and range
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Authors: L. Hofmann, and R. E. Ries
Date: 1991
Journal: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Volume: 46
Number: 2
Pages: 143-147
Summary of Methods: The relationship of soil and vegetation factors to soil loss and runoff were examined near Center, North Dakota on reclaimed mine-land pastures (Cabba Soils) and adjacent native rangeland (Sen Soils). Simulated rainfall was applied at a rate of 46 mm hâ»Â¹ to the plots on both soils. Runoff and soil loss were estimated in a standard manner for rainfall simulator runs. Eight treatments (reclaimed heavily grazed, reclaimed-moderately grazed, reclaimed-lightly grazed, reclaimed-burn, reclaimed-ungrazed, native grazed, native burn, and native ungrazed were tested for runoff. Native range sites were intensively grazed for 7 days while the reclaimed sites were heavily, moderately, and lightly grazed in late May. Dry matter, subsoil factors (bulk density, soil water, root weight, soil aggregation, and soil particle size), and surface factors (bare ground, litter ground cover, dry matter, plant height, roughness) were measured. Dry matter was measured after the final rainfall simulation.
Article Summary / Main Points: Bare soil (%) was found to be the most important factor in determining potential soil loss. Vegetation and ground cover were highly related to soil loss, runoff, soil loss/runoff ratio, and infiltration rate. Soil sediment in the runoff decreased as ground cover increased due to less soil detachment. Vegetation and surface soil factors were of major importance compared to subsoil factors in relation to soil erodibility and soil loss.
Vegetation Types: Northern Mixed Prairie
MLRA Ecoregions: 54 Rolling Soft Shale Plain 55A Northern Black Glaciated Plains
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Rangelands Erosion
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: erosion, runoff, pastures, rangelands, soil loss, grazing, vegetation, simulated rainfall
Annotation: The findings from this research can be applied to both grazed and ungrazed reclaimed pastures and rangelands. The importance of soil and vegetation factors in predicting soil erosion and runoff on rangelands were highlighted in this research. These findings can assist land managers in minimizing soil loss due to livestock grazing. Further investigation will be needed as more equations are developed for predicting soil loss and runoff from pastures and rangelands. Note: Lack of information on grazing season on native sites.
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