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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241278
Title: Effect of plant species composition on rangeland hydrology and erosion

Author
item SPAETH, KENNETH - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item Pierson Jr, Frederick
item ROBICHAUD, PETER - Us Forest Service (FS)

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2008
Publication Date: 2/8/2009
Citation: Spaeth, K.E., Pierson Jr, F.B., Robichaud, P.R. 2009. Effect of Plant Species Composition on Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion. In: Proceedings of the 62nd Annual Meeting, Merging Trails: Culture, Science, and Innovation, Society for Range Management, February 8-12,2009, Albuquerque, NM.

Interpretive Summary: Hydrology and erosion studies on range and forestland have shown that litter and vegetation cover are correlated with increased infiltration and reduced runoff and erosion. Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on a burned and unburned mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) ecological site in Nevada (1999-2001) and sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest site in Montana (2000-2002,2005). The objective of these studies was to summarize hydrology and soil loss relationships immediately after the fire, postfire years, and nonburned sites. Plant species foliar and ground cover, hydrologic assessments (infiltration and runoff), sediment loss, and soil/topographic factors were assessed via indirect gradient analysis. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination using four infiltration parameters [minimum infiltration rate (mm h-1), final infiltration rate (mm h-1), time to minimum infiltration (min), and cumulative infiltration (mm)] showed discrete groupings between coppice and interspace microsites. Coppice microsites were associated with higher infiltration; interspace with higher runoff and sediment yield. Hydrologic relationships were associated with discrete plant taxa: Higher runoff was correlated with Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) and western aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens). Greater infiltration capacity was correlated with increasing foliar cover of A. tridentata, Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), lodgepole lupine (Lupinus parviflorus). The relevance of discrete plant associations with hydrology and erosion is being recognized in rangeland hydrology and erosion prediction models such as the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) currently under development by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Hydrology and erosion studies on range and forestland have shown that litter and vegetation cover are correlated with increased infiltration and reduced runoff and erosion. Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on a burned and unburned mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) ecological site in Nevada (1999-2001) and sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest site in Montana (2000-2002,2005). The objective of these studies was to summarize hydrology and soil loss relationships immediately after the fire, postfire years, and nonburned sites. Plant species foliar and ground cover, hydrologic assessments (infiltration and runoff), sediment loss, and soil/topographic factors were assessed via indirect gradient analysis. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination using four infiltration parameters [minimum infiltration rate (mm h-1), final infiltration rate (mm h-1), time to minimum infiltration (min), and cumulative infiltration (mm)] showed discrete groupings between coppice and interspace microsites. Coppice microsites were associated with higher infiltration; interspace with higher runoff and sediment yield. Hydrologic relationships were associated with discrete plant taxa: Higher runoff was correlated with Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) and western aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens). Greater infiltration capacity was correlated with increasing foliar cover of A. tridentata, Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), lodgepole lupine (Lupinus parviflorus). The relevance of discrete plant associations with hydrology and erosion is being recognized in rangeland hydrology and erosion prediction models such as the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) currently under development by the United States Department of Agriculture.