Project Number: 5409-11000-002-01
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Aug 13, 2001
End Date: Aug 12, 2006

Objective:
Compare the effects of 3 levels of soil loss (0,5,10 tons/acre) by sheet & microchannel processes on runoff, erosion, plant cover, production, & species compositional changes on shortgrass prairie & sagebrush steppe rangelands. Compare the effects of 3 levels of soil loss (0,5,10 tons/acre) by sheet & microchannel processes on soil profile water content & carbon & nitrogen dyanmics. Estimate the sensitivity of rangeland health monitoring procedures to the two types of soil loss.

Approach:
Research will be conducted at the USDAARS Central Plains Exp. Range (CPER) located in NW Colo. on shorgrass prairie, & at the Arapaho Ntl Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in north Central Colo. on sagebrush steppe. At both locations, soil will be removed from existing paired plots to simulate sheet microchannel erosion. One plot of each pair will be subjected to sheet erosion while the other plot will be subjected to the same level of soil loss, but only within microchannels. Sheet erosion will be simulated by vacuuming the soil surface. Existing microchannels in the other plot will be identified by establishing overland flow paths & marking microchannel locations. The microchannels will then be enlarged mechanically to remove the desired amount of soil. After the two erosion procedures have been applied, the plots will be brought to the same soil water content, and vegetation cover & surface roughness will be determined. Rainfall simulations will be conducted using a rotating boom simulator to measure runoff and sediment load. Soil water content, C02 exchange, & soil C & N dynamics will be monitored.

Project Team

Reeder, Jean Dennis Child - Professor 970-498-4236

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Rangeland, Pasture, and Forages (205)