Seasonal Soil Moisture Patterns in Adjacent Greasewood and Sagebrush Stands

Soil moisture measurements were made over a 2—year period in adjacent greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stands in the desert steppe region of southeastern Washington. Soil moisture accumulated during fall and winter. The greater accumulation of moisture in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) 1967-11, Vol.48 (6), p.1034-1038
Main Author: Rickard, W. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buried soils
Grasses
Shrubs
Sodic soils
Soil depth
Soil profiles
Soil salinity
Soil water
Soil water content
Transpiration
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Summary:Soil moisture measurements were made over a 2—year period in adjacent greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stands in the desert steppe region of southeastern Washington. Soil moisture accumulated during fall and winter. The greater accumulation of moisture in the upper 4 dm of the greasewood stand appeared to be the result of decreased evaporation losses and the lack of transpiration from shrub species which are leafless during winter and early spring. The more luxuriant growth of cheatgrass in the greasewood stand was related to winter and spring retention of soil moisture.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.2307/1934561