Quantifying rangeland health indicators using runoff and sediment from rainfall simulator experiments.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between rangeland health indicators and runoff and erosion for different ecological sites. An investigation of intersite and intrasite variability of the indicators was also conducted. Research was performed across five ecological sites in typic condition within MLRA 41-3 on 3-6 plots per site. Point intercept (400 points per plot) and gap intercept (3 slope and 5 contour) measurements recorded on each of the 2 m by 6.1 m plots. Runoff and sediment yield data obtained from rainfall simulator experiments on corresponding plots were related to the indicator data. This study illustrates the possibility of using hydrologic data to quantify rangeland health indicators. The introduction of two burned ecological sites provided the opportunity to assess the indicators' ability to relate to runoff and erosion for different site conditions. This research result indicated that runoff and sediment yield have a positive relationship with gap length and a negative relationship with amount of cover.