Increased Soil Water Storage and Herbage Production from Snow Catch in North Dakota

Abstract

This study documents the effect of three grass stubble heights (15, 30, and 60 cm) on overwinter storage of soil water and the subsequent effect on forage production the following growing season. Soil water was increased over the winter by 0.24 cm for each centimeter of grass stubble left between 15 and 60 cm in height. Each centimeter increase in soil water stored over the winter increased forage production by 115 and 62 kg/ha for introduced and native species, respectively. Results indicate the importance of stubble height in increasing forage production from grasslands of the Northern Great Plains by trapping snow and storing soil water for use by the plant community the following growing season.