Range Claypan Soil Improvement: Properties Affecting Their Response to Mechanical Treatment

Abstract

Improvement efforts for claypan range sites by mechanical treatment can be grouped into those that increase water infiltration, disrupt the exchangeable-Na-rich claypan layer, mix the claypan layer with other layers, or combinations of treatments. The beneficial effect of a treatment on range productivity depends mainly on the specific soil characteristics or adapting the treatment to the soil. Spacings between contour furrows, ripper teeth, or similar devices probably should coincide with the distance between large natural soil structure boundaries for maximum lasting effects.