Vegetation Response to Contour Furrowing

Abstract

Over an 8-year period, contour furrowing on a panspot range site increased average annual herbage production 165% (527 kg/ha), increased plant available soil water 107%, and reduced total basal cover 73% (from 15.72 to 4.22%). On a saline-upland site, contour furrowing increased available water but had no measurable effect on total herbage production and basal cover. Thickspike and western wheatgrass accounted for most of the increased yields on the contour-furrowed panspot site. High yields on the furrowed plots were due primarily to increased soil water resulting from increased overwinter recharge and reduced summer runoff.