Grazing and Debris Burning on Pinyon-Juniper sites—Some Chemical Water Quality Implications

Abstract

During 1973 and 1974 a water quality study was conducted in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. Water quality data were collected from the study location which had been chained to remove pinyon-juniper vegetation six years earlier. Debris burning and livestock grazing treatments were studied. An "undisturbed, natural" woodland was left adjacent to the treatments in order to serve as a control area. Following burning, significant increases in potassium and phosphorus were observed in overland flow from infiltrometer plots. No significant treatment changes were detected for sodium, calcium, or nitrate-nitrogen. No treatment differences due to grazing were detected at the soil surface following cattle use (stocking rate was 2 ha/AUM).