Infiltration for Three Rangeland Soil-Vegetation Complexes

Abstract

A rotating disk rainfall simulator was used to examine infiltration-runoff relations from selected rangeland sites as influenced by a soil-vegetation complex. The simulator assisted in quantifying infiltration rates for different management practices on different soil types. Infiltration was greater for brush dominated plots than for either grazed plots or grass plots without grazing. Antecedent soil moisture decreased infiltration rates. Crown cover was approximately twice as much on brush plots as on grass plots and significantly influenced infiltration.