Soil Moisture Response to Spraying Big Sagebrush with 2 4-D

Abstract

Spraying big sagebrush with 2,4-D reduced the rate of soil moisture withdrawal. About 75% of the difference in total moisture depletion occurred within the 3- to 6-ft soil depth; an opposite effect in the second foot indicated that the increase in grass herbage production is most strongly reflected in that zone. Total evapotranspiration losses from the 0- to 6-ft soil profile were reduced about 14% over the 4-month growing period the second year after spraying.