Rainfall Effects on Soil Surface Characteristics Following Range Improvement Treatments

Abstract

Range improvement treatments-brush clearing, pitting, and seeding to grass-were imposed on twenty-four 6 by 12-foot plots near Tombstone, Arizona. One summer's rainfall of average amount and intensity reduced roughness due to pitting; and such other surface characteristics as erosion pavement and exposed soil approached a state of stability similar to the untreated plots. Surface runoff exhibited little correlation with treatment, but showed a statistically significant negative correlation with crown cover of vegetation.