Seasonal Soil Moisture Patterns in Adjacent Greasewood and Sagebrush Stands

Soil moisture measurements were made over a 2—year period in adjacent greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stands in the desert steppe region of southeastern Washington. Soil moisture accumulated during fall and winter. The greater accumulation of moisture in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEcology (Durham) Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 1034 - 1038
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ecological Society of America 01.11.1967
Subjects
Washington (state)
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Summary:Soil moisture measurements were made over a 2—year period in adjacent greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stands in the desert steppe region of southeastern Washington. Soil moisture accumulated during fall and winter. The greater accumulation of moisture in the upper 4 dm of the greasewood stand appeared to be the result of decreased evaporation losses and the lack of transpiration from shrub species which are leafless during winter and early spring. The more luxuriant growth of cheatgrass in the greasewood stand was related to winter and spring retention of soil moisture.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1934561
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.2307/1934561