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Soil‐Moisture Depletion by a Hardwood Forest during Drouth Years
Author(s) -
Fletcher Peter W.,
Lull Howard W.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1963.03615995002700010032x
Subject(s) - litter , environmental science , water content , hardwood , moisture , plant litter , soil horizon , soil water , field capacity , agronomy , hydrology (agriculture) , forestry , soil science , ecology , nutrient , geography , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , meteorology
Daily soil‐moisture readings were taken during two drouth years with fiberglas units installed on each of 8 plots at 8 depths in the upper 40 inches of soil in a polesize mixed oak and hickory stand, Butler County, Missouri. On two plots the trees were cut and removed and the litter burned (bare) ; on two the trees were cut and removed and litter was left intact (litter‐only) ; on two the litter was burned (trees‐only) , and two plots were left undisturbed (trees‐and‐litter) . The litter‐only plots remained wettest throughout both growing seasons, and bare plots occupied a position of medium wetness. The trees‐only plots and the trees‐and‐litter plots had driest and similar soil moisture contents. Daily rates of soil profile drying during rainless periods were linearly related to moisture contents of the 40‐inch depth for all but the litter‐only plots. Drying rates decreased with increasing profile depth. As compared with undisturbed forest soil at field capacity, litter removal increased soil drying rates about 10%; tree removal decreased them about two‐thirds. Removal of both trees and litter decreased soil drying rates about one‐third.