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Soil Properties in Creosotebush Communities and their Relative Effects on the Growth of Seeded Range Grasses
Author(s) -
Cox Jerry R.,
Parker James M.,
Stroehlein Jack L.
Publication year - 1984
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/sssaj1984.03615995004800060047x
Subject(s) - larrea , canopy , panicum , seedling , perennial plant , agronomy , environmental science , soil water , shrub , botany , soil science , biology
Soils were collected to 15 cm along the four cardinal directions at three locations around 10 creosotebush [ Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov.] plants at five sites in the southwestern United States. The sampling locations were: (i) at the canopy center, (ii) along the outer canopy edge, and (iii) in open areas between plant canopies. A portion of the soil from each sampling location was analyzed for particle size distribution, pH, EC, CaCO 3 , Ca, K, Na, Mg, NO ‐ 3 ‐N, organic C, available P, and Mn. The remaining soil from each sampling location was seeded with either Lehmann lovegrass ( Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees) or blue panicgrass ( Panicum antidotale Retz.). Grass seeds were germinated and grown for 42 d in a greenhouse. Nitrate was significantly (∝ = 0.05) lower in open areas between creosotebush canopies than near the shrub canopy center at all sites. Grass seedling growth decreased as the distance from the canopy center increased and seedling growth was highly correlated with nitrate concentrations. Spatial distribution patterns for the other measured soil properties did not occur in a consistent fashion across all sampled sites. The action of mechanical tillage to limit creosotebush competition, and corresponding dilution of NO ‐ 3 ‐N in the soil volume, may reduce the probability of establishing perennial grasses.