This study was conducted to further determine relationships of soil and vegetation factors to soil loss and water runoff from reclaimed pastures and rangeland in Nebraska. Results showed that soil factors associated with soil erodibility may be of minor importance in explaining soil erosion on pastures and rangeland. Vegetation and ground cover were the primary factors affecting soil loss and runoff in this study. With few exceptions, soil bulk density, soil water, root weight, soil aggregation, and soil particle size were related poorly to soil loss, runoff, soil loss/runoff ratio, and infiltration rate. These factors have been important in explaining soil loss and runoff in cropland studies. On cropland, where tillage disturbs the upper soil layer, vegetation and ground cover may be secondary to the physical and chemical properties of the soil. On rangeland, however, vegetation and cover become the major factors and soil erodibility factors may become minor. The importance of these findings, as they relate to developing equations for predicting soil loss and runoff from pastures and rangelands, deserves further investigation.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.