An experimental study of the effects of changing vegetative cover from 43% to zero on a 10% slope demonstrates that sediment yield increases rapidly as vegetative cover decreases from 43 to 15%, but with less than 15% vegetative cover the rate of increase of sediment yield diminishes markedly. The results of this study indicate that costly efforts to slightly increase or maintain a cover of vegetation below about 15% in semiarid and arid regions appears not to be a valid approach to erosion control. Therefore, maintaining vegetation above 15% or alternatives to erosion control by vegetation alone should be considered.
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.