Impact of Burning and Grazing on Soil Water Patterns in the Pinyon-Juniper Type

Abstract

Soil water patterns were studied from June 1973 to February of 1977 in pinyon-juniper woodland, on pinyon-juniper areas chained and windrowed (grazed and ungrazed), and on pinyon-juniper areas chained with debris-in-place (ungrazed; burned vs. unburned). The pinyon-juniper woodland always had the least soil water, regardless of the season. Grazing did not affect soil water patterns on the chained with windrowing treatment. Burning of debris on the debris-in-place treatment had little impact on water the first year, but significantly more water was measured on the burned treatment at the beginning of the second year. Soil water patterns previously established between the unburned debris-in-place and ungrazed windrowed treatment changed in August, 1974, and the two treatments were equivalent for the balance of the study. Prior to August of 1974 the unburned debris-in-place treatment had always had more soil water than the ungrazed windrowed treatment. These changes were attributed to possibly milder winters with decreased snowfall.