Waterponding for Increasing Soil Water on Arid Rangelands

Abstract

Ponding dikes constructed to slow and control the overland flow of runoff water were evaluated. Infiltration and runoff measurements from a sprinkling infiltrometer indicated no differences between the control and the water ponding area. Examination of 20 years of precipitation records for June through September showed that enough ponding events occurred to supply an adequate amount of water for wetting the soil profile to below the plant rooting zone. The control areas were low in available soil water even immediately following precipitation events.