Improvement of Panspot (Solonetzic) Range Sites by Contour Furrowing

Abstract

We studied the effects of 3-, 7-, and 10-year-old contour furrowing on some physical and chemical soil properties of panspot range sites in southeastern Montana. Changes in soil bulk density, sodium-adsorption-ratio (SAR), and salinity (EC) on the contour-furrowed areas were generally small, but a definite ameliorating trend was established. Contour furrowing increased infiltration rates 0.25 to 3.11 cm/hr and increased forage yields 498 to 770 kg/ha. Reduced SAR and EC on contour furrowed areas were attributed to increased infiltration.