Soil water and temperature response to prescribed burning

Authors

S. G. Whisenant, Brigham Young University
C. J. Scifres, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
D. N. Ueckert, Texas Agricultural Experiment Staion, San Angelo, Texas

Abstract

Prescribed burning of Texas wintergrass (Stipa leucotricha Trin. & Rupr.) communities reduced soil water contents for two to six months, and additional reductions occurred when the subsequent crop of cool-season grasses and forbs began growth. These soil water reductions occurred despite reduced plant production following burning. Soil water reductions were greater at 15 to 45 cm depths than in the upper 15 cm and greater following spring burning. Soil temperatures were higher on burned plots for most of the first year following burning.

Recommended Citation

Whisenant, S. G.; Scifres, C. J.; and Ueckert, D. N. (1984) "Soil water and temperature response to prescribed burning," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 44: No. 4, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol44/iss4/2