Runoff and Erosion from Rainfall Simulator Plots on Sagebrush Rangeland

ABSTRACT Arainfall simulator was used to determine runoff, infiltration, and soil loss from 1 m^ shrub and interspace plots on a sagebrush dominated site in southwestern Idaho. Interspace areas produced 2 1/2 times as much runoff and 8 times as much soil loss as from shrub canopy zones at this range site. High soil moisture conditions preceding rainfall simulation runs resulted in lower infiltration rates, increased runoff, and no significant difference in soil losses. Removal of shrub canopy did not significantly influence soil losses. Results of this study show the importance of understanding spatial variability in infiltration and the wide differences in potential erosion from shrub and interspace areas when predicting sagebrush rangeland erosion and applying erosion models on rangeland.