Long-Term Effects of Big Sagebrush Control on Vegetation and Soil Water

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Abstract
Herbaceous productivity of mountain big sagebrush (A. t. ssp. vaseyana) areas sprayed with 2,4-D was nearly twice that of untreated areas 10 yr after spraying, while the number of sagebrush plants on treated areas was 4% of that before spraying. Soil at the Wyoming [USA] study site was a Youga loam (Argic Cryoboroll). On treated areas, soil water depletion from the surface 0.9 m of soil slightly exceeded that of untreated areas beginning the 3rd year after spraying when herbaceous vegetation had fully responded to release from sagebrush competition. Water depletion in soil 0.9-1.8 m deep was substantially less on sprayed areas than on unsprayed areas. Seasonal water depletion in the surface 1.8 m of soil was reduced 31% the year of treatment and .apprx. 7% between 5 and 11 yr after treatment. Mathematical relationships were developed to predict the effect of sagebrush control on seasonal water depletion in the surface 1.8 m of soil, the surface 0.9 m of soil and soil 0.9-18 m deep.

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