Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vegetation-soil relationships on arid and semiarid rangelands

  • Chapter
Vegetation science applications for rangeland analysis and management

Part of the book series: Handbook of vegetation science ((HAVS,volume 14))

Abstract

Vegetation-soil relationships on rangelands, or any other lands must include all ecosystem components. That soil is a function of climate, organisms, topography, parent materials, and time establishes the basic model. Rangeland plant community distribution and species composition are known to be related to specific soil properties such as soil climate (moisture and temperature), texture, depth, structure, fertility, pH, salinity and toxic influences. These properties relate to spatial variability of vegetation responses ranging from broad geographic distributions to landscape influences to specific site characteristics.

Vegetation-soil relationships are discussed relative to classification systems, soil morphology and chemistry, and data extrapolation for management interpretations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, D. C, K. T. Harper, and R. C. Holmgren. 1982a. Factors influencing development of cryptogamic soil crust in Utah deserts. J. Range. Manage. 35:180–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, D. C, K. T. Harper, and S. R. Rushforth. 1982b. Recovery of cryptogamic soil crusts from grazing on Utah winter ranges. J. Range. Manage. 35: 355–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, J. R., and C. M. McKell. 1986. Differences in Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) plant stature along soil-water gradients: Genetic Components. J. Range Manage. 39: 450–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bethlenfalvay, G. J., and S. Dakessian. 1984. Grazing effects on mycorrhizal colonization and floristic composition of the vegetation on a semiarid range in northern Nevada. J. Range Manage. 37: 312–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaisdell, J. P. 1958. Seasonal development and wild of native plants on the upper Snake River plains and their relation to certain climatic factors. U.S. Dep. Agr. Tech. Bull. 1190:68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, W. D. 1949. The shadescale vegetation zone of Nevada and eastern California in relation to climate and soils. The Amer. Midland Naturalist. 42: 870–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, R. A., D. M. Mueller, and W. J. McGinnies, 1985. Soil and vegetation relationships in a central plains saltgrass meadow. J. Range Manage. 38: 325–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brotherson, J. D., and S. T. Osayande, 1980. Mineral concentrations in true mountain mahogany and Utah juniper and in associated soils. J. Range Manage. 33:182–185.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brendenkamp, G. J., G. K. Theron, and D. R. J. Van Vuuren, 1983. Ecological interpretation of plant communities by classification and ordination of quantitative soil characteristics. p. 692–699. Bothalia 14, 3 & 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckman, H. O., and N. C. Brady. 1969. The nature and properties of soils. Seventh Edition. The Macmillan Co./Collier-Macmillian Limited, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Call, C. A., and C. M. McKell. 1984. Field establishment of fourwing saltbrush in processed oil shale and distributed native soil as influenced by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae. Great Basin Naturalist. 44: 363–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannon, M. E., and G. A. Nielsen. 1984. Estimating production of range vegetation from easily measured soil characteristics. Soil Sci. Soc. of Amer. J. 48:1393–1397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charley, J. L., and N. E. West. 1975. Plant-induced soil chemical patterns in some shrub dominated semi-desert ecosystems of Utah. J. of Ecology. 63: 945–962.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, J. R., J. M. Parker, and J. L. Strochlein, 1983. The initial growth of range grasses on nonfertilized and fertilized soils collected from creasotebush communities in the southwestern United States. J. Range Manage. 36: 726–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daubenmire, R. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Wash., Agr. Exp. St., Tech. Bull. 62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daubenmire, R. 1978. Plant geography with spatial reference to North America. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doerr, T. B., E. F. Redente, and F. B. Reeves. 1984. Effects of soil disturbance on plant succession and levels of mycorrhizal fungi in a sagebrush-grassland community. J. Range Manage. 37:135–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, R. S., D. L. Merkel, J. S. Hagihara, and D. L. Radloff. 1983. A component land classification for the United States: Status report. U.S. Dep. Int. BLM. Tech. Note 360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckert, R. E. Jr. 1957. Vegetation-soil relationships in some Artemisia types in northern Hainey and Lake counties, Oregon. (PHD thesis) Oregon State Univ, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckert R. E. Jr., F. F. Peterson, M. S. Meurisse, and J. L. Stephens. 1986a. Effects of soil-surface morphology on emergence and survival of seedlings in big sagebrush communities. J. Range. Manage. 39:414–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert R. E. Jr., F. F. Peterson, and J. T. Belton. 1986b. Relation between ecological range condition and properties of soil-surface type. J. Range Manage. 39:409–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everett, R. L., R. O. Meewig, P. T. Tueller, and R. A. Evans. 1977. Water potential in sagebrush and shadscale communities. Northwest Sci. 51: 271–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairchild, J. A., and J. D. Brotherson. 1980. Microhabitat relationships of six major shrubs in Navajo National Monument, Arizona. J. Range Manage. 33:150–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hironaka, M., M. A. Fosberg, and A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho. Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station Bull. 35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkinson, H. S. 1987. Relationship of saltbush species to soil chemical properties. J. Range Manage. 40: 23–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenny, H. 1983. The Soil Resource Origin and Behavior. Ecol. Studies 37. Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, M. 1984. Soil moisture regimes on some rangelands of southern Idaho. Soil Science Soc. Amer. 48:1328–1330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, G. L. 1983. Planting limitations for arid, semiarid and salt-desert shrublands. p. 11– 16. In: Managing intermountain rangelands -Improvement of Range and Wildlife Habitats. USDA Gen. Tech. Rpt. IMT-157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsinger, F. E., and R. E. Eckert Jr. 1961. Emergence and growth of annual and perennial grasses and forbs in soils altered by halogeton leachate. J. Range Manage. 14:194–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiner, E. F., and K. T. Harper. 1972. Environment and community organization in Grassland of Canyonlands National Parks. Ecology. 53: 299–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiner, E. F., and K. T. Harper. 1977. Occurrence of four major perennial grasses in relation to edaphic factors in a pristine community. J. Range Manage. 30: 286–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kormandy, E. J. 1969. Concepts of ecology. Concepts of Modern Biology Series. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz, R. D. 1984. Correspondence of soil properties and classification units with sagebrush communities in southeastern Oregon. (MS Thesis) Oregon State Univ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, S. G., R. L. Miles, and J. W. Burkhardt. 1984. Unpublished report: Comparison of soil properties associated with basin wildrye and black greasewood in the Great Basin region.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabbutt, J. A., W. H. Litchfield, N. H. Speck, J. Sofanlis, D. G. Wilcox, J. M. Arnold, M. Brookfield, and R. L. Wright. 1963. General report on lands of the Wiluna-Meekatharra Area, Western Australia. In: Land Research Series No. 7. Commonwealth Sci. and Ind. Research Org., Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mentis, M. T. 1984. Monitoring in South African grasslands. South Africa Nat. Sci. Programmers Report No. 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, R. L., and S. G. Leonard. 1984. Documenting soil-plant relationships of selected sagebrush species using the soil resource information system. Soil Survey Horizons. 25: 22–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, R. L. et al. (Unpublished) Greasewood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muegller, W. F., and W. H. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and Shrubland Habitat Types of Western Montana. U.S. Dept. Agr. Forest Service. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, E. P. 1971. Fundamentals of ecology. 3rd Ed. W. B. Saunders Company. Philadelphia. London. Toronto. Lib. Cong. No. 76-81826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Passey, H. B., V. K. Hugie, E. W. Williams, and D. E. Ball. 1982. Relationships between soil, plant community and climate on rangelands of the intermountain west. U.S.D.A., S.C.S. Tech. Bull. 1669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paysen, T. E., J. A. Derby, H. Black, V. Gleich, and J. W. Mincks. 1980. A vegetation classification system applied to southern California. Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. Gen. Tech. Rept. PSW-45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, R. A. 1960. Pasture lands of the northern territory, Australia. Land Research Series No. 5. Commonwealth Sci. and Ind. Research Org., Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, L. C. 1979. Effects of temperature and moisture on phenology and productivity of Indian ricegrass. J. Range Manage. 33: 127–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platou, K. A., P. T. Tueller, S. G. Leonard, and R. L. Miles. 1986. Soil properties associated with six common grasses of the Great Basin. J. of Soil & Water Conser. 41:417–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter, R. L., D. W. Ueckert, J. L. Peterson, and M. L. McFarland, 1986. Germination of fourwing saltbush seeds: Interaction of temperature, osmotic potential and pH. J. Range Manage. 39: 43–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rauzi, F., C. L. Fly, and E. J. Dyksterhuis. 1968. Water intake on midcontinental rangelands as influenced by soil and plant cover. U.S. Dept of Agr. ARS and SCS in coop. w/Wyo Agr. Exp. St.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reveal, J. L. 1979. Mentzelia (Biogeography of the Intermountain Region). J. of No. NV. Native Plant Soc. No. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E. L. 1984. Allelapathy. Physiological Ecology. Academic Press, Inc., Orlando.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, E. A., and S. G. Leonard. 1981. Climatic modeling of winter rangelands in Utah. Extended abstracts. 15th Conf. on Agriculture and Forest Meteorology and 5th Conf. on Biometeorology. p. 182–185. American Meteorological Soc., Anaheim, Cal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosiere, R. E., and C. E. Vaughn. 1986. Nutrient content of sheep diets on a serpentine barrens range site. J. Range Mange. 39: 8–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roundy, B. A. 1983. Response of basin wildrye and tall wheatgrass seedlings to salination. Agro.J. 75: 67–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roundy, B. A. 1985a. Root penetration and short elongation of tall wheatgrass and basin wildrye in relation to salinity. Canadian J. of Pl. Sci. 65: 335–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roundy, B. A. 1985b. Emergence and establishment of basin wildrye and tall wheatgrass in relation to moisture and salinity. J. Range Manage. 38:126–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasich, J., and G. A. Nielsen. 1984. Indicators of soil climate used by Montana soil classifiers: A survey. Montana Agr. Exp. St. Special Report 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxton, K. E., H. P. Johnson, and R. H. Shaw. 1974. Modeling evapotranspiration and soil moisture. Trans. Amer. Soc. Agr. Eng. 17:673–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shantz, H. L. 1938. Plants as soil indicators. p. 835–859. In: Soils and men. U.S. Dep. Agr. Yearbook of Agr.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shantz, H. L., and R. L. Piemeisal. 1940. Types of vegetation in Escalante Valley, Utah, as indicators of soil conditions. U.S. Dept. of Agr. Tech. Bulletin 713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiflet, T. N. 1973. Range sites and soils in the United States. p. 26–33. In: Arid Shrublands-Proceedings of the Third Workshop of the USA/Australia Rangelands panel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shock, C. C, W. A. Williams, M. B. Jones, D. M. Center, and D. A. Phillips. 1984a. Nitrogen fixation by sub clover associations fertilized with sulfur. Plant and Soil. 83: 323–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shock, C. C., W. A. Williams, M. B. Jones, D. M. Center, and D. A. Phillips. 1984b. Completion for S and N by associations of three annual range species in lysimeters. Plant and Soil. 81: 322–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G. D., F. Newhall, L. H. Robinson, and D. Swanson. 1964. Soil-temperature regimes -Their characteristics and predictability. U.S. Dept. Agr. SCS-TP-144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sosebee, R. E., F. M. Churchill, and C. W. Green. 1982. Soil water depletion by Yucca. J. Range Mange. 36: 774–776.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, P. D., and W. K. Smith. 1984. Effects of different geographic isolates of Glomuson the water relations of Agropyron smithii. Mycologia. 76: 261–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, R. A., and J. A. Ludwig. 1979. Vegetation and soil patterns on a Chihuahuan desert bajada. Amer. Midland Naturalist. 101–102: 28–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturges, D. L., and R. D. Tabler. 1968. Management of blowing snow on sagebrush rangelands. J. of Soil and Water Conser. 36: 287–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturges, D. L. 1977. Soil water withdrawal and root characteristics of big sagebrush. The Amer. Midl. Natur. 98: 257–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stutz, H. C. 1983. Some promising chenopods for use on disturbed lands. p. 132–135. In: Managing intermountain rangelands -Improvement of range and wildlife habitates. USDA. Gen. Tech. Rpt. IMT-157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedeman, J. A. and C. Terwilliger Jr. 1979. Phyto-edaphic classification for rangeland inventory and management. In: Abstract of papers presented at the 32nd annual meeting. Society for Range Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tueller, P. T., and L. A. Monroe. 1975. Management guidelines for selected deer habitats in Nevada. Nevada Agri. Exp. Sta. Publ. No. R104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueckert, D. W. 1979. Effect on shortgrass forage production and soil water depletion. J. Range Manage. 32: 216–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. 1973. International classification and mapping of vegetation, Series 6, Ecology and Conservation. Paris, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Dept. of Agr. 1975. Soil Conservation Service. Soil Taxonomy. Agr. Handbk. 436. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Dept. of Agr. S.C.S. 1976. National Range Handbook. Section 300. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Dept. of Agr. 1980. Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey Manual Rev. Draft. Chapt. 4–92 and Chapt. 5–10. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Dept. of Agr. 1983. SPUR -Simulation of production and utilization of rangelands. (A rangeland model for management and research). Agr. Research Service. Misc. Pub. No. 1431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B. H. 1979. Management of semi-arid ecosystems. (Management principles for semi-arid ecosystems) Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co. Amsterdam-Oxford-New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, A., and E. M. Romney. 1972. Radioecology and ecophysiology of desert plants at the Nevada Test site. United States Atomic Energy Commission of Information Services TID-25954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J. Y. 1960. A critique of the heat unit approach to plant response studies. Ecology 41:785–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, N. E., and K. I. Ibrahim. 1967. Soil-vegetation relationships in the shadscale zone of southern Utah. Ecology. 49: 445–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, N. E., and J. Skujins. 1978. Nitrogen in desert ecosystems. US/IBP Synthesis Series 9. Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc. Stroudsburg. 244 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • West, N. E., F. D. Provenza, P. J. Johnson, and M. K. Owens. 1984. Vegetation change after 13 years of livestock grazing exclusion on sagebrush semidesert in west central Utah. J. Range Mange. 37: 262–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wight, J. R. and E. L. Neff. 1983. Soil-vegetation-hydrology studies. Volume II. A user manual for ERHYM: The Ekalka rangeland hydrology and yield model. USDA, Agr. Research Ser. ARR-W-29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. S. 1986. Controlling black greasewood with fire and tebuthiuron on depleted great basin wildrye sites in northwestern Nevada. (M. S. Thesis) Univ. of Nev. Reno.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, M. K., W. H. Blackburn, R. E. Eckert, Jr., and F. F. Peterson. 1982. Influence of crusting soil surfaces on emergence and establishment of crested wheatgrass, squirreltail, thurber needlegrass and fourwing saltbush. J. Range Manage. 35: 282–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zajicek, J. M. Daniels, B. A. Hetrick, and C. E. Owensby, 1986. The influence of soil depth on mycorrhizal colonization of forbs in the tallgrass prairie. Mycologia. 78: 316–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. S. G. Leonard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. L. Miles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. T. Tueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Range, Wildlife and Forestry, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada, 89512, USA

    P. T. Tueller (Professor of Range Ecology) (Professor of Range Ecology)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Leonard, S.G., Miles, R.L., Tueller, P.T. (1988). Vegetation-soil relationships on arid and semiarid rangelands. In: Tueller, P.T. (eds) Vegetation science applications for rangeland analysis and management. Handbook of vegetation science, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3085-8_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3085-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7886-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3085-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation