Soil surface indicators of desertification from the northern Chihuahuan Desert and the Great Basin

TitleSoil surface indicators of desertification from the northern Chihuahuan Desert and the Great Basin
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication2000
Authorsde Soyza A.G., Whitford WG, Van Zee J, Herrick JE, Havstad K
Conference NameVIth International Rangeland Congress
Volume1
Pagination137
Date PublishedJuly 19-23, 1999
Conference LocationTownsville, Australia
ARIS Log Number118788
KeywordsChihuahuan Desert, desertification, Great Basin, indicators, soil surface
AbstractWe measured vegetation canopy and litter cover in ungrazed exclosures and adjacent pastures at three locations in the Chihuahuan Desert, five locations near Burns, Oregon, seven locations near Milford, Utah, and six near Idaho Falls, Idaho, all of which are in the Great Basin. We found that vegetation cover is not a good surrogate for estimating litter cover. Refinements that take into account vegetation species composition may improve the ability to predict litter cover from vegetation data.
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