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Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) has been an invasive species in the Intermountain West of the United States for approximately 100 years. The species is extremely adaptive to fire disturbed environments in the western US and out-competes many native species once it establishes at a site. While it provides a forage for grazing animals the quality of the forage is considered lower than natives in the area. We investigated changes in physical and chemical properties in two surface soils, over two decades, following cheatgrass establishment by wildland fire (Artemisia tridentata [Big Basin sagebrush] was the predominate vegetation prior to fire). Two soils (US soil taxonomy natriargids and haplodurids) representing a majority...
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Introduction of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) into western rangelands has had a profound effect on the diversity and health of native ecosystems. Introduced in the late 19th century, B. tectorum has rapidly out-competed native species and colonized large areas of the Great Basin region (Mack, 1981). The objective of this research is to assess changes in soil physical and hydrologic properties on former A. tridentata sites now invaded by B. tectorum and to quantify the scope of the alterations through time. Study site selection was based upon a range of A. tridentata stand replacing fire histories spanning approximately 20 years and subsequent colonization of each fire site by B. tectorum. Fire sites sampled were...
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Limited information exists of the differences in soil physical and hydrologic properties in invasive Bromus tectorum L. (BT) (cheatgrass) habitats versus native Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (AT) (big sagebrush) habitats. Our objective was to assess differences in soil physical and hydrological properties by comparing measures of soil particle size; aggregate stability; hydrophobicity; bulk density; penetration resistance; surface roughness; and infiltration (double-ring and mini-disk tension infiltrometer) between habitats. BT sites were sampled following AT stand replacing fires that resulted in near continuous BT establishment. Sites characterized by AT, and not burned, were sampled as controls. Significantly lower...
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