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Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in the Shortgrass Steppe: The Relative Importance of Topography, Grazing, Microsite, and Plant Species in Controlling Spatial Patterns

Citation

Brian Madigan, Ingrid C Burke, William K Lauenroth, Rebecca Riggle, Scott Beard, and Peter Brannen, Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in the Shortgrass Steppe: The Relative Importance of Topography, Grazing, Microsite, and Plant Species in Controlling Spatial Patterns: .

Summary

We conducted a study to evaluate the relative importance of topography, grazing, the location of individual plants (microsite), and plant species in controlling the spatial variability of soil organic matter in shortgrass steppe ecosystems. We found that the largest spatial variation occurs in concert with topography and with microsite-scale heterogeneity, with relatively little spatial variability due to grazing or to plant species. Total soil C and N, coarse and fine particulate organic matter C and N, and potentially mineralizable C were significantly affected by topography, with higher levels in toeslope positions than in midslopes or summits. Soils beneath individual plants (Bouteloua gracilis and Opuntia polyacantha) were elevated [...]

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  • Upper Colorado River Basin

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From Source - Mendeley RIS export <br> On - Tue May 10 12:19:38 CDT 2011

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Title Citation Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in the Shortgrass Steppe: The Relative Importance of Topography, Grazing, Microsite, and Plant Species in Controlling Spatial Patterns

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