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Monitoring restoration impacts to endemic plant communities in soil inclusions of arid environments

International Journal of Agriculture & Biology
By: , , , and 

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Abstract

Soil inclusions are small patches of soil with different properties than the surrounding, dominant soil. In arid areas of western North America, soil inclusions called slickspot soils are saltier than adjacent soil and support different types of native vegetation. Traditional sagebrush restoration efforts, such as using drills to plant seeds or herbicides to control invasive vegetation, may damage sensitive slickspot soil and supporting vegetation. USGS scientists David Pyke and Scott Shaff and collaborators monitored slickspot size and cover of endangered slickspot peppergrass for two years to see if they were affected by the application of the herbicide glyphosate or by a minimum-till drill in the Snake River Plain, ID. The researchers examined the use of aerial photographs versus on-the-ground measurements and concluded that slickspot sizes were not affected by these treatments. Remote sensing using aerial photographs proved a useful method for mapping slickspot soils.

Suggested Citation

Louhaichi, M., Pyke, D.A., Shaff, S., Johnson, D.E., 2013, Monitoring restoration impacts to endemic plant communities in soil inclusions of arid environments: International Journal of Agriculture & Biology, v. 15, p. 767-771.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Monitoring restoration impacts to endemic plant communities in soil inclusions of arid environments
Series title International Journal of Agriculture & Biology
Volume 15
Year Published 2013
Language English
Publisher Friends Science Publishers
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 5 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title International Journal of Agriculture & Biology
First page 767
Last page 771
Additional publication details