ABSTRACT:
Clearing ponderosa pine forests often increases post-harvest runoff and sediment yield, yet there is little research to show if partial thinning of mixed conifer forests similarly produces more runoff and sediment. Rainfall simulations were used to evaluate silvicultural treatment effects on infiltration, runoff, sediment yield, and soil moisture in a southern New Mexico mixed conifer forest. Silvicultural treatments included: untreated control; precommercial thin with slash piled; and precommercial thin with slash scattered. There were no significant differences in infiltration rates, runoff rates, or soil moisture. Time to peak runoff was greater on pile and scatter treatments than on the control during both dry and wet runs. Sediment yield was greater on pile and scatter treatments than on the control during wet runs, yet was very low in all cases. We conclude that southwestern mixed conifer forests may be partially thinned without risk of significant increases in hillslope runoff and sediment yield.
Footnotes
Anthony Madrid is a rangeland management specialist with the US Forest Service in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Alexander G. Fernald is an assistant professor of watershed management at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Terrell T. Baker is an associate professor and extension riparian management specialist at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Dawn M. VanLeeuwen is a professor of agricultural and extension education at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
- Copyright 2006 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.