452-15 Comparison of in Situ Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Restored and Native Prairies.

Poster Number 1518

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Physics
See more from this Session: General Environmental Soil Physics and Hydrology: II
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Long Beach Convention Center, Exhibit Hall ABC
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Janith Chandrasoma, University of Missouri, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Ranjith P. Udawatta, The Center for Agroforestry and Dept of Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Stephen H. Anderson, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Bldg, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO and Allen L Thompson, Biological Engineering Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Prairies are important living systems in ecosystems and their importance has been recognized by scientists for many decades. These complex living systems play a vital role both biologically and ecologically in the environment and support a large amount of wildlife. Due to extensive farming activities, nearly all of the North American prairie grasslands have been destroyed and the remaining are under severe threat. The objective of this study was to compare and contrast in situ saturated hydraulic conductivity throughout soil profiles (1.3 m soil depth by horizon) for native prairie, restored prairie, and row crop management sites.  This research study was conducted in Missouri at two prairie sites (a native prairie and a restored prairie) as well as at a continuous row crop management site.    The sites included Tucker Prairie (native prairie), Prairie Fork (restored prairie), and Centralia Research site [corn (Zea mays)/soybean (Glycine max) rotation]. Soils selected for restored prairie and row crop fields are classified as Mexico silt loam 1 to 4% slope. The native prairie site has Putnam 1 to 4% slope soil. All these soils have a characteristic claypan (B horizon).  Five readings with the Amoozemeter were collected for each horizon. Saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) was higher under native prairie compared to restored prairie. Moreover, the highest Ksat was observed in the E horizon of native prairie. However, restored prairies showed higher Ksat as compared to row crop fields.  Also, Ksat was comparatively higher in the B horizon of row crop management compared to values in E and Bt horizons of native and restored prairies, respectively. Results of the study imply that prairie restoration helps improve Ksat which will help reduce runoff.

Ksat = Saturated hydraulic conductivity

Keywords: native prairies, restored prairies, Amoozemeter, claypan, saturated hydraulic conductivity.

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soil Physics
See more from this Session: General Environmental Soil Physics and Hydrology: II