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Norton, J. B., Monaco, T. A., Norton, J. M., Johnson, D. A., & Jones, T. A. (2004). Soil morphology and organicmatter dynamics under cheatgrass and sagebrush-steppe plant communities. Journal of Arid Environments, 57, 445–466.
Added by: Eric Peterson 2007-10-19 22:25:58

Categories: General
Keywords: Bromus tectorum L.; Wyoming big sagebrush; Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & A.W. Young; Soil morphology; Soil organicmatter; Invasive weeds; Sagebrush-steppe plant community
Creators: Johnson, Jones, Monaco, Norton, Norton
Collection: Journal of Arid Environments

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Abstract

Widespread cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) invasion represents a major shift in species
dominance that may alter ecosystem processes across much of the western US. To investigate
differences following such conversion, soil morphology and organic matter under cheatgrassdominated
and native shrub-steppe vegetation were compared by standard soil analysis
procedures at seven paired sites in Idaho and Utah. Results suggest that, following conversion
to cheatgrass dominance, increased porosity and labile organic inputs enhance microbial
decomposition in near-surface horizons beneath cheatgrass compared to adjacent soils under
native vegetation. Enhanced decomposition could result in depletion of long-term SOM,
leading to impoverished sites difficult to restore to native perennial vegetation.
Added by: Eric Peterson