Soil Water Depletion Following Clearcutting Small Plots in a Spruce-Fir Forest in Northern Utah

David A. Lomas

Document Type

Full Issue

Publication Date

1977

Abstract

The effect of clearcutting an old-growth spruce-fir stand on soil water depletion, snow accumulation and soil water chemistry was studied in northern Utah. During the summers of 1974), soil moisture trends were studied Leaving one plot as a control, the other October, 1975. Prediction equations were developed during a four-year calibration period using regression analysis between the treated plots and the control. One prediction equation was also developed by pooling all three treated plots and running a regression against the control plot. The parameter used in the above equations was inches of water loss per day. Prediction equations using seasonal water depletion loss in inches were also developed between the clearcut plots and the control. Soil water savings ranged from 9 to 11 inches, depending upon the parameter used. These savings occurred mainly between early July and early September. Snow accumulation increased in the clearcut areas by about 85 percent, but the snowpack disappeared sooner than the forest snowpack.

Comments

This item is a thesis published by a student who attended Utah State University. Abstract can be accessed through the remote link. Fulltext not available online.

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