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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Reno, Nevada » Great Basin Rangelands Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294529
Title: Chemistry of through-fall and stem-flow leachate following rainfall simulation over pinyon and juniper

Author
item Blank, Robert - Bob
item Lossing, Samuel
item Weltz, Mark
item STRINGHAM, TAMZEN - University Of Nevada
item Uselman, Shauna

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2013
Publication Date: 7/22/2013
Citation: Blank, R.R., Lossing, S.S., Weltz, M.A., Stringham, T., Uselman, S.M. 2013. Chemistry of through-fall and stem-flow leachate following rainfall simulation over pinyon and juniper. 68th International Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference Abstract Book. p. 123.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We hypothesized that leachate from pinyon and juniper canopies, following rainfall events, may contribute sizable levels of solutes and C to the soil surface. We quantified solutes and dissolved carbon in stem-flow (SF) and through-fall (TF) following replicated rainfall simulation events in a pinyon/juniper woodland of the Desatoya Range of Nevada. Except for nitrate and ortho-P, solute concentrations were affected by a significant tree species (pinyon, juniper) by collection location (SF, TF) interaction. Nitrate concentrations were significantly higher in leachate from juniper (95.0 µmol L-1) than pinyon (29.2 µmol L-1). SF leachate had significantly more ortho-P (18.9 µmol L-1) than TF leachate (8.3 µmol L-1). In general, SF leachate contained greater concentrations of Ca+2 and Mg+2 (only for juniper), and SO4-2, K+ than TF leachate. Juniper trees were a considerable source of Ca+2 (SP=1.27, TF=0.21 mmol L-1) and Mg+2 (SF=1120, TF=58 µmol L-1); whereas pinyon trees were a sink or minor source of Ca+2 (SF=-0.028, TF=0.027 mmol L-1) and Mg+2 (SF=-41, TF=5 µmol L-1). For individual collection sites, dissolved C was higher in juniper leachate (SF=349, TF=87 mg C L-1) than pinyon leachate (SF=124, TF=47mg C L-1). These data support the hypothesis. Differences in solute concentration and dissolved C between pinyon and juniper may, overtime, affect soil properties and microbial activity.