Rainfall, evapotranspiration, total soil-water potential, and soil-water content at a sagebrush site and a replacement-vegetation site near Fort Defiance, Arizona, 1989-91

Abstract

The Navajo Nation Forestry Department established a growth of four species of native grasses and two species of native shrubs on formerly sagebrush- covered land about 6 miles north of Fort Defiance, Arizona. The native grasses and shrubs grew under conditions of natural precipitation and soil fertility. This provided alternate grazing areas for tribal livestock. Tribal livestock previously had been grazed on timber-producing land, killing seedlings planted for reforestation. Rainfall, evapotranspiration, total soil-water potential, and soil-water content at a sagebrush site and a site planted with grasses and shrubs north Fort Defiance, Arizona were monitored to document hydrologic conditions during the experiment. Daily rainfall during the April through November 1989- 91 data-collection period ranged from 0 to 1.21 inches (0 to 30.7 millimeters). Evapotranspiration during the data-collection period generally ranged from about 0.5 to 2 millimeters per day (0.02 to 0.08 inch per day), increasing to 2 to 5 millimeters per day (0.08 to 0.20 inch per day) after rainfall. The total soil-water content ranged from 5.7 to 65.9 percent. Soils were wetter during the April data-collection period than during the November data-collection periods.