The effect of long-term mowing and ungulate exclusion on grass species composition and soil nutrient status on the Athi-Kapiti plains,central Kenya

The long-term (>30 years) impacts of mowing (for hay-making) and ungulate exclusion, on natural, unfertilised rangelands were investigated. Changes in grass species composition and soil nutrient status were measured The study site, situated on the Athi-Kapiti plains of central Kenya, comprised of an ungulate exclusion camp, subjected to an annual mow, and an adjacent control plot, exposed to herbivory from cattle and game. Significant changes were noted in four of the seventeen grass species. Relative percentages of Pennisetum mezianum and P. stramineum increased significantly within the mowed/exclusion plot, while those of Microchloa kunthii and Sporobolus iocladus showed a significant drop. No significant differences were noted in relative frequency of grass species designated as 'decreasers', or in basal cover index. Analysis of soils inside the mowed/exclusion plot showed significantly higher soil pH, and soil Ca levels, but significantly lower plant available soil P and inorganic N, when compared to the control plot. The long-term treatment of mowing/herbivore exclusion, has resulted in severe depletion of plant available soil P and inorganic soil N. Results suggest that differences in species composition can be primarily attributed to the lower defoliation levels, and shading effects inside the exclusion plot, while differences in soil nutrient status can be attributed primarily to the export of nutrients with bailed hay, and to the absence of the stimulating effect that large herbivores have on nutrient recycling. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that herbivory plays an important role in maintaining P recycling in plant available forms, particularly for soils where P may be limiting.     

播量与水肥耦合对河北秋闲田饲用谷子产量的影响

为研究不同播量与水肥(N、P、K)耦合效应对河北秋闲田饲用谷子(Setaria itlica)产草量的影响,以冀谷18为材料,采用五元二次回归正交旋转组合设计进行盆栽试验,通过建立饲用谷子干草产量(Y)与土壤含水量(x1)、N(x2)、P(x3)、K(x4)以及播量(x5)之间的数学模型,模拟寻优。结果表明,水分、播量、磷肥、钾肥等对产草量有重要影响,其中,水分对产量的影响最大,其次是播量、磷肥、钾肥;播量与水肥耦合的显著项及其强弱顺序为:水分+播量钾肥+播量氮磷耦合水氮耦合水磷耦合;其他各项没有明显影响。构建了数学模型Y=20 543.756-565.570x1-39.942x2-23.102x3-38.470x4-151.877x5+1.052x1x2+1.604x1x3+12.953x1x5-0.173x2x3+0.737x4x5-2.292x52,其决定系数R2=0.788,显著值Sig.=0.0000.01,差异极显著,FLf=0.464F0.1=2.193,失拟性不显著,表明该模型预测结果可靠程度较高。明确了以经济效益为考核指标的最优方案:土壤含水量保持10%、饲用谷子播量15kg/hm2。该方案干草产量为14 037.15kg/hm2,经济效益为13 887.15元/hm2,较最优组合增收3 288.98元/hm2,增幅23.68%。为秋闲田饲用谷子生产实践提供了理论依据和技术支撑。     

The immediate effects of the 1964/66 drought on the vegetation of specific study areas in the Vryburg district

During 1964/66 the Molopo and adjacent semi‐arid ranching areas experienced the most severe drought in living memory. The effects of the drought on the more important grass species in particular, were investigated on three farms in the Vryburg district (namely Buttermere, Seruruble and Fontein). A highly significant decrease in the three dominant grass species (Stipagrostis uniplumis, Schmidtia bulbosa and Eragrostis lehmanniana) was recorded in camps with a moderate stand of woody plant species at the Buttermere and Seruruble sites. Overall mean losses of 82 per cent and 80 per cent of. the three major grass species were recorded at these respective sites. No significant differences in the mortality of these grass species were dectected on plots from which all woody plant species had been eradicated immediately before the drought. The mean hay yields recorded (1965/66 season) from bushed and debushed camps at the Buttermere site were 96 lb and 998 lb respectively. The botanical analysis data of four “dolomite” grassveld camps of the Fontein site revealed significant decreases in the total percentage basal cover and the basal cover of the major grass plant species.     

Establishment of stylosanthes guyanensis in marandellas sandveld

The feasibility of establishing perennial forage legumes in veld has been investigated at Grasslands Research Station, Marandellas. Of the species tested, Stylosanthes guyanensis (stylo) appeared most suitable.

Reduction of competition from veld grasses was essential for satisfactory establishment of the legume; this was best achieved by shallow discing which also produced a suitable seedbed.

The density of stylo seedlings was affected by seeding rate and degree of soil preparation. More plants established from 4,5 kg/ha of seed broadcast onto disced soil than from 18,0 kg/ha sown onto undisturbed ground. Periodic grazing during the season of establishment had no effect on seedling density. Herbage yields followed the same trends as stylo density. Yields from the plots with the greatest density of stylo plants were more than twice those from the plots with the lowest density.

Seeding stylo into disced veld raised dry matter yields 50% and crude protein yields 300%, although yields of grass were reduced by the addition of the legume. Annual applications of 112 kg superphosphate/ ha had no effect on yields.     

施肥对草木樨生产性能的影响

通过氮肥和氮磷肥对草木樨生产性能影响的研究,证明磷肥能增加草木樨地上和地下生物量积累及种子产量,同时磷肥还提高了草木樨的粗蛋白含量和积累量,提高了根瘤鲜重,盛花期以前,磷肥增加了草木樨的ＮＤＦ和ＡＤＦ含量,盛花后减缓了纤维化过程。氮磷肥配施提高了草木樨产量和粗蛋白含量,对ＮＤＦ和ＡＤＦ含量的影响类似于单施磷肥,方差分析表明施氮磷肥间在初花期存在显著互作关系,施磷肥对初花期和绿荚期产量的贡献率大于施     

Effect of slope and plant cover on run‐off,soil loss and water use efficiency of natural veld

Abstract

Run‐off and soil loss were monitored from a climax, subclimax and pioneer veld, each on a 5,9%, 4,1% and 2,1% slope, by means of a rainfall simulator on a Valsrivier soil form. With rainfall intensity, soil moisture content at the beginning of each rain storm, and soil texture the same for each treatment, plant cover and composition had a significant (positive) (P≤0,05) influence on the amount of soil loss and run‐off that occurred, as against the insignificant influence of the slope.

An average of 6,2 t/ha soil loss and 80,6% run‐off of the amount of water applied occurred from the pioneer veld (0,7% basal cover) on the steepest slope. In all the successional stages more run‐off and less soil loss occurred from wet soil than from dry soil. Significant (P≤0,01) relationships between basal and canopy cover were obtained with run‐off and soil loss.

The climax, subclimax and pioneer veld produced on average 0,57 g, 0,23 g and 0,07 g aboveground phytomass for each litre of water evapotranspirated.     

Research note: Level of nitrogen fertilization and the dry matter yield of Digitaria eriantha cv. Irene in the Transvaal middleveld

Abstract

N fertilizer was applied as a single dressing in spring at 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 kg N ha^‐1 a^‐1 to an established Digitaria eriantha pasture, previously used as a hay crop. The only significant increase in dry matter (DM) yield was obtained with 80 kg ha^‐1 a^‐1. The DM production per unit of nitrogen (N) applied also reached a maximum with 80 kg N ha^‐1 a^‐1. The distribution of rainfall also influenced DM yield.     

Infiltration,Runoff, and Sediment Yield in Response to Western Juniper Encroachment in Southeast Oregon

Infiltration was measured in a western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) watershed to characterize the hydrologic processes associated with landscape position. Infiltration rate, runoff, and sediment content were measured with the use of a small-plot rainfall simulator. Study sites were located in each of the four primary aspects (north, south, east, and west). Research sites were located in two ecological sites—South Slopes 12–16 PZ and North Slopes 12–16 PZ. Within aspect, plots were located in three juniper cover levels: high (> 22%), moderate (13%–16%), and low (<3%) juniper canopy cover. During rainfall simulation, water was applied at a 10.2-cm · h⁻¹ rate, levels comparable to an infrequent, short-duration, high-intensity precipitation event. Runoff was measured at 5-min intervals for 60 min. Comparing canopy cover levels, steady-state infiltration rates on control plots (9.0 cm · h⁻¹) was 68% greater than high juniper cover sites (2.87 cm · h⁻¹) and 34% greater than moderate juniper cover sites (5.97 cm · h⁻¹) on south-facing slopes. On north-facing slopes, no differences in infiltration rates were observed between juniper cover levels, demonstrating differential hydrologic responses associated with ecological site. Generally, all water applied to control plots infiltrated. Highest infiltration rates were positively associated with increased surface litter and shrub cover. In addition, depth of water within the soil profile was lowest in high juniper cover plots. This suggests that less water is available to sustain understory and intercanopy plant growth in areas with high juniper cover. Accelerated runoff and erosion in juniper dominated sites (high level) across east-, west-, and south- facing slopes can lead to extensive degradation to the hydrology of those sites. These data suggest that sustained hydrologic processes are achieved with reduced western juniper canopy cover.     

施肥对提高秣食豆产量和饲用品质的影响

采用“3414”最优回归设计,设氮、磷、钾3个因素,4个施肥水平,研究不同施肥水平对秣食豆产量、饲用品质的影响,结果表明,在鼓粒期和N₂P₂K₂(N 40 kg/hm²,P₂O₅ 70 kg/hm²,K₂O 50 kg/hm²)施肥水平下秣食豆饲用品质表现最佳,秣食豆鲜、干草产量最高,分别是39238.09和16209.12 kg/hm²,较对照分别提高了24.47%、36.17%;粗蛋白、粗脂肪最高,分别为18.40%和2.60%,较对照分别提高了37.02%、73.61%;粗纤维含量最低,较对照降低了18.46%。     

若尔盖高寒退化湿地土壤碳氮磷比及相关性分析

以若尔盖花湖湿地保护区高寒草甸—高寒草原空间演替为研究对象,结合草地利用现状及微地形分布,遴选出5个高寒退化湿地类型进行鼠类洞穴密度和土壤碳、氮、磷含量的调查取样并进行相关性分析。结果表明,5个样地土壤表层(0～10 cm)碳、氮平均含量分布范围分别为3.7%～4.9%和0.38%～0.56%,样地间差异不显著(P＞0.05),磷元素含量由坡地区(样地Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ)向平地区(样地Ⅳ、Ⅴ)呈递增趋势,差异性显著(P＜0.05);0~40 cm土壤碳氮比(C/N)为11.01,样地间差异不显著(P＞0.05),碳磷比(C/P)为 62.3、氮磷比(N/P) 为5.69,样地间均差异显著(P＜0.05);土壤碳、氮、磷含量及碳氮比、氮磷比均随土层加深呈降低趋势,其中有机碳含量减少4.36%,0～10 cm表层土壤碳氮比显著高于深层土壤(P＜0.05);鼠类洞穴密度与碳磷比、全磷具有极显著的正相关,而土层深度与所有碳、氮、磷化学计量特征都具有极显著的负相关性。研究结果将为鼠害防控及草地营养循环、碳源/汇转化机制、退化草地植被恢复、土壤养分管理提供理论依据。     

Integration of forage legumes with cereal crops. I. Effects of supplementation with graded levels of lablab hay on voluntary food intake,digestibility, milk yield and milk composition of crossbred cows fed maize–lablab stover or oats–vetch hay ad libitum

This study examined the effect of lablab hay supplementation of crossbred cows fed forages from cereal+forage legume intercropping (maize–lablab (ML) stover or oats–vetch (OV) hay) basal diets on feed intake, apparent digestibility, milk yield and milk composition of crossbred cows. Forty eight multiparous (parity 2–4) cows approximately 60 days prepartum and mean live weight 445 S.D.±57 kg at the beginning of the experiment were used in the study. The experiment lasted 200 days each cow, covering 60 days prepartum and 140 days postpartum. Lablab hay supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased total DM intake and DM digestibility as compared with the unsupplemented diets but there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in total DM intake among the supplemented cows. Cows fed ML stover or OV hay supplemented with lablab hay had improved rumen environment as reflected in the rates of DM, OM, N and NDF degradation greater than 0.03 (i.e. 3%) per h. The degradation parameters; a, b, c and the effective degradability (ED) were higher (P<0.001) for lablab hay supplemented diets than for ML stover or OV hay basal forages fed alone. ML stover fed alone resulted into significantly (P<0.001) higher Ca, P, and Mg intake than OV hay fed alone while K intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher with OV hay. Increasing levels of lablab hay supplementation significantly (P<0.001) increased Ca, P and Mg intakes but did not significantly (P>0.05) affect K intake in both ML stover and OV hay diets. OV hay and ML stover basal forages fed to unsupplemented crossbred cows resulted into average milk yields of 6.82 and 8.25 kg/cow per day, respectively, over a lactation period of 140 days after calving. Supplementation with lablab hay significantly (P<0.001) increased milk yield of crossbred cows fed OV hay but for ML stover based diets, supplementation was only significant (P<0.05) at the lowest level (0.4% BW) of lablab offer. For ML stover based treatments, the highest daily milk yield (9.5 kg/head) was obtained at 0.4% of body weight (BW) lablab hay supplementation, while for OV hay treatments, the highest milk yield of 9.7 kg/head was obtained at 1.2% BW lablab hay supplementation. Mean concentrations of milk fat, protein and total solids were similar for both ML stover and OV hay diets fed alone but lablab hay supplementation did not significantly affect the concentration of milk components of cows fed both forages. It was concluded that for optimum milk production from crossbred cows fed ML stover and OV hay basal diets, supplementation should be at 0.52 and 0.85% of BW level of lablab hay, respectively. The lack of response to higher levels of lablab hay supplement despite the increased protein intake was interpreted as resulting from a deficit of dietary energy.     

Digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep fed enset (Ensete ventricosum) pseudostem or corm and graded levels of Desmodium intortum hay to wheat straw‐based diets

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of Desmodium intortum (Desmodium) hay supplementation in sheep fed fixed amounts of enset pseudostem or corm and a basal diet of wheat straw on intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization. Eighteen male sheep with a mean (± SD) live weight of 20.5 ± 1.45 kg were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized design and fed either 108 g dry matter (DM) enset pseudostem or 165 g DM enset corm each with three levels (100, 200 and 300 g) of hay supplementation. For the pseudostem diets, there was no significant difference in total DM intake. Total crude protein (CP) intake and N retention increased with increasing levels of hay in both pseudostem and corm diets. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and microbial nitrogen supply (MN) at 100 g was lower that other levels of supplementation. For the corm diets, total DM and OM intake and MN supply increased with increasing levels of hay. The digestibility decreased (p < 0.001) with increasing levels of supplementation. The results suggest that at least 300 g (395 g/kg dietary DM) of Desmodium hay is required in pseudostem diets, whereas 200 g (337 g/kg dietary DM) may be sufficient in corm diets for efficient nutrient utilization.     

The relationship between the nitrogen and nitrate content and nitrate toxicity potential of Lolium multiflorum

The interrelationships between the nitrate‐N and nitrogen content and dry matter yield of Midmar ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv. Midmar) were investigated. Data were collected from N fertility trials, from two seasons (1985 and 1987) on four soil sites (Metz, Griffin, Clovelly and Katspruit) with N fertilizer rates ranging from 0 to 1 080 kg N/ha/yr, but varying on different sites. The data showed little accumulation of nitrate‐N with increasing nitrogen levels up to 3,2–3,5% nitrogen, followed by a sharp increase in nitrate‐N with little further increase in nitrogen content. Dry matter yields approached a maximum between 3,2 and 3,5% nitrogen and between 0,15 and 0,25% nitrate‐N, thereafter an accumulation of nitrogen or nitrate‐N occurred with little increase in dry matter yield. Above these limits, applied N fertilizer appeared to be in excess of the growth requirements of the plant and potentially toxic to ruminants. This indicated a wasteful use of N fertilizer. The data are reviewed in terms of potential toxicity to ruminants.     

Influence of soil PH and fertilization on the dry matter production,chemical composition and digestibility of perennial grasses : II panicum maximum JACQ 1

Abstract

The reaction of Anthephora pubescens to N, P and K fertilization was evaluated from 1976 to 1983. Dry matter production at N levels of 0; 75 and 150 kg/ha were 1,9; 2,2 and 2,3 ton/ha respectively. This relative poor reaction to N was related to rainfall variations and the initial low soil P status. A significant N × P interaction was recorded. Dry matter production increased from 1,6 ton/ha at the NO × PO treatment to 2,8 ton/ha at the 150 kg N/ha × 20 kg P/ha treatment. Anthephora responded poorly to K fertilization and the mean dry matter production was 2,1; 2,2 and 2,2 ton/ha with 0; 75 and 150 kg K/ha respectively.

The mean crude protein content of A. pubescens increased from 6,5 % at the NO level to 8,8 % with 150 kg N/ha. The P content of plant material increased from 0,13 % at the PO level to 0,20 % with 20 kg P/ha. The Zn content of plant material dropped to sub‐optimal levels during the trial.     

A Process-Based Application of State-and-Transition Models: A Case Study of Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) Encroachment

A threshold represents a point in space and time at which primary ecological processes degrade beyond the ability to self-repair. In ecosystems with juniper (Juniperus L. spp.) encroachment, ecological processes (i.e., infiltration) are impaired as intercanopy plant structure degrades during woodland expansion. The purpose of this research is to characterize influences of increasing juniper on vegetation structure and hydrologic processes in mountain big sagebrush–western juniper (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana [Rydb.] Beetle–Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) communities and to identify and predict states and thresholds. Intercanopy plant cover and infiltration rates were sampled in relation to juniper canopy cover. Study plots, arranged in a randomized complete-block design, represented low shrub–high juniper, moderate shrub–moderate juniper, and high shrub–low juniper percentage of canopy cover levels at four primary aspects. In field plots, percentage of plant cover, bare ground, and steady-state infiltration rates were measured. In the laboratory, juniper canopy cover and topographic position were calculated for the same area using high-resolution aerial imagery and digital elevation data. Parametric and multivariate analyses differentiated vegetation states and associated abiotic processes. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis identified significant changes in infiltration rate and plant structure from which threshold occurrence was predicted. Infiltration rates and percentage of bare ground were strongly correlated (r² = 0.94). Bare ground was highest in low shrub–high juniper cover plots compared to both moderate and high shrub–low juniper cover levels on south-, east-, and west-facing sites. Multivariate tests indicated a distinct shift in plant structure and infiltration rates from moderate to low shrub–high juniper cover, suggesting a transition across an abiotic threshold. On north-facing slopes, bare ground remained low, irrespective of juniper cover. Land managers can use this approach to anticipate and identify thresholds at various landscape positions.     

Runoff and Erosion After Cutting Western Juniper

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis spp. occidentalis Hook.) has encroached on and now dominates millions of acres of sagebrush/bunchgrass rangeland in the Great Basin and interior Pacific Northwest. On many sites western juniper has significantly increased exposure of the soil surface by reducing density of understory species and surface litter. We used rainfall and rill simulation techniques to evaluate infiltration, runoff, and erosion on cut and uncut field treatments 10 years after juniper removal. Juniper-dominated hillslopes had significantly lower surface soil cover of herbaceous plants and litter and produced rapid runoff from low-intensity rainfall events of the type that would be expected to occur every 2 years. Direct exposure of the soil to rainfall impacts resulted in high levels of sheet erosion (295 kg · ha^-1) in juniper-dominated plots. Large interconnected patches of bare ground concentrated runoff into rills with much higher flow velocity and erosive force resulting in rill erosion rates that were over 15 times higher on juniper-dominated plots. Cutting juniper stimulated herbaceous plant recovery, improved infiltration capacity, and protected the soil surface from even large thunderstorms. Juniper-free plots could only be induced to produce runoff from high-intensity events that would be expected to occur once every 50 years. Runoff events from these higher-intensity simulations produced negligible levels of both sheet and rill erosion. While specific inferences drawn from the current study are limited to juniper-affected sites in the Intermountain sagebrush steppe, the scope of ecosystem impacts are consistent with woody-plant invasion in other ecosystems around the world.     

Trampling and Cover Effects on Soil Compaction and Seedling Establishment in Reseeded Pasturelands Over Time

A field study in Randall County, Texas, was conducted to determine how soil bulk density and plant cover change over time in response to deferment following a high-density, high-intensity, short-term grazing/trampling event. Green Sprangletop (Leptocloa dubia Kunth.) and Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) were broadcasted at 4.5 kg ha⁻¹ pure live seed (PLS) on former cropland that had a partial stand of WW-Spar Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum L.). A high-density, high-intensity trampling event was achieved with twenty-four 408-kg Bos taurus heifers occupying four 0.10-ha plots (97 920 kg live weight ha⁻¹) for 10 h, with four adjacent 0.10-ha control plots left untrampled. Canopy and basal cover were determined by plant functional group using the Daubenmire method after rainfall events of > 0.254 cm, and a 5.08 × 7.62 cm core was collected to determine soil bulk density. Strips of supplemental plant material were applied in March to test the effects of 100% soil cover on seedling recruitment. Trampled treatments had 30% less vegetative cover (P < 0.01) and average soil bulk densities that were 0.20 g cm⁻³ higher (P < 0.01) than untrampled plots post trampling. Bulk density decreased with deferral until there were no significant differences between treatments (240 d). However, WW-Spar basal cover increased in both treatments, with no differences between treatments. Trampling did not affect seedling recruitment, but supplemental cover increased seedling density on three of five subsequent sampling dates (P < 0.05). Canopy cover of warm season perennial grasses in trampled treatments surpassed that of the untrampled treatments during the early growing season of 2016 (P < 0.01) but were no different after mid-June. Hydrologic function can be maintained with high stock densities by providing adequate deferment to reestablish sufficient cover and allow natural processes to restore porosity.     

Veldherwinning langs paaie

The results of a trial to study the effects of periodic burning, or complete resting, on the vegetation and some soil characteristics of semi‐arid Acacia nigrescens/Combretum apiculatum savanna in eastern Botswana are discussed. Plots of 1,2 ha were burned at intervals of O (no burn control), 1,2,3,4 and 5 years from 1958 to 1980. In 1981 these were assessed for bush density by species and by height classes, for grass basal cover and botanical composition, and for soil properties. Bush density increased with increasing burning interval but complete resting suppressed seedling development. All burned plots were visibly more open than the rested plot and hence fire appears to offer the possibility of a low cost means of bush control. The changes in soil properties, grass cover and botanical composition resulting from low frequency burns were small.     

前茬施氮对皖草2号草产量影响的研究

研究前茬施氮水平和施氮方式与后茬皖草2号草产量及全年草产量的动态关系.结果表明:前茬施氮能增加皖草2号的株高,尤以前茬氮肥分期施用处理最为明显.随前茬氮肥水平的加大,后茬皖草2号的鲜草、干草产量相应提高,其中前茬纯氮肥施用量达225 kg/hm2以上时,后茬皖草2号的鲜草、干草产量达到较高水平.相同施氮水平条件下,前茬氮肥分期施用比一次性基施的鲜草、干草产量高.前茬氮肥施用量的增加与氮肥分期施用均能提高小黑麦Triticale cereale-皖草2号Sorghum bicolor×S.sudanense的全年草产量,且差异达极显著水平,前茬纯氮施用量为300和375 kg/hm2且分期施用时,2茬牧草全年干草总产量均可达到较高水平,且两者之间的差异不显著.     

Hydrologic Response to Mechanical Shredding in a Juniper Woodland

We investigated soil compaction and hydrologic responses from mechanically shredding Utah juniper (Juniperus ostesperma [Torr.] Little) to control fuels in a sagebrush/bunchgrass plant community (Artemisia nova A. Nelson, Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young/Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Löve, Poa secunda J. Presl) on a gravelly loam soil with a 15% slope in the Onaqui Mountains of Utah. Rain simulations were applied on 0.5-m² runoff plots at 64 mm · h^?1 (dry run: soil initially dry) and 102 mm · h^?1 (wet run: soil initially wet). Runoff and sediment were collected from runoff plots placed in five blocks, each containing four microsites (juniper mound, shrub mound, vegetation-free or bare interspace, and grass interspace) with undisturbed or tracked treatments for each microsite type and a residue-covered treatment for grass and bare interspace microsites. Soil penetration resistance was measured at the hill slope scale, and canopy and ground cover were measured at the hill slope and runoff plot scale. Although shredding trees at a density of 453 trees · ha^?1 reduced perennial foliar cover by 20.5%, shredded tree residue covered 40% of the ground surface and reduced non–foliar-covered bare ground and rock by 17%. Tire tracks from the shredding operation covered 15% of the hill slope and increased penetration resistance. For the wet run, infiltration rates of grass interspaces were significantly decreased (39.8 vs. 66.1 mm · h^?1) by tire tracks, but infiltration rates on juniper mounds and bare interspaces were unchanged. Bare interspace plots covered with residue had significantly higher infiltration rates (81.9 vs. 26.7 mm · h^?1) and lower sediment yields (38.6 vs. 313 g · m^?2) than those without residue. Because hydrologic responses to treatments are site- and scale-dependent, determination of shredding effects on other sites and at hill slope or larger scales will best guide management actions.