Simulating the hydrology and plant growth of South Texas rangelands /
| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1991.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | Research to develop quantitative techniques capable of producing accurate estimations of forage production for management applications was conducted in South Texas. The research was divided into three parts. First, the interrelations among plants, soils, climate, and weather were studied. Second, the Ekalaka Rangeland Hydrology and Yield Model (ERHYM-II) was both adapted to the area and used as the basis to develop an improved model for management applications. Third, an alternative methodology that does not require direct use of a computer was developed to estimate forage production from rainfall events. In the first part of the research, soil and plant surveys were conducted in clay loam and sandy loam sites from two locations of South Texas to study and characterize the structure of soil-vegetation units at the patch level. This work included characterization of the soil profile, water retention parameters, root content and distribution, and other standard soil parameters. Plant production and composition, soil water, runoff, and daily weather variables were monitored to study the functioning of patches. The result was the development of a theoretical framework that served as the basis for the development of a method to estimate plant production. In the second part of the research data from the surveys and long-term weather records were used to adapt ERHYM-II, and data from the monitoring scheme used to test it. Soil water percolation and plant production components were incorporated into ERHYM-II to produce an improved model for management applications. In the third part, potential forage productions functions are combined with an expected evapotranspiration function to produce an expected water use efficiency function. This function can be used to estimate forage production from rainfall events. The expected evapotranspiration functions are developed from long term weather records. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Range Science." |
| Physical Description: | xvi, 135 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |