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Influence of Vegetation Cover on Soil Moisture in Southeastern Ohio¹

ABSTRACT

To obtain some information in the central United States of the effect of forest watershed vegetation on the amount of water available for streamflow, soil mositure to a depth of 36 inches was studied for 22 months in southeastern Ohio on oak, pine, broomsedge, brush, and cleared plots. Moisture content near the end of the dormant season was used as a measure of field capacity. It varied from 11.49 inches of water on the pine plots to 13.12 inches of water on the broomsedge plots. Generally, soil moisture declined throughout the summer and increased during the winter, but occasionally summer rainstorms were large enough to rewet the soil to field capacity. Late-summer soil moisture deficits were greatest under oak and least under cleared, whether calculated on the basis of measured field depths or on the basis of equal volumes of soil. Water used in a 6-month growing season ranged from 21 inches under cleared to 25 inches under pine. Additional water was withdrawn during the dormant season. The 2-year average amount of precipitation required to refill the soil was 6.5 inches greater under pine than under broomsedge—broomsedge being the minimum cover practical here. Good opportunities exist in Ohio to affect streamflow and flood control through the manipulation of the forest cover.

¹ Contribution from the Forest Service, USDA, Central States Forest Exp. Sta., Columbus, Ohio. Presented before Div. V-A, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 28, 1961, at St. Louis, Mo.

² Research Forester, Central States Forest Exp. Sta., Forest Service, USDA, Columbus, Ohio.

Received for publication February 8, 1962. Accepted for publication June 19, 1962.