TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

152 IMPROVEMENT OF TROPIOAL AND SUBTROPIOAL RANGELANDS
for increased forage production. Benefits may last 5-10 years, seldom
longer.
Improved Forage Qu41it, Forage quality may be improved because
of the higher nutrient content and digestibility of the regrowth,
or because of improved species composition.
Better Utilization and Live,toe' DUtribution Utilization and
livestock distribution may be improved. Reduction or retardation of
woody plant growth permits better distribution of stock and more
uniform forage utilization. Another benefit is the reduced manpower
needed to work livestock, especially in areas that were formerly
dominated by a dense shrub cover.
Increued Water Yield Significant improvement in water yield
has been reported from treatment of some chaparral ranges by reducing
transpiration 10000s. Most range burning, however, improves
on-site water (soil moisture) savings and use (McKell et al., 1969).
Improved Wildlife Habitat Wildlife can benefit from the increased
diversity of habitats following well-planned range burns.
Wildlife food may be increased. Non-game birds and mammals also
may benefit from the increase in habitat diversity caused by careful
range burning.
Han..tlDg Precipitation
Natural revegetation is improved when more water is made available
to desired vegetation. Poor infiltration of water into the soil is
a key physical process. Often the soil surface can be treated to improve
infiltration and prevent erosion, while the desired vegetation is
increased or maintained.
Practices that help concentrate moisture and increase percolation
in the soil include pitting, ripping, and contour furrowing (table
7-1). These practices, as discull8ed here, are used on rangeland not
in need of direct seeding. In fact, these operations should not be
considered as a means of seedbed preparation. Basins or pits created
through the use of cut-away pitters, road maintainers, or other
equipment are used to concentrate moisture in a smaller area.
Ripping is used to break up impervious layers in the soil (figure
7-4). This usually increases percolation of water into the soil and
reduces surface runoff.
Contour furrowing has the same effect as pitting. It is generally