Soil movement across black grama and mesquite ecotone transects in the Jornada Basin, southern New Mexico, USA, 1933-2011

This package contains data from a study that measured long-term soil
movement in areas undergoing mesquite invasion on the Jornada
Experimental Range from 1933-2011. Data consist of height
measurements of soil on two long-term transects established in the
Natural Revegetation Exclosure (NatReveg) in 1933 and an exclosure
in Pasture 8b in 1935. In 1933, about half of the NatReveg exclosure
was covered with mesquite dunes. Grasses dominated the non-dune
portion, but mesquite plants were present. Approximately one-third
of the NatReveg site exclosure was sprayed with 2,4,5-T herbicide
for mesquite control in 1966-68. Additional herbicide treatments
were conducted upon the sprayed portion in 1969-72. The 1731-m
NatReveg exclosure transect runs north-south through the center of
the exclosure and extends 61 m (200ft) beyond the boundary fence on
either end. The 457-m Pasture 8b transect is oriented WSW-ENE and
was established in an area where mesquite dunes were large and well
established. The predominant soils in this exclosure are deep loamy
sands. Soil movement was measured by the distance between the soil
surface and a notch in 50 cm T-posts located every 15.2 m (50 ft).
Transects were measured in 1950 (8b only), 1955 (8b only), every
five years from 1980-2000, and most recently in 2011. Most steel
posts were re-measured at these intervals, but some were lost due to
excavation or burial. These were replaced with a new baseline notch
height initiated on the posts. Data correspond to each year of
collection, as well as measures (in cm) of soil deposition or
deflation during the intervals. This study is complete. For further information, see: Gibbens, R.P., J.M. Tromble, J.T. Hennessy, and M. Cardenas, 1983.
"Soil movement in mesquite dunelands and former grasslands of
southern New Mexico from 1933 to 1980." Journal of Range
Management 36:145-148.