| Summary: | This study, carried out in the pinyon-juniper vegetation type in east-central Arizona, describes some effects of undisturbed juniper litter, lateral juniper roots and livestock trampling and grazing on soil characteristics and water movement into and through the soil profile. measurements and observations of soil characteristics including litter cover, surface erosion, soil structure, organic matter, plant roots, soil fauna activity, bulk density and compaction, and infiltration, percolation and soil permeability were obtained. Bulk density and compaction were found to be significantly less on an undisturbed juniper litter site than on other sites influenced by lateral juniper roots and livestock trampling and grazing. Bulk density was found to be significantly greater and infiltration significantly less on inter-tree sites influenced by lateral juniper roots than on grass sites without this influence. Bulk density and compaction were found to be significantly greater and infiltration capacity significantly less on sites subjected to livestock trampling and grazing than on sites without this influence. Highly variable percolation and soil permeability results were obtained with no apparent relationship to plant cover and land use conditions.
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