Variation in soil moisture content in a rangeland catchment

Soil water studies for California rangelands have focussed on near-surface hydrologic processes, limiting our understanding of spatial-temporal dynami cs of the water regime below the root zone. Soil moisture content and poten tial were monitored for 16 months in 12 locations in an annual grass domina ted 20 ha catchment. The data collected were analyzed by ANOVA to determine significant spatial and temporal differences in soil moisture, Further: an alysis identified variables that influenced the amount of moisture present at a particular subsurface location. It was determined that there were sign ificant differences in the amount of soil moisture present along the vertic al profile of each site and between sites. Soil texture, type of vegetation cover, and elevation were the significant variables that influenced the so il moisture status.