Using Homestead Records and Aerial Photos to Investigate Historical Cultivation in the United States

Abstract

W ithout consideration of prior cultivation history, we may misinterpret the results of a study or the success of management practices in rangelands. Cultivation involves plowing the soil, seeding, and harvesting a crop annually. The long-lasting impacts, known as “land-use legacies,” from these disturbances on soils and native plant communi- ties have been observed in ecosystems worldwide for decades, centuries, and even millennia after cultivation ceases. 1 In sagebrush ecosystems, cultivation can be one of the most drastic disturbances, with recovery taking well over 90 years in some places. 2,3 These legacies include altered vegetation, soils, and hydrology. 4 The reestablishment of native species in formerly cultivated areas is typically slowed, if not halted, due to loss of native seedbanks, limited dispersal, and loss of establishment niches. 5 In contrast, exotic and invasive species are often quick to establish and dominate formerly cultivated land. 6 Cultivation can also modify soil structure, texture, and nutrient content. Plowing breaks up soil struc- ture, making it more susceptible to erosion and loss of soil organic matter and nutrients. 7 Plowing also can lead to soil compaction, which affects primary hydrological processes like soil water-holding capacity, run off, and infiltration. 8,9 These legacies are important because they represent funda- mental changes in the structure and function of ecosystems. Unfortunately, the influence of this historical land use is often overlooked in ecological studies, research design, and management implementation. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v34i2_morris