Irrigate degraded shrublands
Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
Background information and definitions
Irrigation may help to promote the growth of shrubland plants, particularly in arid shrublands.
Supporting evidence from individual studies
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2008–2011 in two former pastures in Nevada, USA (Porensky et al. 2014) found that temporary irrigation increased shrub cover. After three years, areas where temporary irrigation was used had higher shrub cover than areas where no irrigation had been carried out (no data reported). At each site fifteen 27 m x 9.3 m plots were irrigated for the first two years of the experiment (2008 and 2009) while fifteen other plots were not irrigated. Grasses and shrubs were planted in all plots before irrigation began. In 2009 and 2011 shrub cover was assessed in all plots.Study and other actions tested