Military Camping Impacts on Vegetation and Soils of the Ozark Plateau

The woody vegetation and soils on 20-40-year-old military campsites were compared with undisturbed but otherwise similar areas in south-central Missouri. Military camping caused a reduction in the density and species richness of overstory and understory plants. Ground cover on the campsites is characterized by less litter and more bare ground, but overstory cover on the campsites was indistinguishable from the control sites. Overstory radial growth was unaffected by 40 years of military camping. Altered soil conditions on the campsite included higher bulk density, less total organic carbon and a trend toward lower infiltration rates. The percentage rock volume on the surface of the campsites suggests that between 28 to 61 cm of soil has been lost. Management options are presented in light of this research.