Mesquite removal and mulching impacts on herbage production on a semidesert grass-shrub rangeland
By: Stacy Pease ... [et al.].
Contributors: Pease, Stacy.; Rocky Mountain Research Station (Fort Collins, Colo.)
Series: Research paper RMRS -- RP-59.
Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Fort Collins, Colo
Language: eng
Subjects: Mesquite -- Control -- Arizona -- Santa Rita Experimental Range.; Grasses -- Arizona -- Santa Rita Experimental Range.; Range management -- Arizona -- Santa Rita Experimental Range.; Santa Rita Experimental Range (Ariz.)
Description: The objectives of our study were to determining the effects of velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) removal, control of the resulting basal sprouts, and mulching treatments on herbage production (standing biomass) and selected soil chemicals (nutrients) shown to affect herbage production on the Santa Rita Experimental Range. Mesquite control treatments consisted of overstory removal by chain saw with and without control of the resulting basal sprouts. Mulching treatments were applications of mesquite wood chips, commercial compost, or lopped-and-scattered mesquite branchwood. Mesquite removal resulted in increases for total herbage production and the production of native herbaceous species. Production of the nonnative Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana), the dominant herbaceous species, was unchanged. The mulching treatments did not affect herbage production. None of the treatments affected soil chemical properties thought to influence herbage production.
Notes: Cover title.

"June 2006."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 4-5).

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