Evaluation of Selected Shrubs for Arid and Semiarid Game Ranges

Wildlife production in arid and semiarid areas may be limited because of scarce or low quality forages as well as a lack of water. Shrubs, particularly legumes, can potentially increase the quantity and quality of forage in these areas (Cook 1971). Woody plants adapted to arid and semiarid regions a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 1985-01, Vol.49 (2), p.524-527
Main Authors: Whisenant, Steven G., Ueckert, Darrell N., Huston, James E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arid zones
Deer
Digestion
Eysenhardtia texana
Forage
Germination
Leucaena retusa
Livestock
Planting
Seeds
Shrubs
Testa
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Summary:Wildlife production in arid and semiarid areas may be limited because of scarce or low quality forages as well as a lack of water. Shrubs, particularly legumes, can potentially increase the quantity and quality of forage in these areas (Cook 1971). Woody plants adapted to arid and semiarid regions are less susceptible to seasonal droughts than herbaceous species and may supplement animal diets during dry periods (Anthony and Smith 1977). The use of woody legumes to increase soil nitrogen and provide high-protein feed during dry seasons has dramatically increased ruminant livestock production in humid and arid areas of the tropics when drinking water was not limiting (Jones 1979). Few shrubs have been evaluated as having potential for improving game ranges in regions such as the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. In this study the authors elected to evaluate three shrubs native to the Chihuahuan desert Anisacanthus wrightii, Eysenhardtia texana , and Leucaena retusa .
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2307/3801567