Effects of different patterns of supplemental water and nitrogen fertilization on productivity and composition of Chihuahuan Desert annual plants

The effects of supplemental water supplied as large events, 25 mm per month, or as frequent small events, 6 mm per week, and available nitrogen on density, aboveground biomass and species composition of an annual plant community were studied in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. The amendments of water...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American midland naturalist 1988-04, Vol.119 (2), p.336-343
Main Authors: Gutierrez, J.R, Da Silva, O.A, Pagani, M.I, Weems, D, Whitford, W.G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AGUA DE RIEGO
Annuals
BIOMASA
BIOMASS
Biomass production
BIOMASSE
COMPOSICION
COMPOSITION
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
DESERT
DESERTS
DESIERTOS
EAU D'IRRIGATION
ECOLOGIA VEGETAL
ENGRAIS AZOTE
FERTILIZANTES NITROGENADOS
Fertilization
GROWTH
Herbs
IRRIGATION WATER
MONOCARPOS ORNAMENTALES
NEW MEXICO
Nitrogen
NITROGEN FERTILIZERS
NOUVEAU-MEXIQUE
NUEVO MEXICO
ORNAMENTAL MONOCARPS
PHYTOECOLOGIE
PLANT ECOLOGY
PLANT POPULATION
PLANTAS
PLANTE
PLANTE ORNEMENTALE MONOCARPIQUE
PLANTS
POBLACION VEGETAL
POPULATION VEGETALE
Productivity
Rain
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Summary:The effects of supplemental water supplied as large events, 25 mm per month, or as frequent small events, 6 mm per week, and available nitrogen on density, aboveground biomass and species composition of an annual plant community were studied in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. The amendments of water and N had no effect on total annual plant density. However, supplemental water resulted in increased density of eight species and nitrogen fertilization produced increased densities in nine species. Total aboveground biomass was higher in the nitrogen fertilized plots; water amendments had no effect on dry matter production and there were no significant water-nitrogen interactions. Cluster analysis showed that species composition was similar on the fertilized plots and that the plots receiving 25 mm · month-1additional water in a single event differed most from the others. Species richness was highest in the 6 mm · week-2, unfertilized plots, and lowest in the unwatered-unfertilized plots. Biomass production of six of the 23 species recorded was significantly increased by nitrogen fertilization and biomass of two species was significantly reduced.
ISSN:0003-0031
1938-4238
DOI:10.2307/2425816