Amount and Distribution of Dry Matter, Nitrogen, and Organic Carbon in Soil-Plant Systems of Mesquite and Palo Verde
Barth RC and Klemmedson JO. 1982. Amount and Distribution of Dry Matter, Nitrogen, and Organic Carbon in Soil-Plant Systems of Mesquite and Palo Verde. Journal of Range Management. 35(4):412-418
Over a 3-yr period, soil-plant systems of velvet mesquite (_Prosopis juliflora_) and palo verde (_Cercidium floridum_) from the Sonoran Desert [Arizona] were sampled by standing crop, litter and soil components and analyzed to describe the amount and distribution of dry matter, N and C in the systems. Honey mesquite [P. juliflora var. glandulosa] was sampled on a limited basis in southern New Mexico. Velvet mesquite averaged about 1/3 larger in crown area and weight than palo verde, but the 2 shrubs were similar in the distribution of dry matter, N and C. Honey mesquite was much smaller and differed in distribution of dry matter, N and C. Regression analysis showed that dry matter, N and C in components of shrub systems of velvet mesquite and palo verde varied in a predictable manner and can be estimated with good precision using height, average crown diameter, or crown area of shrubs as the independent variable. Soil under palo verde did not accumulate N of C with an increase in shrub size, whereas that under velvet mesquite accumulated N at the rate of 11.2 g/m2 per m of height and C at the rate of 0.11 kg/m2 per m of height.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Barth, R; Klemmedson, J
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Chemistry, organic chemistry, Soil Science