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Community and Ecosystem Effects of Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) and Nitrogen Deposition in the Sonoran Desert

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kelly G. Lyons ,
Baruk G. Maldonado-Leal  and
Gigi Owen
Kelly G. Lyons*
Affiliation:
Trinity University, Dept. of Biology, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212
Baruk G. Maldonado-Leal
Affiliation:
Departamento de Manejo de Combustibles, Gerencia de Protección Contra Incendios Forestales, Coordinación General de Conservación y Restauración, Comisión Nacional Forestal, Periférico Poniente No. 5360, Col. San Juan de Ocotán, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, Edificio “C” C.P. 045019
Gigi Owen
Affiliation:
Climate Assessment for the Southwest, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210156, Tucson, AZ 85721
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Buffelgrass is a non-indigenous, invasive, C4 grass that was introduced throughout much of southern Texas, the Southwestern United States, and northern and central Mexico to improve degraded rangelands. The successful introduction and spread of buffelgrass follows a trajectory similar to that of other invasive C4 grasses in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In the Plains of Sonora of the Sonoran Desert (Mexico) buffelgrass is favored by widespread removal of native vegetation and seeding, but, why, following initial introduction, the species persists remains unclear. In this study, we addressed two concerns associated with buffelgrass invasion in the Plains of Sonora. We hypothesized that under arid rangeland conditions, buffelgrass outcompetes native herbaceous species (1) through rapid acquisition of limiting nutrients (here assumed to be nitrogen) and (2) under conditions with high nitrogen input. In summer 2002, a 2 by 2 factorial experiment was established with buffelgrass removal and nitrogen addition in both intact desert and converted buffelgrass grassland habitats. In winter 2003, we found that, regardless of habitat type, buffelgrass removal had a positive effect on abundance, biomass, and richness of native herbaceous species while addition of nitrogen, as urea (at 50 kg N ha−1yr−1 or 9.18 lbs N ac−1yr−1), and disturbance resulted in reduction in abundance and biomass. Nitrogen addition did not negatively alter buffelgrass cover. Nitrogen addition had the expected result of increasing initial, peak and total NO3 and NH4 mineralization with the exception of NO3 measures in intact desert. Removal of buffelgrass did not result in significant increases in soil NO3 or NH4 with the exception of peak NH4 in intact desert. Results of this study support observations that native herbaceous species are displaced by buffelgrass invasion and that nitrogen pollution will likely favor buffelgrass over the native herbaceous species in this ecosystem.

Keywords

Buffelgrass, Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link (Poaceae), formerly Cenchrus ciliaris L.Arid ecosystemsconversiondesert grasslandsMexicoPlains of Sonora
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 65 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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