CLIMATIC EFFECTS ON BUFFELGRASS PRODUCTIVITY IN THE SONORAN DESERT

Buffelgrass (Cenchrus cilaris L.), a perennial bunchgrass from northce ntral Kenya has been successfully seeded on 400,000 ha in northwest Me xico. To determine if carrying capacity increased after buffelgrass in troduction we measured live, recent-dead standing, old-dead standing a nd litter at 2-week intervals for three years. Live biomass was produc ed throughout the year but peak production, over the 3 years was in Au gust. Peak live biomass production varied from 465 kg/ha in a summer o f below-average precipitation to 3,045 kg/ha in a summer of above-aver age precipitation. Recent- and old-dead standing quantities were highl y variable among years and transfers among components were dependent o n temperature and precipitation. Buffelgrass annually produces about 3 times more green forage than native grasses.