Rw. Benjamin et al., ANNUAL REGROWTH AND EDIBLE BIOMASS OF 2 SPECIES OF ATRIPLEX AND OF CASSIA-STURTII AFTER BROWSING, Journal of arid environments, 29(1), 1995, pp. 63-84
Atriplex nummularia, Atriplex canescens and Cassia sturtii were plante
d in the northern Negev in 1984 in six replicates at five planting den
sities: 625, 1111, 2500, 4444 and 10,000 shrubs ha(-1). They were left
undisturbed for 3 years until July 1987, following which they were su
mmer browsed by sheep and goats until the shrubs were completely defol
iated, and summer browsed again 1988, 1990 and 1991. A. nummularia was
superior to the other species. It had the highest total and edible bi
omass after 3 years of undisturbed growth and the best absolute recove
ry after browsing. Neither of the Atriplex species recovered the initi
al standing biomass recorded before browsing in 1987, and there was a
serious decline in the regrowth of leaf biomass. Cassia sturtii recove
red its initial standing biomass at the two highest planting densities
but failed to do so at the other densities.