ECONOMIC-FEASIBILITY OF RANGELAND SEEDING IN THE ARID SOUTHWEST

Results from 6 years of seeding trials in the Chihuahuan Desert indica ted that establishment of introduced and native grass species responde d directly to soil moisture at the 1.22 cm (0.5 in) depth, soil temper ature at the 5.08 cm (2 in) depth, and seedbed preparations of mulchin g and pits, The economic analysis indicated that seeding is not an adv isable financial investment in the region under general circumstances, It also showed that when seeding is deemed necessary the best native species economic alternatives are blue grama [Bouteloma gracilis (H.B. K.) Griffiths] with either no seedbed preparation or with post seedbed preparation of mulch, The best introduced species economic alternativ e is Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.), with no seedbed preparation.