TRANSPLANTING NATIVE PLANTS TO REVEGETATE ABANDONED FARMLAND IN THE WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT

Nursery-grown, native plant species have potential application for rev egetating disturbed arid and semiarid lands.We evaluated nursery-grown fourwing saltbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.], allscale saltbu sh [A. polycarpa (Torrey) S. Watson], bladderpod (Isomeris arborea Nut t.), honey mesquite [Prosopis glandulosa Torrey var. torreyana (L. Ben son) M. Johnston], and rubber rabbitbrush [Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pa llas) Britton] transplanted to abandoned agricultural land throughout the western Mojave Desert. Two types of temporary plant enclosure for herbivory and environmental protection (plastic cones and wire cages) and three mulch treatments (straw, bark, and none) were tested at all six sites. Rubber rabbitbrush was difficult to propagate in the nurser y and is not recommended for transplanting. Significant differences in plant performance occurred between sites with similar aerial environm ents but contrasting degrees of edaphic disturbance. Plastic cones wer e significantly superior to wire cages for plant vigor and survival hu t no differences were detected between mulch treatments. Fourwing salt bush was generally successful over all treatments and sites and is rec ommended for transplanting in this area. In a larger plot study, narro w augered holes led to superior survival of honey mesquite relative to wide, hand-dug holes, and plastic cones were superior to wire cages. Mortality of all species was high due to dry, but not atypical, weathe r during the 2 yr of the study. We conclude that transplanting without intensive irrigation does not guarantee survival of even the most suc cessful species. Its greater cost relative to direct seeding may not b e warranted for large-scale restoration of arid and semiarid environme nts.