Wg. Whitford et al., Establishment and effects of establishment of creosotebush, Larrea tridentata, on a Chihuahuan Desert watershed, J ARID ENV, 47(1), 2001, pp. 1-10
Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) seedlings were planted in plots that were
irrigated, plots that were irrigated and fertilized with ammonium nitrate,
and plots that were not amended in three plant communities on a Chihuahuan
Desert watershed: ungrazed black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grassland, creo
sotebush shrubland, and overgrazed grassland. No seedlings were planted in
one-half of the area of each plot. No seedlings survived in the black grama
grassland or the creosotebush shrubland 2 years after planting. Growth of
established creosotebush shrubs was highest in plots with the lowest grass
cover. Fifteen years after the seedlings were planted in the overgrazed gra
ssland, the area under the shrubs was nearly devoid of perennial grasses an
d forbs. The aggregate stability of the soils under the established creosot
ebush shrubs was significantly lower than the soils in the unplanted split-
half of the plots. Electrical conductivity, calcium, and nitrate were signi
ficantly lower in soils under shrubs than soils in the unplanted split-half
of the plots. There were also significant reductions in densities of annua
l plants growing under the shrubs than in the unplanted split-half of the p
lots. Successful establishment of creosotebush in desert grasslands is depe
ndent upon the presence of large patches of soil with no perennial plant co
ver. Intense grazing by domestic livestock creates microsites and landscape
characteristics favourable for seed dispersal, germination and establishme
nt of creosotebush. Soil changes resulting from shrub establishment reduce
the probability of re-establishing perennial grasses in creosotebush-domina
ted shrubland. (C) 2001 Academic Press.