Influence of silvicultural treatments on growth of mature mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa) nine years after initiation

An improved tool for the fabrication of dendrometer bands to estimate growth as function of treatments in slow growing native Prosopis stands

“…As can be seen in Table 1, in spite of small annual diameter increments of 1-2 mm, this tool was able to detect significant differences in growth rates among treatments. When this tool was combined with the above described sampling/biomass estimation strategy, it was possible to measure differences in biomass growth, annual volume growth and significant differences in the growth rate of the stand corrected for initial basal area (Patch and Felker, 1997). Table 1 Mean and 95% confidence intervals for Prosopis glandulosa diameter growth, annual volume increment and percentage increase in volume in a mature native stand over a 9-year period (Patch and Felker, 1997) Means followed by the same letter are not significant at the 0.05 level (n = 4) as determined by Tukey's HSD.…”

“…This equation was applied to the initial basal diameter of the 80% of the trees within the same treatment that did not have dendrometers installed. We assumed that 20 trees per treatment regression would be acceptable as the trees were stratified over the diameter range and as this would provide 18 degrees of freedom for the regression (Patch and Felker, 1997). In our trials these 20 'dendrometer/regression trees' were assigned approximately equally to each of the four blocks of the same treatment.…”

“…Measurements of treatment effects on tree growth in semi-arid ecosystems are complicated by large variability and slow tree diameter growth (less than 2 mm per year) (Patch and Felker, 1997) that is below the detection limits of annual measurements using diameter tapes. Dendrometers that are permanently mounted on trees greatly reduces measurement error, which facilitates increased statistical efficiency and permits shorter evaluation periods than possible with conventional methods.…”

Nitrogen fixation‐driven carbon sequestration: Brief communication

“…In establishing plantings of N‐fixing trees, the order of magnitude influence of genetic and cultural practices must be considered. Basal diameter growth of 9‐year‐old non‐irrigated trials within 35 km of each other in semi‐arid Texas ranged from 1.2 mm/year for the control on a stagnated mature Prosopis stand (Patch & Felker, 1997a), to 5.4 mm/year for the control in an immature young stand (Patch & Felker, 1997b), to 16.7 mm/year in plantation of native Prosopis (Duff et al., 1994) and 26 mm/year a plantation of advanced clones (Felker et al., 1989). Foliar analyses of the same P alba clone on different sizes with contrasting productivity found that tissue Cu concentrations were 6.0 mg/kg on the high productivity site and 0 mg/kg on the poor growth site (Wightman & Felker, 1990).…”

Chromosomal Changes in <i>Prosopis glandulosa</i> var. <i>torreyana</i> (Honey Mesquite) Species Widely Distributed in North America

“…These plants are abundant in many regions of America and often constitute the only arboreal element of the vegetation (Rzedowski 1988). Mesquite, a common name for species of the genus Prosopis in Mexico, represents an important forest resource: it provides construction material, fuel, and fodder for animals and improves soil fertility and stability (Weldon 1986, Rzedowski 1988, Patch and Felker 1997, Geesing et al 2000. Some mesquites are characterized by their aggressive behavior and occupy pastures and croplands reducing their value (Rzedowski 1988, Mirik andAnsley 2012).…”