Can legume seeds establish after land degradation by buffelgrass? Evidence to initiate restoration in Central Sonora, Mexico

Abstract

AbstractBuffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) has been introduced in many localities of northwestern Mexico for cattle grazing. Recent studies have documented how the conversion of natural vegetation to buffelgrass pastures affects several ecological processes that result in high levels of desertification and the subsequent abandonment of lands. However, no previous study has documented successful restoration in these habitats. In this paper we report the results of several experiments focused on the restoration of these areas using native legume species of the region. We selected a degraded buffelgrass pasture considered unproductive by local ranchers in central Sonora. We carried out experiments to evaluate seed removal, seedling emergence, and seedling establishment of native legumes species (Prosopis glandulosa, Parkinsonia microphylla and P. praecox). Our results showed that P. microphylla had greater emergence (10%) than the other two species despite the high seed removal recorded. In addition, P. microphylla was the species with the highest survival (1.4%). Thus, our results show that ecological recovery using native species is possible in desertified buffelgrass pastures. Considering the ecological benefits of P. microphylla in the Sonoran Desert (i.e., nurse plant, positive associations, plant‐growth promoting), this species could be considered highly valuable in restoration procedures.