Above-ground biomass yields at different densities of honey mesquite

Abstract

Dense stands of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr. var. glandulosa) negatively impact livestock handling and herbaceus forage production; however, very little information is available on the effect of stand density on biomass production of herbage and wood. Our study compared above-ground yields of herbage and wood in undisturbed, cleared, and 3 levels of thinned (100, 300, and 900 stems ha-1) stands of mesquite. Total removal of the mesquite canopy resulted in a 45% increase in herbaceous standing crop compared to the control in the first 2 years post-clearing. Herbage yields for the thinning treatments were intermediate although herbage yields for the 900 stems ha-1 (2,017 kg ha-1) treatment was similar (P>0.1) to the control (1,849 kg ha-1) and lower (p