Dependence of standing crop on range condition rating in New Mexico

Abstract

The Sandy Ridge Site of southern New Mexico was studied to determine the dependance of total standing crop and components of standing crop on range condition rating. Total standing crop which included mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) decreased, but total standing crop minus mesquite increased as range condition rating increased. These relationships were found to be highly significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) by regression analysis. Very low R-square values for these models indicate that the often assumed positive linear relationship of standing crop to range condition rating is not reliable. Prediction of standing crop from range condition ratings using linear or quadratic models was found to be unreliable for the Sandy Range Site in southern New Mexico.