POST-TRANSPLANTAT PERFORMANCE OF 17 NATIVE WOOD FODDER SPECIES FROM SONORA, MEXICO.

Abstract

An alternative to prevent the worldwide degradation of arid lands is reforestation with fodder trees and shrubs. However, studies on the survival, recruitment and growth of fodder plants  in arid areas are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the survival total growth of the fodder species established by transplant and irrigation for a year, and evaluate the period of survival that follows in a natural environment, between 2002 and 2016. The hypothesis was that native species would show different survival, recruitment and height values. This investigation included a sample of 133 individuals transplanted at random in Sonora, Mexico. Out of nine tree species, Prosopis velutina, Cercidium floridum, Cercidium microphyllum  and  Olneya tesota  had a survival rate of 100 % and contrasted with five species that had 19 % (c2  = 58.607, p?0.0001), and P. velutina, C. floridum, and C. microphyllum, which increased the number of individuals. Out of eight shrub species, Caesalpinia palmeri, Coursetia glandulosa, Simmondsia chinensis  and  Lippia palmeri  had a survival rate of 100 % (6.25 %; c2 = 36.596, p?0.0001) and  C. palmeri, C. glandulosa  and  S. chinensis  presented recruitment.  Ipomoea arborescens  presented the greatest height in the tree species, with 800 cm and  Coursetia glandulosa in shrub species, with 488 cm. These results for survival, recruitment and total height will help select species for reforestation programs of the arid regions of Sonora.