ARS | Publication request: NATURAL ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN FOURWING SALTBUSH ATRIPLEX CANESCENS (PURSH) NUTT.

Submitted to: Journal of Arid Environments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 30, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico is one of the oldest rangeland research sites in the world. It was established by the USDA in 1912 in response to the need for information on the proper management of western rangelands. The Experimental Range was established in cooperation with Mr. Charles T. Turney, a prominent rancher in the Las Cruces, NM area. .Mr. Turney deeded 320 acres around 9 wells in the Jornada basin because th base property for the 193,000 acre Range was created from unappropriated public domain. In conjunction with USDA scientists, Mr. Turney agreed to participate in research on management practices for drought conditions, quantification of carrying capacities of native rangelands, technologies for rangeland improvement, and methods for distributing grazing use. Over the past 84 years Experimental Range scientists have continued pursuing the vision of C.T. Turney and made significant contributions to principles for western rangeland management. Today, the mission is to use a detailed understanding of ecological processes to develop more effective methods for rangeland management. This is a logical continuation of the original purpose in cooperation with Mr. Turney.

Technical Abstract: Native populations of fourwing saltbush, Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt., are generally naturally seeded. Two populations were found in New Mexico that are asexually propagated by underground stems. The ratios of female to male plants in asexually produced populations differed from naturally seeded populations. This trait appears to be under genetic control and would be valuable in improving fourwing saltbush for revegetation of rangelands.