Title: Effect of Manipulation of Water and Nitrogen Supplies on the Quantitative Phenology of Larrea tridentata (Creosote Bush) in the Sonoran Desert of California
Abstract:Two years of water and nitrogen augmentation experiments on Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) were carried out in a southern Californian warm desert wash plant community. Treatments consisted of contr...Two years of water and nitrogen augmentation experiments on Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) were carried out in a southern Californian warm desert wash plant community. Treatments consisted of control (C), water (W), water and soil nitrogen (W + SN), and soil nitrogen (SN). Quantitative phenological data and microclimatic measurements were collected prior to the onset of and during the growth period and treatments. Predawn and midday water potentials were lower in nonirrigated than irrigated individuals. Leaf conductance was higher in irrigated than in nonirrigated shrubs, with a maximum difference of 1 cm s-1 observed in July 1984 under relatively low vapor pressure deficit conditions. Leaf production rates were significantly higher in the irrigated (W and W + SN) treatments than in the nonirrigated (C and SN) treatments in 1984. Addition of soil nitrogen caused no increased in vegetative growth rates in 1984. In 1985, a drier year, there was only minimal growth during the spring and summer growth periods in the nonirrigated treatments, while the W and W + SN treatments resulted in significantly higher leafand shoot growth rates. Growth rates in 1985 were significantly higher in the W + SN treatment than in the W treatment. Reproductive growth was higher in the nonirrigated than the irrigated treatments, with the lowest reproductive activity noted in the W treatment.Read More
Publication Year: 1988
Publication Date: 1988-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 23
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