Desert Plants, Volume 25, Number 2 (December 2009) Item Type Article Publisher University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) Journal Desert Plants Rights Copyright © Arizona Board of Regents. The University of Arizona. Download date 04/10/2021 08:58:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/556549 Volume 25 Number 2 Desert December 2009 Plants How the Use of Mesquite Impacts Grass Availability, Wild Ass Sanctuary, India Bitapi C. Sinha, S. P. Goyal, P. R. Krauseman 3 The Double-Cut Technique for Grafting Cacti to Trichocereus pachanoi Rootstock Dan Bach 10 Note from the Director Mark Siegwarth 13 Dedication of Boyce Thompson Arbore­ tum April1929 Franklin J. Crider 14 World Vegetation in Relation to the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum Homer L. Shantz 17 Effect of Pre-germination Treatments on Seed Germination of Helianthemum lippii (L.) Dum.Cours. S. Zaman, S. Padmesh, H. Tawfiq 18 Lonesome Valley: Rio Huasco, River of the Atacama Jeffrey M. Petrie 24 Chuasco Lomas, Southern Atacama, Chile 2 Desert Plants Desert Plants Volume 25, Number 2, December 2009 A journal devoted to broadening knowledge of plants indigenous Published by The University of Arizona for the or adapted to arid and sub-arid regions and to encouraging the ap­ Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum preciation of these plants. 37615 East Highway 60 Superior, AZ 85273 Margaret Norem, Ph.D., Editor 2120 E. Allen Road Copyright 2009 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Tucson, AZ 85719 The University of Arizona (520) 393-8759 (520) 647-2638 FAX The Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum at Superior, [email protected] Arizona is cooperatively managed by the Arizona State Parks Board, Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, Inc., and The University of Arizona. From the Editor ... A long hot summer has finally ended. Luckily I was able to escape to the Big Sky Country again this summer. Come mid October and it is still 98, it is hard to remember the cool temperatures of Georgetown Lake, Montana. Speaking of Montana, Dr. Paul Krauseman of University of Mon­ tana, formerly, University of Arizona, submitted his interesting manuscript on mesquite impact on grass availability in India. An­ other world desert area is represented with Dr. Zaman's pre-germi­ nation seed treatments in Kuwait. This manuscript is of particular interest to me and my colleagues at the Desert Legume Program which collects, stores and tests legume seed from deserts around the world. Down south in another desert of the world, Jeff Pet­ rie writes about the vegetation in the Rio Huasco River Valley in Chile. Many of you may remember Pete from his years at the ar­ boretum. Since his retirement he has become a citizen of the world and Desert Plants has benefitted from his manuscripts on Saudi Arabia, the Canary Islands and now Chile. At the suggestion of Mark Seigwarth, the new director of Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Dan Bach's cactus grafting manuscript from 1981 was republished. Apparently Desert Plants, Volume 3(1), 1981 is a popular back issue purchase because of this graft­ ing technique. Finally, Mark has been studying Arboretum history and presented me with booklet printed for the Boyce Thompson Arboretum dedication in April 1929. The dedication speeches, re­ printed in this issue, demonstrate that our goals today are much in agreement with the original goals. That being said, we encourage you all to visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum and discover how far we have come! Underwriters Josiah T. Austin Harris Environmental Group, Inc. John Pierce Supporters Glenn Branham Doug Newton Douglas Ripley John Spence Joe Wilkins Big Sky fun, which twin is the editor? Sinha et al. Mesquite Impact 3 How the use of mesquite impacts grown on the saline fringes ofthe Rann ofKutch and on the desert border since 1953 to stop desertification. grass availability, The invasion of exotic plants like mesquite is a primary threat to the Wild Ass Sanctuary, India integrity and function of ecosystems (Blossey et al. 2001, Sinha et al. 2007). Livestock ranchers and pastoralists discourage mesquite Bitapi C. Sinha because it invades pastures (Mwangi and Swallow 2005), is highly S. P. Goyal aggressive, and crowds out native vegetation (Tiwari 1999, Al­ Rawai 2004). Mesquite is a drought-resistant, fast-growing, and Wildlife Institute of India nitrogen-fixing species able to grow in harsh conditions where na­ P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani tive species fail (Pasiecznik et al. 2001). Mesquite is equipped with Debra Dun, India a number of biological characteristics related to seed dormancy, germination, and dispersal that can facilitate rapid invasion of new Paul. R. Krausman areas (Shiferaw et al. 2004). In addition mesquite has great ability Wildlife Biology Program to resprout with quick coppice growth from stumped or damaged trees making it a very strong competitive invader (Shiferaw et al. University of Montana 2004). Mesquite is also able to cause substratum degradation in the Missoula, MT 59812 USA semi-arid and arid areas of north and northwest India (Sharma and Dakshini 1998). Abstract We examined the impact of an exotic mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) Several reviews reported deserts to be among the least invaded on grass availability in the Wild Ass Sanctuary (WAS), Western ecosystems worldwide, in terms of the number of naturalized and India, which is the only habitat for the endangered Indian wild ass invasive species (Lonsdale 1999, Brooks and Pyke 2001). In des­ (Equus hemionus khur). These data are necessary for the manage­ ert habitats, many studies describe factors that promote plant inva­ ment of endangered species in desert ecosystems where resources sions, but few investigated the impacts on biodiversity (Brooks fluctuate widely. We collected information on the size of mesquite and Pyke 2001, Sinha et al. 2008). branches used by people for fuelwood and the impact of branch­ es that were left on the ground on grass cover and biomass dur­ In India, for example, it is well documented that poor rural women ing 1989-1990. People preferred fuelwood branches of mesquite in arid and semi-arid areas benefit disproportionately from selling 5-15cm in diameter; the remaining thorny branches are left in the charcoal and fuelwood made from mesquite (Andersson 2005). field, which reduces the availability of grass for foraging. Most Most of the firewood extracted from forests is transported on the grasses that grow under the discarded mesquite branches are pro­ heads of villagers living adjacent to the forests. The excessive cut­ tected whereas grasses without this protection are grazed. We cor­ ting of firewood has resulted in the depletion of forest cover. Peo­ related the percent grass cover with the number of twigs left on the ple use fuelwood that they gather and it is usually obtained from ground (r = 0.74). Grasses protected due to the thorny branches mesquite. Besides fuelwood, charcoal is produced in the region. leftover after mesquite collection, provide sources of seeds but Most of the charcoal supplying villages are located adjacent to the reduce overall availability of forage leading to increased crop LRK. These regions are one of the major suppliers of charcoal to depredation by wild ass. Managing mesquite branches in WAS is Ahmedabad, India (FAO 1993). At the same time vast stretches important to provide more grazing areas for minimizing crop pre­ of grasslands in LRK are crucial for habitat for a number of wild­ dation by wild asses and preserve seed from grazing for grassland life species including the endangered Indian wild ass and fodder management. reserve for livestock. It has also been reported that after collec­ tion of the branches of preferred girth sizes, the remaining thorny Keywords branches are left in the field as twigs that further reduces foraging Fuelwood, grazing, India, Indian wild ass, mesquite, Rann of areas for wild asses. Kutch, semi-arid Resources in LRK fluctuate widely over years. Therefore, our ob­ Introduction jective was to describe the impact of mesquite extraction for fuel Concern about deforestation, desertification, and fuelwood short­ wood by the local people on grassland habitat. ages in the late 1970s and early 1980s promoted research result­ ing in translocation of an exotic mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) and Study Area other hardy tree species to new environments across the world Little Rann of Kutch, is a unique and hostile place in the Thar (Mwangi and Swallow 2005). Although some exotic plant intro­ Desert (Fig. 1). Temperatures can rise to 50°C during day time ductions were accidental, many were intentional for wildlife and coupled with dust storms and mirages and cool to soc at night. habitat improvement, ornamental purposes, wood or fiber produc­ Thorny vegetation exists on the desert fringe, however no veg­ tion, or for other uses (Harrod 2001 ). The earliest records of mes­ etation at all exists to provide shade in the mudflat. There is no quite cultivation in the Indian subcontinent date back to 1877. In habitation for miles and only saline water. Despite the hardships, areas adjacent to the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK), Gujurat State, working in this saline desert was an experience of a lifetime. Lo­ India, mesquite was introduced by the ruler of Radhanpur during cal villagers and nomadic pastoralists, who come to the area, are 1899-1900 and has now spread throughout the fringe of the desert colorful and hospitable and one can strike a genuine conversation (Patel 1977). In Gujarat State, regular plantations of mesquite are with them quickly. Desert Plants 4 Banaskantha N ~· ' ' ,. .. ' ... ~ ' , .. # '' Sami 0 10 L--.J ~ .... ,.,~ .. km Scale Little Ran n of Kutch ·· · · · District boundary - Taluka boundary • Taluka Headquarter • Intensive study area Figure 1. Study area Little Rann of Kutch The study was conducted in the Wild Ass Sanctuary (WAS) (230 To estimate the effect of mesquite on the availability of grass cov­ 2 10'-230 45' N; 700 45'-710 45' E), LRK (4,840 km ).