Tarbush (Flourensia cernua DC.) is an abundant but generally unpalatable shrub native to the Chihuahuan Desert. The objective of this study was to examine the leaf surface chemistry of tarbush in relation to degree of use by ruminants. Mature tarbush leaves were collected on 2 sites during 2 periods approximately 2 weeks apart from plants exhibiting either high (> 45%) or low (< 10%) use when browsed by cattle, sheep, and goats confined to a small area (5 plants per use category for each site/period combination). A greater (P < 0.05) concentration of epicuticular wax was detected on the leaf surface of plants that were used to a lower degree (82 and 10.3% of the leaf dry matter for high- and low-use plants, respectively). Several leaf surface compounds were related to period, while site and degree of use were seldom related to individual mono- and sesquiterpenes measured in this study. Camphene and 10 unidentified compounds differed between periods (P < 0.10). Two unidentified compounds were related to site (P < 0.10) and 2 others were related to use (P < 0.10). In summary, individual leaf surface compounds on tarbush do not appear to greatly affect degree of use of tarbush by livestock, but collectively (based on epicuticular wax data), these compounds may influence the diet selected by browsing ruminants. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.