Get reliable rangeland science

In addition to their capacity as grazing lands, rangelands from northern Mexico sustain a native flora that has traditionally provided a variety of services such as food, fiber, and raw material for liquor spirits. Some native plant species of particular importance in Chihuahua are Agave lechuguilla (lechuguilla), Dasylirion leiophyllum (sotol) and Lippia berlandieri (oregano). Lechuguilla is gathered to obtain a hard fiber used in the production of ropes, twine, and brushes. Sotol is recollected and used as raw material for the production of liquor similar to tequila. Oregano is used as a spice usually in Mexican and Italian cuisine. In addition to these traditional uses, there are recent attempts to use some of these species (lechuguilla) as biofuels. Furthermore, these species are important components in plant communities that might represent important carbon sinks for their large geographical distribution. Despite the multiple uses and environmental importance of these species, there is little scientific information on their biomass production in native rangelands. Intensive sampling was conducted throughout the state of Chihuahua in areas dominated by lechuguilla, sotol, and oregano to determine their abundance and to calculate through dimensional analysis their biomass production. Lechuguilla was by far the most abundant and productive of the three species with mean density of 6,427 plants/ha and standing biomass of 18,041 kg/ha. Sotol had 359 plants/ha and produced 1,625 kg/ha, while oregano had 1,011 plants/ha and produced 379 kg/ha. The biomass production capacity of these species should be considered in deciding strategies for their use and conservation.