Energy dynamics and net productivity of annual plants in southern New Mexico

TitleEnergy dynamics and net productivity of annual plants in southern New Mexico
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1969
AuthorsHettinger LRobert
Date Published1969
UniversityNew Mexico State University
CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis TypeM.S. Thesis
Call Number00135
Keywordsannual plant, energy dynamics, annual plant, productivity, dissertation, dissertations, theses, thesis
AbstractSpecies composition and energy dynamics of annual plants were measured at three elevations between Las Cruces and the Organ Mountains during 1968. Production was measured by randomly selecting plants which were in anthesis and referring to permanent quadrats to record phenology and densities throughout the growing season. Caloric contents were determined for the roots and shoots of each species. Energy measurements varied from 37.45 kcal/m2 at 4400' in March to 514.62 kcal/m2 at 5000' in June. The productivity for the growing season was 751.82 kcal/m2 and the average production was 4.08 kcal/m2/day (1.08 g/m2/day) during a 184 day growing period. Productivity varied from one site to another and varied throughout the growing season. Factors which produced this variation were precipitation, topography, and edapic factors.