How desertification affects nitrogen limitation of primary production of Chihuahuan Desert watersheds

Title	How desertification affects nitrogen limitation of primary production of Chihuahuan Desert watersheds
Publication Type	Conference Proceedings
Year of Publication	1987
Authors	Whitford WG, Reynolds J.F, Cunningham GL
Editor	Aldon EF, Vicente CEGonzale, Moir WH(eds.)
Conference Name	Proceedings of the Symposium on Strategies for Classification and Management of Native Vegetation for Food Production in Arid Zones
Volume	General Technical Report RM-150
Pagination	143-153
Date Published	Octoer 12-16, 19
Publisher	USDA Forest Service
Conference Location	Tucson, Arizona
Accession Number	JRN00055
Call Number	00400
Keywords	abstract, abstracts, conference, conference proceedings, conferences, desertification,primary production, model, desertification, model,primary production, nitrogen,primary production, primary production,nitrogen, proceeding, proceedings
Abstract	It is hypothesized that the shift from perennial clump grasses to shrub dominated ecosystems in the Chihuahuan Desert has resulted in a change from predominantly water limited ecosystems to nitrogen-water limited ecosystems. In shrublands nitrogen and water are concentrated in patches under individual shrubs. This patchiness affects the temporal linkage between water inputs and nitrogen availability. Nitrogen and water availability are also affected by redistribution of organic matter by wind, water and animals. Shifts from grassland to shrubland results in increased temporal and spatial variability of these essential resources for plant production. Models for predicting primary productivity on desert landscapes must include linkage between mechanistic nitrogen models and broad spatial scale organic matter transport and accumulation models.
Custom 1	Fort Collins, Colorado