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Field-based research, education, and partnerships advancing wildlife conservation and resilient landscapes across the Borderlands.
Restoring Native Vegetation in Lehmann’s Lovegrass-Invaded Rangelands
Andrés Solorio-Pulido
Andrés’ research evaluated whether native seeding and soil disturbance could restore plant diversity in Chihuahuan Desert rangelands invaded by Lehmann’s lovegrass. At Nine Point Mesa Ranch, he compared untreated areas with native seeding, soil disturbance, and a combination of disturbance and seeding across 200 experimental plots. The combined treatment produced the greatest improvements in native plant cover and richness, reduced bare ground, and limited Lehmann’s lovegrass dominance more effectively than either treatment alone. Although Lehmann’s lovegrass was not eliminated, the study demonstrated that targeted soil disturbance combined with native seeding can initiate meaningful recovery and shift invaded rangelands toward more diverse and resilient native plant communities.
