Abstract

SEGURA CARMONA, Juan Emmanuel et al. Generation of new equations to estimate aerial biomass based on morphological variables obtained from grasses in rangelands of Nuevo León, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2024, vol.15, n.1, pp.1-16.  Epub Apr 12, 2024. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v15i1.6457.

The estimation of aerial biomass of grasses contributes to carrying out efficient and sustainable management of rangelands. This study aimed to generate new equations to estimate the aerial biomass of grasses present in rangelands in Nuevo León, Mexico, based on data collected from the total number (n= 745) of individuals of the five species of grasses: Cenchrus ciliaris Linnaeus, Pappophorum bicolor Fourn, Aristida purpurea Nutt, Tridens texanus Watson and Paspalum pubiflorum Fourn present in the sampling plots. Using the maximum height and the height of the vegetative stems, the aerial, basal, and compressed diameters, and volumes measured in each of the collected individuals, linear (stepwise) and nonlinear equations were generated to estimate the aerial biomass (dry matter basis) of the grasses cut at ground level. Six general equations with the best statistical fit for the total species collected were selected. General equation III had the best values of R2 =0.88 and AIC =3079, using the five variables evaluated. General equation IV had an R2 =0.86 and AIC =3530, using only the variable compressed diameter. The selected specific equations estimated the aerial biomass of the grasses Cenchrus ciliaris (R2=0.88, r=0.94), Pappophorum bicolor (R2 =0.86, r =0.92), Aristida purpurea (R2=0.92, r=0.96), Tridens texanus (R2 =0.91, r =0.96), and Paspalum pubiflorum (R2 =0.93, r = 0.97). The new equations are a reliable alternative to indirectly estimate the aerial biomass of the grasses of the rangelands of northeastern Mexico in a faster and less expensive manner than the traditional method.

Keywords : Allometric equations; Cenchrus ciliaris; Native grasses; Compressed diameter.