This data package contains data on measured concentrations of nutrients within various plants’ tissues in four habitat types of the Jornada Experimental Range and New Mexico State University College Ranch. These habitat types include: (1)playa, (2)arroyo,(3)dunes, and (4)grassland. Leaves, stems, flowers, and pods were collected from mesquite sample tissues and individually digested and analyzed for total nitrogen (Kjeldahl) and total phosphorus. This data set consists of the date of collection, collection site, leaf total nitrogen, stem total nitrogen, flower total nitrogen, pod total nitrogen, leaf total phosphorus, stem total phosphorus, flower total phosphorus, and pod total phosphorus. Data from this study was collected in 1986. Further data was collected in 1987, but had differing attributes and is therefore published in a separate data package.