Evaluation of Suitability of Grass Species for Dry Conditions (Water Stress)

Abstract

Based on three-year results of a field experiment evaluating aboveground biomass production and the number of stems of above-ground shoots of grass species (Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis) grown in a 200×200 mm layout in two water regime variants (normal and reduced -50% of precipitation) and further in two variants of mowing intensity (meadow -3 mowings, grazing -5 mowings per year), the following has been ascertained. The most productive species on averages of the two moisture regimes is Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis have fodder weight significantly lower by 20.8% and 22.6% (meadow var.) and 16.9% and 21.9% (grazing var.). Reduction of moisture significantly decreased the above ground biomass weight in case of meadow exploitation in Dactylis glomerata −41.2%, in Lolium perenne by −9.9% and in Festuca pratensis −33.5%. In case of grazing exploitation, the influence of "drought" on production was less pronounced. Dactylis glomerata provided the same output, in Lolium perenne there was a decrease of −15.7% and in Festuca pratensis −11.9%. Reduction of precipitation significantly decreased shoot formation particularly in case of meadow utilization in Lolium perenne −23.7%, Dactylis glomerata −34.7% and Festuca pratensis −20.5%. In case of grazing utilization, reduction in the number of pseudostems due to "drought" was lowerin the order of the above species -27.1% -4.6% -9.6%. Generally, compared with meadow utilization, grazing utilization decreases fodder production in both moisture regimes and increases the number of above-ground shoots.

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Forage Grass Varieties to Mild Drought Stress Under Field Conditions

“…Results of Ebrahimiyan et al (2012) confirmed this trend and showed a lower reduction of DMY and better production of F. arundinacea in the second year of control and drought treatment. Jeronimo et al (2014) showed a significant dry matter yield reduction in L. perenne (by 16%) and F. pratensis (by 12%) during drought conditions in the case of a grazing exploitation. Many researchers proved that photosynthesis decreases under drought stress as an effect of stomata closure (leading to a lower CO 2 availability), damaged photosynthetic apparatus including PSI and PSII, intensified photo-inhibition, changes in photosynthetic pigments or damage to chloroplast biochemistry under stress factors (Fu and Huang 2001;Flexas and Medrano 2002;Kong et al 2015 photosynthesis rate was similar in 2014 and 2015 and the highest reduction of this process was found for L. multiflorum in both years and for F. pratensis in 2014.…”

Phosphorus in Spring Barley and Italian Rye-Grass Biomass as an Effect of Inter-Species Interactions under Water Deficit

“…Italian rye-grass is sensitive to water scarcity and primarily responds with poor tillering [77], which can result in lower biomass. The sensitivity of grasses to drought is a feature of the species [78], and even a varietal feature [79], while agronomic and physiological effects of water deficit are determined by the duration of drought [10]. On the other hand, the strength of the effect of a protective (main) crop on the development of catch crop is determined by the protective crop species and the catch crop species.…”