LANZA® Tedera Is Strongly Suppressed by Competition from Lolium multiflorum and Is Best Adapted to Light-Textured Soils

Abstract

Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata, known as Tedera, is a promising forage for Mediterranean climates. An improved variety named LANZA® has been developed. Previous research suggests that soil water saturation in heavy-textured soils might affect its initial development. Competition from grasses could also compromise its successful establishment and persistence. We investigated the effects of soils with contrasting textures (loamy sand vs. clay) with a high soil water content and the competition from Lolium multiflorum on the development of LANZA® in a pot experiment. Dry mass (DM) production of LANZA® was strongly reduced (86%) when grown with L. multiflorum. LANZA® shoot DM was 60% higher than the total shoot DM production of the mixture of LANZA® and L. multiflorum. Soil type did not significantly affect the shoot and total root DM. However, a 44% reduction of the DM of thin roots and slower development was observed in clay soils, which may indicate a preference for light-textured soils. This study provides further information on the factors limiting the establishment and persistence of LANZA®. Future research should confirm these results at field scale and investigate measures aimed at reducing early competition in monocultures and functional complementarity with partner species in mixtures to successfully establish LANZA®.

An Overview of Permanent Grassland Grazing Management Practices and the Impacts on Principal Soil Quality Indicators

“…In the Chinese Loess Plateau, human activities and climate change contributed to 42% and 58%, respectively, of the total grassland degradation [22]. Several studies have explored the need to breed and select new drought-resistant grassland species to preserve the grassland provisional service [26,27]. However, in the global context of climate change and reduced water availability for grassland, breeding of new drought-resistant grassland species can reduce yield gaps and bare soil conditions and control soil degradation processes.…”

A Review of Permanent Grassland Grazing Management Practices and the Impacts on Principal Soil Quality Indicators

“…In the Chinese Loess Plateau, human activities and climate change contributed to 42% and 58%, respectively, of the total grassland degradation [22]. Currently, several studies explore the need to breed and select new drought-resistant grassland species to preserve the grassland provisional service [26], [27]. However, in the global context of climate change and less water availability for grassland, breeding of new drought-resistant grassland species can reduce yield gaps, bare soil conditions, and control soil degradation processes.…”