Relative Drought Resistance of Seedlings of Dominant Prairie Grasses

Mueller, Irene M.; Weaver, J. E.

doi:10.2307/1930125

Cited by 36 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These results are similar to those of Sala et al (1982) who observed higher mid-day Y in P. smithii leaves compared to B. gracilis on native shortgrass steppe in June. Although B. gracilis is considerably more drought tolerant and is capable of surviving long drought periods that eliminate P. smithii from the landscape (Mueller and Weaver 1942;Weaver and Albertson 1956), the root system of P. smithii on the prairie is often more extensive than that of B. gracilis. This may sometimes confer a superior capability in P. smithii to maintain higher Y. P. smithii roots will explore deeper soil depths as soil water diminishes, while B. gracilis roots decrease in numbers and depth of penetration under severe drought (Coupland and Johnson 1965;Weaver and Albertson 1956).…”

Section: Species Dierences In Water Relations and Ontogenymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This conforms to an overall pattern across the Great Plains that favors C 4 species on sandy textures and C 3 species on clay soils (Archer 1984;Epstein et al 1997;Weaver and Albertson 1956). Early studies and observations on grasses of the shortgrass steppe have demonstrated the superior long-term drought resistance of B. gracilis (Mueller and Weaver 1942;Weaver and Albertson 1956), which could explain its dominance on relatively dry, upland sandy soils. The edaphic distribution of C 3 and C 4 grasses may result in part from the intrinsically higher TUE of C 4 species, which may make them better adapted to the sandy, upland soils (Brown and Simmons 1979;Pearcy and Ehleringer 1984;Sala et al 1982;Williams and Kemp 1978).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photosynthetic pathway and ontogeny affect water relations and the impact of CO 2 on Bouteloua gracilis (C 4 ) and Pascopyrum smithii (C 3 )

Morgan¹,

LeCain²,

Read

et al. 1998

Oecologia

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The eastern Colorado shortgrass steppe is dominated by the C grass, Bouteloua gracilis, but contains a mixture of C grasses as well, including Pascopyrum smithii. Although the ecology of this region has been extensively studied, there is little information on how increasing atmospheric CO will affect it. This growth chamber study investigated gas exchange, water relations, growth, and biomass and carbohydrate partitioning in B. gracilis and P. smithii grown under present ambient and elevated CO concentrations of 350 μl land 700 μl l, respectively, and two deficit irrigation regimes. The experiment was conducted in soil-packed columns planted to either species over a 2-month period under summer-like conditions and with no fertilizer additions. Our objective was to better understand how these species and the functional groups they represent will respond in future CO-enriched environments. Leaf CO assimilation (A ), transpiration use efficiency (TUE, or A/transpiration), plant growth, and whole-plant water use efficiency (WUE, or plant biomass production/water evapotranspired) of both species were greater at elevated CO, although responses were more pronounced for P. smithii. Elevated CO enhanced photosynthesis, TUE, and growth in both species through higher soil water content (SWC) and leaf water potentials (Ψ) and stimulation of photosynthesis. Consumptive water use was greater and TUE less for P. smithii than B. gracilis during early growth when soil water was more available. Declining SWC with time was associated with a steadily increased sequestering of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNCs), storage carbohydrates (primarily fructans for P. smithii) and biomass in belowground organs of P. smithii, but not B. gracilis. The root:shoot ratio of P. smithii also increased at elevated CO, while the root:shoot ratio of B. gracilis was unresponsive to CO. These partitioning responses may be the consequence of different ontogenetic strategies of a cool-season and warm-season grass entering a warm, dry summer period; the cool-season P. smithii responds by sequestering TNCs belowground in preparation for summer dormancy, while resource partitioning of the warm-season B. gracilis remains unaltered. One consequence of greater partitioning of resources into P. smithii belowground organs in the present study was maintenance of higher Ψ and A rates. This, along with differences in photosynthetic pathway, may have accounted for the greater responsiveness of P. smithii to CO enrichment compared to B. gracilis.

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Section: Species Dierences In Water Relations and Ontogenymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photosynthetic pathway and ontogeny affect water relations and the impact of CO 2 on Bouteloua gracilis (C 4 ) and Pascopyrum smithii (C 3 )

Morgan¹,

LeCain²,

Read

et al. 1998

Oecologia

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show abstract

“…He also called attention to the fact that the time factor in heat action is important, a fact which has be-en overlooked by many workers. SAVAGE (36,37) and MUIHLER and WEAVER (28) Grasses were transferred from field conditions to greenhouse ground plots where they were subjected to different treatments for a period of two months. Drought conditions were maintained on one series of plots while the other series was kept well watered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drought Resistance in Range and Pasture Grasses

Julander

1945

Plant Physiol.

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“…Work done by Mueller and Weaver (1942) on soil and atmospheric drought resistance of prairie grass seedlings substantiated field observations made during the drought. Among the fifteen species included in the study, blue grama was All of these studies help to illustrate that with proper care and amendments, productivity can be returned to mined lands.…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%