The performance of native and non-native turfgrass monocultures and native turfgrass polycultures: An ecological approach to sustainable lawns

Simmons, Mark T.; Bertelsen, Michelle; Windhager, Steve; Zafian, Holly

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.03.004

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Despite the strategy of this grass, the study of this species is important because of its high frequency in grazed lands, as denoted by the numerous studies analysing its behaviour in different situations (Ellis et al 1997;Agnusdei & Mazzanti 2001;De Abelleyra et al 2008;Du et al 2011;Simmons et al 2011). On the other hand, the minimum RUE values for each species correspond to the treatments under both stresses, with values between 1.15 and 2.3 g MJ -1 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Cristiano¹,

Posse²,

Bella³

et al. 2011

Austral Ecology

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The radiation use efficiency (RUE) model is one of the most used tools to generate large spatial and temporal scale net primary productivity (NPP) estimations by remote sensing. It involves two key issues to make accurate estimations of NPP: the estimation of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted by vegetation (fPAR) and the estimation of the plant RUE. The objectives of this work were to quantify the above-ground RUE under optimal water and nutrient conditions in two C3 and one C4 grass species and to analyse the effect of restrictions in these factors upon RUE by comparing both metabolic pathways. Grasses were cultivated from seeds and four treatments combining contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients were applied. RUE values were calculated from measurements of the incoming PAR, fPAR and productivity. In each of the species, plants with sufficient water and nutrients showed the highest RUE (2.61-3.52 g MJ -1 ), whereas those with deficiencies in both resources presented the lowest RUE (1.15-2.39 g MJ -1 ). Cynodon dactylon (C4) was the species with higher value of RUE and no significant differences were detected between treatments. However, no significant differences were detected between C. dactylon and D. glomerata under no stress treatment (N1W1) and between C. dactylon and L. perenne under water stress treatment (N1W0). RUE values of Dactylis glomerata (C3) diminished if only one of the two stress factors was presented, while Lolium perenne (C3) only when both stress factors were present.The decreases under stress treatments were between 35% and 60% compared with the no stress treatment. When regional NPP is estimated it is therefore important to take into account the decrease in the RUE, especially in areas under severe stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Cristiano¹,

Posse²,

Bella³

et al. 2011

Austral Ecology

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“…For example, greater water-efficient C 4 turf species planted in LA lawns may decrease landscape water requirements in the warm, arid summer months. Furthermore, using regionally adapted native species for turf is a more sustainable approach for lawn management as these species allow for reduced resource inputs and increased performance compared with nonnative turf monocultures (Simmons et al 2011). Future work will focus on how alterations to current lawn management practices modify energy and water cycles within this American Residential Macrosystem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and lawn management interact to control C₄ plant distribution in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities

Trammell

Pataki

Still

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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In natural grasslands, C4 plant dominance increases with growing season temperatures and reflects distinct differences in plant growth rates and water use efficiencies of C3 vs. C4 photosynthetic pathways. However, in lawns, management decisions influence interactions between planted turfgrass and weed species, leading to some uncertainty about the degree of human vs. climatic controls on lawn species distributions. We measured herbaceous plant carbon isotope ratios (δ13C, index of C3/C4 relative abundance) and C4 cover in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities to determine how climate, lawn plant management, or interactions between climate and plant management influenced C4 lawn cover. We also calculated theoretical C4 carbon gain predicted by a plant physiological model as an index of expected C4 cover due to growing season climatic conditions in each city. Contrary to theoretical predictions, plant δ13C and C4 cover in urban lawns were more strongly related to mean annual temperature than to growing season temperature. Wintertime temperatures influenced the distribution of C4 lawn turf plants, contrary to natural ecosystems where growing season temperatures primarily drive C4 distributions. C4 cover in lawns was greatest in the three warmest cities, due to an interaction between climate and homeowner plant management (e.g., planting C4 turf species) in these cities. The proportion of C4 lawn species was similar to the proportion of C4 species in the regional grass flora. However, the majority of C4 species were nonnative turf grasses, and not of regional origin. While temperature was a strong control on lawn species composition across the United States, cities differed as to whether these patterns were driven by cultivated lawn grasses vs. weedy species. In some cities, biotic interactions with weedy plants appeared to dominate, while in other cities, C4 plants were predominantly imported and cultivated. Elevated CO2 and temperature in cities can influence C3/C4 competitive outcomes; however, this study provides evidence that climate and plant management dynamics influence biogeography and ecology of C3/C4 plants in lawns. Their differing water and nutrient use efficiency may have substantial impacts on carbon, water, energy, and nutrient budgets across cities.

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“…; Simmons et al . ). These three species were selected because they are very common around the world and in the rangelands of Argentina (Pampas).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…They are widely cultivated as forage resource and naturalized in the Pampas region, Argentina. The C 4 species is naturalized and very common in grasslands as denoted by numerous studies (Agnusdei and Mazzanti 2001;De Abelleyra et al 2008;Simmons et al 2011). These three species were selected because they are very common around the world and in the rangelands of Argentina (Pampas).…”

Section: Study Site Study Species and Growth Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total and aboveground radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grass species influenced by nitrogen and water availability

2015

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Absorbed solar radiation and radiation use efficiency (RUE) can be used to estimate net primary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. In ecosystems dominated by grasses, belowground productivity cannot be neglected in terms of carbon balance because of the high proportion of biomass allocated to roots. The objective of this study was to quantify total RUE (tRUE), which includes both below and aboveground biomass of two C3 (Lolium perenne and Dactylis glomerata) and one C4 (Cynodon dactylon) grass species, under four treatments with contrasting water and nitrogen availabilities. The ratios between tRUE and aboveground RUE (aRUE) for species and treatments were analyzed. The tRUE was calculated from measurements of incoming photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), the fraction of PAR intercepted and shoots and roots productivity in pot experiments. The highest tRUE values in the three species were found in the treatment without growth limitations (4.32–6.93 g MJ−1), while the lowest tRUE values were observed under water and nutrient deficits conditions (2.62–2.85 g MJ−1). Contrary to predictions from the optimization theory, one of the C3 grass species allocated relatively high biomass to the roots when water availability was high while for the C4 grass species the shoot:root ratios and the root mass fraction did not change under resource limitation conditions compared to ample resource availability. tRUE exhibited small changes in the C4 species with variations in resource availability while it did decrease substantially for the C3 species when at least one of the resources was limited. These results highlight belowground biomass importance in calculating RUE of grasses.

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The performance of native and non-native turfgrass monocultures and native turfgrass polycultures: An ecological approach to sustainable lawns

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Climate and lawn management interact to control C₄ plant distribution in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities

Total and aboveground radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grass species influenced by nitrogen and water availability

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The performance of native and non-native turfgrass monocultures and native turfgrass polycultures: An ecological approach to sustainable lawns

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C3 and C4 grasses

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C3 and C4 grasses

Climate and lawn management interact to control C4 plant distribution in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities

Total and aboveground radiation use efficiency in C3 and C4 grass species influenced by nitrogen and water availability

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Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Influence of contrasting availabilities of water and nutrients on the radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grasses

Climate and lawn management interact to control C₄ plant distribution in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities

Total and aboveground radiation use efficiency in C₃ and C₄ grass species influenced by nitrogen and water availability