Dataset Information

Experimental evidence that the perennial grass persistence pathway is linked to plant growth strategy.

ABSTRACT: Grass species can be classified into different functional types based on their growth strategies, and contrasting persistence strategies are observed in different grass species. Excluding seedling recruitments, changes in populations of grasses are basically a trade-off between natality and mortality of tillers. We hypothesised that the persistence pathway of perennial grasses is linked to their growth strategy, regardless whether they are growing as monoculture or as a mixture. Species with contrasting growth strategies (Arrhenatherum elatius L., Dactylis glomerata L., and Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were cultivated as monocultures and as a mixture and their tiller natality and mortality were evaluated for two years after swards establishment. All pastures maintained their population size during the experimental period, although decreases in tiller densities occurred during the warmer season. Arrhenatherum elatius had the highest tiller mortality and natality whereas the F. arundinacea had the lowest ones. Arrhenatherum elatius had many tillers appearing in all seasons but their tillers were short-lived. Conversely, F. arundinacea and D. glomerata developed numerous tillers during autumn and winter and their tillers survived, on average, almost six and three times longer than those of A. elatius, respectively. There were no differences in tillering dynamics among populations grown in monocultures or in the mixture. Regardless of whether they were cultivated in monocultures or as a mixture, the persistence pathway of perennial grasses is linked with their growth strategies with exploitative species presenting a high tiller turnover throughout the year whereas the persistence of more conservative species is based on a high tiller survival.

SUBMITTER: Duchini PG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6261051 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Experimental evidence that the perennial grass persistence pathway is linked to plant growth strategy.

Duchini Paulo Gonçalves PG Guzatti Gabriela Cristina GC Echeverria Joilson Roda JR Américo Luana Fidelis LF Sbrissia André Fischer AF

PloS one 20181126 11

Grass species can be classified into different functional types based on their growth strategies, and contrasting persistence strategies are observed in different grass species. Excluding seedling recruitments, changes in populations of grasses are basically a trade-off between natality and mortality of tillers. We hypothesised that the persistence pathway of perennial grasses is linked to their growth strategy, regardless whether they are growing as monoculture or as a mixture. Species with con ...[more]

PMID: 30475824

Similar Datasets

Project description:Miscanthus × giganteus is a giant C4 grass native to Asia. Unlike most C4 species, it is relatively cold tolerant due to adaptations across a wide range of altitudes. These grasses are characterized by high productivity and low input requirements, making them excellent candidates for bioenergy feedstock production. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for growing Miscanthus on extremely marginal soils, degraded by open lignite (brown coal) mining. Field experiments were established within three blocks situated on waste heaps originating from the lignite mine. Analyses were conducted over the first 3 years following Miscanthus cultivation, focusing on the effect of organic and mineral fertilization on crop growth, development and yield in this extreme environment. The following levels of fertilization were implemented between the blocks: the control plot with no fertilization (D0), a plot with sewage sludge (D1), a plot with an identical amount of sewage sludge plus one dose of mineral fertilizer (D2) and a plot with an identical amount of sewage sludge plus a double dose of mineral fertilizer (D3). Crop development and characteristics (plant height, tillering, and biomass yield [dry matter]) were measured throughout the study period and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Significant differences were apparent between plant development and 3rd year biomass production over the course of the study (0.964 kg plant-1 for DO compared to 1.503 kg plant-1 for D1). Soil analyses conducted over the course of the experiment showed that organic carbon levels within the soil increased significantly following the cultivation of Miscanthus, and overall, pH decreased. With the exception of iron, macronutrient concentrations remained stable throughout. The promising yields and positive effects of Miscanthus on the degraded soil suggests that long term plantations on land otherwise unsuitable for agriculture may prove to be of great environmental and economic significance.

Dataset Information

Experimental evidence that the perennial grass persistence pathway is linked to plant growth strategy.

Publications

Experimental evidence that the perennial grass persistence pathway is linked to plant growth strategy.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets