Productivity of grassland under the impact of sward damage and drought stress – which properties determine stress tolerance and nitrogen efficiency of individual species?

Involved scientists:

Laura Breitsameter, Nicole Wrage, Johannes Isselstein

Aim:

The objective of this project is to examine the nitrogen efficiency of a range of grassland species in swards suffering from mechanical damage and drought stress. We aim at identifying specific functional traits which enable the investigated species to tolerate environmental stress and to maintain their productivity under these conditions. Nitrogen uptake and allocation will be a special focus of the study.

Background:

Climate change and land use intensification add a new challenge to the endeavor of obtaining high yields and simultaneously limiting the environmental impacts of grassland management. The increasing risk of sward damage triggered by drought and mechanical strain with its still insufficiently quantified effects on nitrogen leaching are the focus of this project.

Project:

Within the present project, a number of greenhouse experiments simulating drought stress and mechanical damage are conducted with selected grass species. Plants are investigated for functional traits that determine their productivity, stress tolerance and nutrient allocation properties with a focus on above- and belowground biomass, leaf area and structure, leaf appearance rate, root length density, nutrient uptake and water usage. The potential of the species for securing high productivity of grassland swards suffering from environmental stress will be evaluated.