Plant Morphoecological Traits, Grass-Weed Interactions and Water Use Efficiencies of Grasses Used for Restoration of African Rangelands

Degradation characterized by depleted vegetation cover is a serious environmental problem in African rangelands. It poses a serious threat to millions of pastoralists and agropastoralists who depend on livestock as a source of livelihood. Consequently, there has been a growing global interest to consolidate efforts to restore degraded ecosystems. For example, the UN decade of Ecosystem Restoration initiative aims at uniting the world behind a common goal of preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. Grass reseeding using native perennial species has been identified as one of the practical ecological strategies for restoring degraded African rangelands, enhancing vegetation cover and forage production. Knowledge of the multifaceted performance of African rangeland grasses in terms of morphoecological traits, interaction with weeds and water use efficiencies is however largely limited and often elusive. Perennial grasses indigenous to African rangelands Cenchrus ciliaris L. (African foxtail grass), Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Monro ex Benth. (Bush rye grass) and Eragrostis superba Peyr. (Maasai love grass), were established in an African semi-arid rangeland under natural conditions to fill this knowledge gap. Morphoecological plant traits: aboveground biomass (shoot, leaf and stem) production, plant densities, basal cover, tiller densities and plant height were measured 9 months after establishment. Interaction between the target grass species and weeds and water use efficiencies (WUE) were also determined. Enteropogon macrostachyus displayed significantly higher values for plant densities, tiller densities and basal cover, indices commonly used to estimate the potential of grasses for ecological restoration. Eragrostis superba produced the highest shoot biomass and water use efficiencies. This is attributed to its higher leafy biomass fraction. Higher aboveground biomass production of E. superba demonstrate its suitability for enhancing rangeland productivity. Cenchrus ciliaris suppressed the weeds. This is linked to its aggressive and allelopathic nature. In conclusion, the three perennial grasses displayed distinct morphoecological traits. In order to achieve successful seed-based restoration of degraded African rangelands using native perennial grasses, careful selection species to maximize on their unique traits is recommended. Ultimately, this selection process should match the desired restoration outcomes and subsequent use of the rangeland.

Download Full-text

Morphoecological characteristics of grasses used to restore degraded semi-arid African rangelands

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9909 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Mganga

Keyword(s):

Ecological Restoration ◽

Seed Production ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Grass Species ◽

Rhodes Grass ◽

Basal Cover ◽

Plant Densities ◽

Chloris Gayana ◽

Semi Arid

<p>Progressive loss of productivity and plant diversity is a major in global rangelands. In African rangelands ecosystems, this process is partly attributed to heavy and uncontrolled grazing by livestock and wildlife, leading to land degradation. Therefore, restoring such degraded rangelands is critical for enhancing ecosystem health and securing the livelihoods of millions of people. Active restoration strategies, e.g. reseeding using indigenous perennial grasses has been identified as a viable ecological solution for restoring degraded African rangelands. Grass species indigenous to African rangelands Cenchrus ciliaris L. (African foxtail grass), Eragrostis superba Peyr. (Maasai love grass), Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) Monro ex Benth. (Bush rye grass), Chloris roxburghiana Schult. (Horsetail grass) and Chloris gayana Kunth. cv Boma (Rhodes grass) were established in a semi-arid rangeland in Africa under natural conditions to compare their morphoecological characteristics and suitability for use in ecological restoration. Biomass dry matter yields, plant densities, basal cover, seed production, tiller densities and plant height were measured. Chloris gayana cv Boma and E. superba produced significantly higher dry matter biomass yields and seed production than other species. High biomass and seed production demonstrate their suitability to support livestock production and replenish depleted soil seed banks, respectively. Enteropogon macrostachyus and C. ciliaris displayed significantly higher values for plant densities, tiller densities and basal cover, also a component of establishment and ecological restoration success. Chloris roxburghiana ranked lowest in all the measured morphoecological characteristics. This may be a strong indicator of ecological site-specific characteristic of C. roxburghiana. Successful restoration of degraded African semi-arid rangelands using indigenous grass reseeding can best be achieved through careful selection of grasses to take advantage of their specific morphoecological characteristics. This selection should primarily be informed by the intended use of the rangeland.</p>

Download Full-text

Effect of Forage Kochia on Seedling Growth of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and Perennial Grasses

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1017/inp.2018.27 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 201-207

Author(s):

Parmeshwor Aryal ◽

M. Anowarul Islam

Keyword(s):

Seedling Growth ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Bromus Tectorum ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Grass Species ◽

Native Grasses ◽

Native Plant ◽

Competitive Effect ◽

Forage Kochia

AbstractForage kochia [Bassia prostrata(L.) A. J. Scott] is competitive with annual weeds and has potential for use in reclamation of disturbed land. However, land managers are reluctant to use forage kochia in revegetation programs due to lack of understanding of its compatibility with or invasiveness in the native plant community. We conducted two greenhouse experiments, one to compare the competitive effect of forage kochia versus perennial grasses on growth of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorumL.) and one to study the effect of forage kochia on growth of native perennial grasses. In the first experiment, a single seedling ofB. tectorumwas grown with increasing neighbor densities (0 to 5 seedlings pot−1) of either forage kochia, crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum(L.) Gaertner ×A. desertorum(Fisch. ex Link) Schultes; nonnative perennial grass], or thickspike wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus(Scribn. & J. G. Sm.) Gould; native perennial grass].Bromus tectorumgrowth was reduced moderately by all three perennial neighbors, butA. cristatumandE. lanceolatushad more effect onB. tectorumwhen compared with forage kochia. This experiment was repeated and similar results were observed. In the second experiment, forage kochia was grown with each of four native cool-season grass species: basin wildrye [Leymus cinereus(Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve], bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata(Pursh) Á. Löve],E. lanceolatus, and western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii(Rydb.) Á. Löve]. Forage kochia had no effect on height, tiller number, and aboveground biomass of native grasses. Similarly, native grasses did not show a significant effect on forage kochia seedlings. This experiment was also repeated, and forage kochia somewhat reduced the aboveground biomass ofL. cinereusandP. spicata. However, all native grasses significantly reduced change in height, branching, and aboveground biomass of forage kochia. These results suggest that forage kochia interfered withB. tectorumseedling growth, but it showed little competitive effect on native grass seedlings.

Download Full-text

Effects of grazing interval on basal cover of four perennial grasses in a summer-dry environment

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea98015 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 299 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

J. M. Virgona ◽

A. Bowcher

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Grass Species ◽

Basal Cover ◽

South Wales ◽

Supplementary Irrigation ◽

Movement Index ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

The response to variation in grazing interval over the spring–autumn period in southern New South Wales was examined on 4 perennial grass species over 2 years. Plots of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirolan), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Porto), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb cv. Demeter) and a native danthonia (Danthonia richardsonii cv. Taranna), were grazed by sheep every 2, 5 or 8 weeks, either rainfed or given supplementary irrigation. Basal cover was monitored over this period and is combined with measurements of phenological development and herbage mass to explain differences in persistence. The seasons differed with respect to rainfall, 1994–95 being dry compared to 1995–96. Over the 1994–95 season, the relative change in basal cover [RCBC, the ratio of final (May 1995) to initial (September 1994) basal cover] of the 3 introduced perennial grasses was significantly less than 1, which indicated a decline in basal cover over the measurement period. In contrast, RCBC was 1.55 for danthonia. Grazing interval treatments significantly affected RCBC in 1994–95, RCBC increasing with grazing interval. In the 8-week grazing interval, RCBC did not significantly differ from 1. Changes in density were also measured in 1994–95 and followed a similar pattern to RCBC for species effects although there was no significant effect of grazing interval. In 1995–96, there were interactions between watering and both species and grazing interval. The RCBC (September 1995–May 1996) was significantly greater than 1 for cocksfoot and tall fescue under irrigated conditions but not under rainfed conditions. The response to grazing interval depended on water supply. The 5-week grazing interval led to the highest RCBC under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. However, when rainfed, the 5- and 8-week treatments were not significantly different, whereas under irrigation, the 2- and 5-week treatments did not significantly differ. For the 1995–96 season, a movement index (MI, ratio of newly colonised area to that occupied throughout the season) was measured. There was a strong interaction between species and watering but phalaris was the most mobile (highest MI) of the 4 species under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The absence of any interaction between species and grazing interval in either 1994–95 or 1995–96 suggests that response to grazing of these species may be similar despite differences in survival mechanisms.

Download Full-text

Genetic differentiation of the dominant perennial grass Cenchrus ciliaris L. contributes to response to water deficit in arid lands

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj11034 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 55 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Amina Kharrat-Souissi ◽

Alex Baumel ◽

Franck Torre ◽

Mohamed Chaieb

Keyword(s):

Water Deficit ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Stomatal Density ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Arid Lands ◽

Arid Ecosystems ◽

Cenchrus Ciliaris ◽

Response To Water ◽

The Impact

Perennial herbaceous plants are a key element of the vegetation cover in arid lands, during a long period of the year, but their persistence depends on their ability to cope with acute drought. This characteristic could become very important with the predicted climatic changes in arid lands because the persistence of perennial plants will be a key element countering the process of desertification. The aim of the present study was to compare experimentally the response to water deficit of different genotypes of the perennial grass Cenchrus ciliaris L. (buffelgrass). We analysed the impact of water deficit on productivity, time span of the vegetative growth and leaf traits. Overall, there was highly heritable variation in the responses to applied water deficit for the measured attributes, and five different groups of genotypes responded differently to water deficit. These groups of genotypes differently invested their energy to alter their phenotype in response to water deficit. Consequently, some genotypes were more strongly affected by the water deficit and their aboveground biomass showed the largest decrease. The group of genotypes which showed the smallest decrease of their aboveground biomass was characterised by less increase of leaf hairiness, a strong decrease of leaf area and also the strongest decrease of stomatal density on the abaxial epidermis. The current study provides evidence that the capacity of C. ciliaris to regulate its growth as an adaptive mechanism under water deficit is dependent on strong genetic variation that could affect its productivity and in consequence the vegetation cover of arid ecosystems.

Download Full-text

Effects of the substituted A and B chromosomes of Triticum dicoccoides on the nitrogen, phosphorus and water use efficiencies in the ‘Langdon’ durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum)

Cereal Research Communications ◽

10.1007/bf03543607 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 293-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. G. Górny

Keyword(s):

Durum Wheat ◽

Water Use ◽

Triticum Dicoccoides ◽

B Chromosomes ◽

Water Use Efficiencies ◽

Nitrogen Phosphorus

Download Full-text

Yield and water use efficiencies of maize and cowpea as affected by tillage and cropping systems in semi-arid Eastern Kenya

Agricultural Water Management ◽

10.1016/j.agwat.2012.09.002 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 115 ◽

pp. 148-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

J.M. Miriti ◽

G. Kironchi ◽

A.O. Esilaba ◽

L.K. Heng ◽

C.K.K. Gachene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Water Use Efficiencies ◽

Semi Arid

Download Full-text

Water Use Efficiencies of Different Maturity Group Soybean Cultivars in the Humid Mississippi Delta

Water ◽

10.3390/w13111496 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 1496

Author(s):

Srinivasa R. Pinnamaneni ◽

Saseendran S. Anapalli ◽

Daniel K. Fisher ◽

Krishna N. Reddy

Keyword(s):

Glycine Max ◽

Water Resources ◽

Experimental Design ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Water Use ◽

Production System ◽

Mississippi Delta ◽

Maturity Group ◽

Glycine Max L ◽

Water Use Efficiencies

Introducing alternative cultivars with enhanced water use efficiencies can help alleviate pressure on groundwater for crop irrigations in Mississippi (MS) Delta. A two-year field study was conducted in 2019–2020 to compare the water use efficiencies (WUE) of recently released and pre-released soybean {Glycine max (L.) Merr.} cultivars in maturity group (MG) III (‘P37A78’, ‘LG03-4561-14’), IV (‘Dyna-gro 4516x’, ‘DS25-1, DT97-4290’), and V (‘S12-1362’, ‘S14-16306’) in the MS Delta. The experimental design was a split-plot with cultivar as the first factor and the second factor was water variant irrigation (IR) and no irrigation (RF, rainfed), replicated three times. The MG IV cultivar Dyna-gro 4516x recorded the highest grain yield and WUE: grain yields were 4.58 Mg ha−1 and 3.89 Mg ha−1 under IR and RF, respectively in 2019, and 4.74 Mg ha−1 and 4.35 Mg ha−1 in 2020. The WUE were 7.2 and 6.9 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively, in 2019 under IR and RF, and 13.4 and 16.9 kg ha−1 mm−1 in 2020. The data reveals that ‘Dyna-gro 4516x’ (MG IV), ‘LG03-4561-14’ (MG III), and ‘P37A78’ (MG III) are best adapted to the early soybean production system (ESPS) in MS Delta region for sustainable production for conserving water resources.

Download Full-text