Root biomass and cumulative yield increase with mowing height in Festuca pratensis irrespective of Epichloe symbiosis

ABSTRACT: Increasing agricultural soil carbon sequestration without compromising the productivity of the land is a key challenge in global climate change mitigation. The carbon mitigation potential of grass-based agriculture is particularly high because grasslands represent 70% of the world’s agricultural area. The root systems of grasses transfer large amounts of carbon to below-ground storage, and the carbon allocation to the roots is dependent on the grasses’ photosynthesizing shoot biomass. In a common-garden experiment, Festuca pratensis was used as a model species to study how mowing and weed control practices of perennial cool-season fodder grasses affect total yield and root biomass. Additionally, grass-associated Epichloë endophytes and soil residual glyphosate were tested for their effect

SUBMITTER: Laihonen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9748035 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature