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Plant traits of grass and legume species for flood resilience and N 2 O mitigation
Author(s) -
Oram Natalie J.,
Sun Yan,
Abalos Diego,
Groenigen Jan Willem,
Hartley Sue,
De Deyn Gerlinde B.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2435.13873
Subject(s) - biology , monoculture , agronomy , legume , grassland , flooding (psychology) , productivity , flood myth , biodiversity , greenhouse gas , forage , agroforestry , ecology , geography , psychology , archaeology , economics , psychotherapist , macroeconomics
Flooding threatens the functioning of managed grasslands by decreasing primary productivity and increasing nitrogen losses, notably as the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Sowing species with traits that promote flood resilience and mitigate flood‐induced N 2 O emissions within these grasslands could safeguard their productivity while mitigating nitrogen losses. We tested how plant traits and resource acquisition strategies could predict flood resilience and N 2 O emissions of 12 common grassland species (eight grasses and four legumes) grown in field soil in monocultures in a 14‐week greenhouse experiment. We found that grasses were more resistant to flooding while legumes recovered better. Resource‐conservative grass species had higher resistance while resource‐acquisitive grasses species recovered better. Resilient grass and legume species lowered cumulative N 2 O emissions. Grasses with lower inherent leaf and root δ 13 C (and legumes with lower root δ 13 C) lowered cumulative N 2 O emissions during and after the flood. Our results highlight the differing responses of grasses with contrasting resource acquisition strategies, and of legumes to flooding. Combining grasses and legumes based on their traits and resource acquisition strategies could increase the flood resilience of managed grasslands, and their capability to mitigate flood‐induced N 2 O emissions. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.