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Variability in grass forage quality and quantity in response to elevated CO 2 and water limitation
Author(s) -
McGranahan D. A.,
Yurkonis K. A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/gfs.12338
Subject(s) - forage , perennial plant , grazing , agronomy , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , water quality , agriculture , carbon dioxide , biology , zoology , ecology
Global climate change is expected to alter carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2 ]) and water availability, with uncertain impacts on agriculture. Forage quality and quantity in grazing systems are of particular concern because C 3 and C 4 plants respond differently to altered environmental conditions. In a growth chamber, we compared crude protein content, biomass recovery and total crude protein across a set of perennial C 3 and C 4 grasses from the northern U.S. Great Plains under elevated [CO 2 ] and simulated drought. Simulated 95% confidence intervals indicate both C 3 and C 4 grasses increased forage quality and quantity under elevated [CO 2 ]. C 4 grasses were generally resistant to water limitation while forage quality and quantity of C 3 grasses declined under simulated drought. Our results are consistent with literature on forage quantity responses to elevated [CO 2 ] and drought, but forage quality responses contradict expectations. We suggest measuring plant functional traits might better elucidate response mechanisms and ameliorate methodological differences even if traits are not directly applicable to grazing management.