Smooth Brome ( Bromus inermis L.)—A Versatile Grass: A Review

Ewa Mackiewicz-Walec, Piotr Jarosław Żarczyński, Sławomir Józef Krzebietke and Katarzyna Żarczyńska ()
Additional contact information
Ewa Mackiewicz-Walec: Department of Agrotechnology and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Piotr Jarosław Żarczyński: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Sławomir Józef Krzebietke: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Katarzyna Żarczyńska: Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Smooth brome ( Bromus inermis L.) is a species of perennial grass with growing economic importance. Initially, this species had attracted interest as a source of animal feed. Over the years, the interest in smooth brome increased significantly due to the growing knowledge about its advantages. The aim of this study was to explore the contemporary significance of smooth brome. This plant is characterized by a high tolerance to many negative environmental factors, such as periodic droughts, low temperatures and salinity, which contributes to its constant presence in the landscape of many countries. The moderate soil requirements of smooth brome, combined with the effective use of soil resources and rational nutrient utilization, contribute to high biomass yields that can reach 13 t/ha DM. The usefulness of this grass species in various management systems has been recognized in numerous research studies. Smooth brome can generate benefits in many branches of the economy. This efficient energy plant is used in paper production, and it is also recommended for the protection of fallow land or the reclamation of degraded land. Smooth brome prevents erosion, enhances biodiversity, and provides shelter for many animal species. This species fits well into the current assumptions of agricultural policy and increasingly demanding environmental standards. According to the latest guidelines, modern agriculture should pursue economic and environmental goals simultaneously. In this context, smooth brome constitutes a valuable link in sustainable development. Due to its numerous advantages, smooth brome not only provides high-quality feed and biomass but also effectively sequesters CO 2 , improves soil fertility and enhances biodiversity, which makes it an important element of agriculture and environmental protection.

Keywords: grass; bromegrass; ecosystem; animal nutrition; forage grass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/6/854/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/6/854/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:6:p:854-:d:1404694

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().