Drought Stress Responses of Some Prairie Landscape C4 Grass Species for Xeric Urban Applications

Fatemeh Kazemi (), Mansoure Jozay, Farzaneh Salahshoor, Eddie van Etten () and Sahar Rezaie
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Fatemeh Kazemi: School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia
Mansoure Jozay: Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
Farzaneh Salahshoor: Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran
Eddie van Etten: School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia
Sahar Rezaie: School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Creating xeric landscapes in lawns and prairies is a significant challenge and practical need in arid urban environments. This study examined the drought resistance of some C4 grass species for constructing urban lawns and prairies. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block designs with four replications was conducted. Experimental treatments were two irrigation levels (100% and 50% Field Capacity (FC)) and five warm-season grass species ( Andropogon gerardii Vitman, Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, Panicum virgatum L., Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash, and Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.). The effects of drought on physiological, morphological, and qualitative characteristics of the grass species were analyzed. Drought conditions induced a decrease in all the measured traits. However, fewer physiological, morphological, and qualitative characteristics were affected by drought stress on Andropogon gerardii , Schizachyrium scoparium , and Bouteloua curtipendula , compared to the other two species. Overall, warm-season grasses of Andropogon gerardii , Schizachyrium scoparium , and Bouteloua curtipendula , had greater adaptability to drought stress, making them promising C4 grass species for prairie or lawn landscaping in arid urban environments. Landscape professionals and decision-makers should consider using Andropogon gerardii , Schizachyrium scoparium , and Bouteloua curtipendula , as these were the most resilient grass species for drought-tolerant prairie landscaping schemes. Sorghastrum nutans and Panicum virgatum may be used as a second priority if a more diverse variety of grasses is required for drought-resilient prairie or lawn landscaping in arid cities.

Keywords: drought stress; morphological traits; physiological traits; prairie landscaping; warm-season grasses; water-conserving landscaping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:6:p:1195-:d:1165873

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