Track 4-1-3: Breeding Range Grasses and Legumes for Biomass and Stress Tolerance

Description

Grasslands comprise about one third of the world’s area of natural vegetation (Adams et al., 1990). Uncertainties prevail in the arid ecosystem with reference to carbon balance and fluxes which are primarily attributed to the sensitivity of grasslands to variation in annual precipitation, temperature and other regulating mechanisms of eco-physiological processes (Flanagan et al., 2002). It is therefore necessary to study radiation and water use efficiency of Lasiurus sindicus which is a predominant grass species in Chandan grassland of Thar desert to understand and evaluate its growth in relation to variation in climate. Also, it is pertinent to resolve whether grassland ecosystem function as a source or sink to atmospheric CO2. We therefore, measured diurnal variability of net photosynthesis, diurnal trend in light and water use efficiency and root and shoot biomass studies (10 days interval) of L. sindicus (Sewan) grass species in relation to ambient micrometeorological conditions during growth period along three points viz., initial, peak and declining phenophase to have basic understanding of eco-physiological responses to prevailing micrometeorology to evaluate its carbon use efficiency.

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Photosynthesis and Biomass Studies in Lasiurus sindicus of Chandan Grassland in Thar Desert

Grasslands comprise about one third of the world’s area of natural vegetation (Adams et al., 1990). Uncertainties prevail in the arid ecosystem with reference to carbon balance and fluxes which are primarily attributed to the sensitivity of grasslands to variation in annual precipitation, temperature and other regulating mechanisms of eco-physiological processes (Flanagan et al., 2002). It is therefore necessary to study radiation and water use efficiency of Lasiurus sindicus which is a predominant grass species in Chandan grassland of Thar desert to understand and evaluate its growth in relation to variation in climate. Also, it is pertinent to resolve whether grassland ecosystem function as a source or sink to atmospheric CO2. We therefore, measured diurnal variability of net photosynthesis, diurnal trend in light and water use efficiency and root and shoot biomass studies (10 days interval) of L. sindicus (Sewan) grass species in relation to ambient micrometeorological conditions during growth period along three points viz., initial, peak and declining phenophase to have basic understanding of eco-physiological responses to prevailing micrometeorology to evaluate its carbon use efficiency.