Climate change effects on biomass and greenhouse gas emissions are ameliorated by nontoxic endophytes in southeastern USA transition zone tall fescue pastures
Randomized trial examines biomass and greenhouse gas emissions in tall fescue with nontoxic endophytes, suggesting climate resilience benefits.
Key Points
The study seeks to determine how nontoxic endophyte (NTE) strains in tall fescue affect biomass and greenhouse gas emissions under climate change conditions.
Conducted a factorial design over two years (2016-2017) in southeastern USA
Quantified impacts of fescue-NTE symbioses on biomass and GHG emissions in response to increased temperatures and altered precipitation
Comparisons made between endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E−) tall fescue stands.
Endophyte infection increased aboveground biomass by 24% across the years.
Heat exposure reduced biomass by 17% across different fescue cultivars over the years.
Endophyte infection led to reduced CO2 emissions under ambient and heated conditions for certain cultivars but increased NH3 volatilization under severe conditions for others.