The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia
Declines in growing-season rainfall and increases in the frequency of heatwaves in southern Australia necessitate effective adaptation. The Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture Model (SGS) was used to model the growth of three pasture species differing in root depth and root distribution under three...
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doaj-17542600e63049d6b274c46f3819340e2021-08-26T14:14:20ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-08-01101641164110.3390/plants10081641The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast AustraliaRachelle Meyer0Alexandria Sinnett1Ruchika Perera2Brendan Cullen3Bill Malcolm4Richard J. Eckard5Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaFaculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaDeclines in growing-season rainfall and increases in the frequency of heatwaves in southern Australia necessitate effective adaptation. The Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture Model (SGS) was used to model the growth of three pasture species differing in root depth and root distribution under three different climate scenarios at two sites. The modelled metabolisable energy intake (in MJ) was used in a partial discounted net cash flow budget. Both the biophysical and economic modelling suggest that deep roots were advantageous in all climate scenarios at the long growing season site but provided no to little advantage at the short growing season site, likely due to the deep-rooted species drying out the soil profile earlier. In scenarios including climate change, the DM production of the deep-rooted species at the long growing season site averaged 386 kg/ha/year more than the more shallow-rooted species, while at the site with a shorter growing season it averaged 205 kg/ha/year less than the shallower-rooted species. The timing of the extra growth and pasture persistence strongly influenced the extent of the benefit. At the short growing season site other adaptation options such as summer dormancy will likely be necessary.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1641heat stressdroughtclimate impactspasture systemsadaptation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rachelle Meyer Alexandria Sinnett Ruchika Perera Brendan Cullen Bill Malcolm Richard J. Eckard |
spellingShingle |
Rachelle Meyer Alexandria Sinnett Ruchika Perera Brendan Cullen Bill Malcolm Richard J. Eckard The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia Plants heat stress drought climate impacts pasture systems adaptation |
author_facet |
Rachelle Meyer Alexandria Sinnett Ruchika Perera Brendan Cullen Bill Malcolm Richard J. Eckard |
author_sort |
Rachelle Meyer |
title |
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia |
title_short |
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia |
title_full |
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia |
title_fullStr |
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Potential of Deep Roots to Mitigate Impacts of Heatwaves and Declining Rainfall on Pastures in Southeast Australia |
title_sort |
potential of deep roots to mitigate impacts of heatwaves and declining rainfall on pastures in southeast australia |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Plants |
issn |
2223-7747 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Declines in growing-season rainfall and increases in the frequency of heatwaves in southern Australia necessitate effective adaptation. The Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture Model (SGS) was used to model the growth of three pasture species differing in root depth and root distribution under three different climate scenarios at two sites. The modelled metabolisable energy intake (in MJ) was used in a partial discounted net cash flow budget. Both the biophysical and economic modelling suggest that deep roots were advantageous in all climate scenarios at the long growing season site but provided no to little advantage at the short growing season site, likely due to the deep-rooted species drying out the soil profile earlier. In scenarios including climate change, the DM production of the deep-rooted species at the long growing season site averaged 386 kg/ha/year more than the more shallow-rooted species, while at the site with a shorter growing season it averaged 205 kg/ha/year less than the shallower-rooted species. The timing of the extra growth and pasture persistence strongly influenced the extent of the benefit. At the short growing season site other adaptation options such as summer dormancy will likely be necessary. |
topic |
heat stress drought climate impacts pasture systems adaptation |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1641 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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