Jonathan de Long (UvA): Mitigating drought effects on grassland productivity
Jonathan de Long (UvA): Mitigating drought effects on grassland productivity by understanding grass-fungi-drought soil legacy interactions
Drought events are becoming more frequent and more intense. This results in decreases in grassland productivity and financial losses for farmers. Upon rewetting after drought, so-called drought soil legacy effects can lead to carbon and nitrogen losses from the soil. This could exacerbate the current nitrogen and climate crises. Many grasses form symbioses with fungi that live inside their leaves. These fungi can help the grasses to take up carbon and nitrogen and help them to better cope with drought. To better understand how drought soil legacy effects change grass and fungi relationships, will be useful knowledge in order to maintain productivity, prevent carbon and nitrogen losses to the atmosphere and help to tackle the current nitrogen and climate crises.
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