Changes in yield and gas exchange parameters in Festulolium and alfalfa grown in pure sowing and in mixture under drought stress

Abstract

ABSTRACTCrop performance and yield are the results of genotypic expression as modulated by continuous interaction with the environment. Among environmental factors, water is globally one of the most limiting for crop production. Water resources in the world are steadily diminishing and in many areas, including Poland, more frequent periods of drought are being observed. The aim of the study was to compare the yields and gas exchange parameters of Festulolium hybrid (Festulolium braunii (K. Richt) A. Camus) and alfalfa (Medicago × varia T. Martyn) under different levels of soil moisture (well-watered conditions and drought stress) and cultivation method (pure stand and mixture). The study has shown that all the measured parameters were affected by drought stress. Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and dry mass yield were significantly lower under drought stress than under well-watered conditions in all treatment types. Alfalfa grown in a pure sowing showed the strongest reaction to stress, while hybrid Festulolium grown in mixture showed the weakest. It was also found that under stress, grass assimilated CO2 and evaporated water much more intensively in mixture cultivation than in pure sowing. Higher water use efficiency (WUE) was observed in alfalfa and Festulolium growing in mixture only in the first year of the study.