Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025
10:19
A CO2 Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO2 Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function
Published on: November 21, 2015
11.4K
Make African grasslands climate-change resilient.
Tersur T Akpensuen1,2, Andrew D Cartmill3, Simón Pérez-Márquez1
1Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Devon, EX20 2SB United Kingdom.
Communications Earth & Environment
|February 17, 2025
Summary
Climate change harms African grasslands. Climate-smart forage mixtures can boost productivity and resilience, supporting sustainable livestock systems.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
Background:
- Climate change poses a significant threat to African grassland productivity.
- Degraded grasslands impact the sustainability of pasture-based livestock systems across Africa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of climate-smart technologies for enhancing grassland productivity.
- To assess the resilience of forage grass, legume, and herb mixtures under changing climatic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Field trials were conducted to assess the performance of diverse forage mixtures.
- Productivity and resilience indicators were monitored under simulated climate change scenarios.
Main Results:
- Forage mixtures demonstrated enhanced productivity compared to monocultures.
- Increased resilience to drought and temperature fluctuations was observed in mixed swards.
Conclusions:
- Climate-smart forage mixtures offer a viable strategy to improve African grassland productivity.
- These technologies are crucial for the sustainable development of pasture-based livestock systems in the face of climate change.
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