Drought Effect on Yield of Forages Grass Species

Climate change (rising temperatures, lengthening of the growing season, increasing evaporation) significantly affects agricultural production in traditional production areas of Central Europe, as illustrated by example better results in growing of corn on its northern or upper height limit. Changes in the amounts and timing of rainfall events will probably affect ecosystem processes, including those that control carbon (C) cycling and storage. In relation to the ongoing global warming, it is desirable to test resistance of grass species to a lack of moisture. Seasonal variation in precipitation and temperature are important controls of soil and plant processes in grasslands. (Fiala et al., 2012). Many species respond to drought by maintaining high water potential by reducing water losses or better adsorption. Limitation of water losses can be reduced in the development of water stress by rolling the leaves or fast closing stomata. The plants, however, not only reduce transpiration, but also reduce photosynthesis and thus growth and development (Xu et al., 2006). Interaction of drought stress with high temperature has a greater effect than the damaging effects of each stressor separately. There is a loss of water by transpiration required for cooling and thus faster drying (Jiang and Huang, 2001). Almost a third of the fresh water that is consumed in Europe is used in agriculture, mostly for irrigation (Flörke and Alcano, 2004). The main aim of the study was to evaluate the response production types of grasses to stress-induced reduction of normal precipitation in relation to their production characteristics and the structure of biological phytomass