Ecophysiology of forage plants

Abstract

The study was conducted in order to conduct a review of the importance of ecophysiology of forage plants, to address the impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on plants and their morphological and physiological responses. The physical stress caused by soil compaction affect the development of the root system, is this condition plant shown as response greater emission lateral roots as an alternative to explore larger volume of soil. The flooding condition affect forage species differently. In this environment, the most adapted plants present the formation of adventitious roots. In dry condition tolerant plants have the ability to deepen the root system, besides their anatomical and physiological modifications to survive. Grazing reduces the photosynthetic apparatus of plants and to recover from defoliation and maintain productive changes occur in the population of tillers and the relationship between source and sink of the remaining organs. In the shadow environment the most limitation is the low solar radiation. Forage under the influence of shadow prioritize assimilates partition to shoot at the expense of roots and also have anatomical and physiological adaptations in the leaf blade to intercept and absorb more light. The nutrient deficiency impairs the growth of the plant community, as an alternative the same stimulate the development of the root system in order to meet the demand for this resource. The plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic factors promote changes in its characteristics to ensure survival, but that does not necessarily imply maintaining production of the organs of interest. However, such changes must be known to respect the limits of use and ensure of forage production efficiency.