Two common (semi-) natural temperate grassland species, Dactylis glomerata and Ranunculus acris, were grown in competition and exposed to two watering regimes: well-watered (WW, 20–40% v/v) and reduced-watered (RW, 7.5–20% v/v) in combination with eight ozone treatments ranging from pre-industrial to predicted 2100 background levels. For both species there was a significant increase in leaf damage with increasing background ozone concentration. RW had no protective effect against increasing levels of ozone-induced senescence/injury. In high ozone, based on measurements of stomatal conductance, we propose that ozone influx into the leaves was not prevented in the RW treatment, in D. glomerata because stomata were a) more widely open than those in less polluted plants and b) were less responsive to drought. Total seasonal above ground biomass was not significantly altered by increased ozone; however, ozone significantly reduced root biomass in both species to differing amounts depending on watering regime.

Few studies have investigated effects of increased background ozone in the absence of episodic peaks, despite a predicted increase throughout the northern hemisphere over the coming decades. In this study Leontodon hispidus was grown with Anthoxanthum odoratum or Dactylis glomerata and exposed in the UK to one of eight background ozone concentrations for 20 weeks in solardomes. Seasonal mean ozone concentrations ranged from 21.4 to 102.5 ppb. Ozone-induced senescence of L. hispidus was enhanced when grown with the more open canopy of A. odoratum compared to the denser growing D. glomerata. There was increased cover with increasing ozone exposure for both A. odoratum and D. glomerata, which resulted in an increase in the grass:Leontodon cover ratio in both community types. Carry-over effects of the ozone exposure were observed, including delayed winter die-back of L. hispidus and acceleration in the progression from flowers to seed-heads in the year following ozone exposure.

Two mesotrophic grassland species, Ranunculus acris and Dactylis glomerata were exposed to a range of ozone treatments (16.2–89.5 ppb 24 h mean) and two watering regimes under naturally fluctuating photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature. Stomatal conductance was measured throughout the experiments, and the combined data set (>1000 measurements) was analysed for effects of low and high ozone on responses to environmental stimuli. We show that when D. glomerata and R. acris were grown in 72.6–89.5 ppb ozone the stomata consistently lose the ability to respond, or have reduced response, to naturally fluctuating environmental conditions in comparison to their response in low ozone. The maximum stomatal conductance (gmax) was also significantly higher in the high ozone treatment for D. glomerata. We discuss the hypotheses for the reduced sensitivity of stomatal closure to a changing environment and the associated implications for ozone flux modelling.

The combined impacts of simulated increased nitrogen (N) deposition (75kgNha⁻¹yr⁻¹) and increasing background ozone (O₃) were studied using two mesotrophic grassland species (Dactylis glomerata and Ranunculus acris) in solardomes, by means of eight O₃ treatments ranging from 15.5ppb to 92.7ppb (24h average mean). A–Cᵢ curves were constructed for each species to gauge effects on photosynthetic efficiency and capacity, and effects on biomass partitioning were determined after 14 weeks. Increasing the background concentration of O₃ reduced the healthy above ground and root biomass of both species, and increased senesced biomass. N fertilisation increased biomass production in D. glomerata, and a significantly greater than additive effect of O₃ and N on root biomass was evident. In contrast, R. acris biomass was not affected by high N. The study shows the combined effects of these pollutants have differential implications for carbon allocation patterns in common grassland species.

The ability of seven herbaceous species (Hypericum perforatum L., Dactylis glomerata L., Plantago lanceolata L., Verbascum thapsus L., Picris hieracioides L., Cichorium intybus L., Daucus carota L.) to accumulate heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn has been studied. The concentration of heavy metals was determined in roots, basal and cauline leaves, flowers, and stalks for each collected species. The species were selected according to their cosmopolitan characteristics, morphology, life cycle, and phenology. Soils and plants were collected from two sites: close to a high traffic road in the inner city of Rome and in a natural park north of Rome (Canale Monterano). The concentration of elements in soil in descending order were Zn>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cr>Cd, while the EDTA extractable element concentrations in the roots followed the sequence Zn>Cu≈Pb>Cd>Cr>Ni. The bioaccumulation factors (BF) and the transport factors (TF) were calculated for each plant species. Results showed a significant relationship between heavy metals content in soil and plant species. H. perforatum showed a high Pb accumulation capacity in the stalk (70.30 mg kg⁻¹) and roots (73.41 mg kg⁻¹); moreover, BF>1 for this species at urban site has been obtained. Plantago lanceolata and Dactlys glomerata have shown higher Cd absorption (BF=1.33 and 0.55 in rural and urban sites, respectively). Plantago lanceolata in general shows high heavy metal uptake. The distribution of metals within the plant strongly depends on the species; the main accumulation of Ni, Cd, and Cu was observed in the leaves, while the highest Cr concentration was observed in the flowers. Plant species can be effectively considered as valid bioindicators of heavy metals derived from human activities and can be used to monitor pollution changes in the environment.

Surface water contamination can often be reduced by passing runoff water through perennial grass filters. Research was conducted in 2006 to 2008 to evaluate the size of cool season grass filters consisting primarily of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) with some orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) relative to drainage area size in reducing runoff sediment and phosphorus (P). The soil was Pohocco silt loam Typic Eutrochrepts with a median slope of 5.5 %. The grass filters occupying 1.1 and 4.3 % of the plot area were compared with no filter with four replications. The filters were planted in the V-shaped plot outlets which were 3.7 × 11.0 m in size. The filter effect on sediment and P concentration was determined from four natural runoff events when nearly all plots had runoff. Filter effect on runoff volume and contaminant load was determined using total runoff and composites of samples collected from 12 runoff events. Sediment concentration was reduced by 25 % with filters compared with no filter (from 1.10 to 1.47 g L⁻¹), but P concentration was not affected. The 1.1 and 4.3 % filters, respectively, compared with having no grass filter, reduced: runoff volume by 54 and 79 %; sediment load by 67 and 84 % (357 to 58 kg ha⁻¹); total P load by 68 and 76 % (0.58 to 0.14 kg ha⁻¹); particulate P (PP) load by 66 and 82 % (0.39 to 0.07 kg ha⁻¹); and dissolved reactive P (DRP) load by 73 and 66 % (0.2 to 0.07 kg ha⁻¹), respectfully. A snowmelt runoff event had 56 % greater DRP concentration compared with rainfall-induced runoff events. Grass filters reduced sediment and P load largely by reducing runoff volume rather than reducing concentration. Well-designed and well-placed grass filters that occupy 1.0 to 1.5 % of the drainage area and intercept a uniform flow of runoff from a drainage area can reduce sediment and nutrient loss in runoff by greater than 50 %.

This study assessed potential bioaccumulation of various trace elements in grasses and earthworms as a consequence of soil incorporation of organic amendments for in situ remediation of an orchard field soil contaminated with organochlorine and Pb pesticide residues. In this experiment, four organic amendments of differing total organic carbon content and quality (two types of composted manure, composted biosolids, and biochar) were added to a contaminated orchard field soil, planted with two types of grasses, and tested for their ability to reduce bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides and metals in earthworms. The experiment was carried out in 4-L soil microcosms in a controlled environment for 90 days. After 45 days of orchardgrass or perennial ryegrass growth, Lumbricus terrestris L. were introduced to the microcosms and exposed to the experimental soils for 45 days before the experiment was ended. Total trace element concentrations in the added organic amendments were below recommended safe levels and their phytoavailablity and earthworm availability remained low during a 90-day bioremediation study. At the end of the experiment, total tissue concentrations of Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn in earthworms and grasses were below recommended safe levels. Total concentrations of Pb in test soil were similar to maximum background levels of Pb recorded in soils in the Eastern USA (100 mg kg⁻¹ d.w.) because of previous application of orchard pesticides. Addition of aged dairy manure compost and presence of grasses was effective in reducing the accumulation of soil-derived Pb in earthworms, thus reducing the risk of soil Pb entry into wildlife food chains.

Biochar amendments have been considered to increase the competitive abilities of legumes in mixed cultures. However, little is known about how biochar affects the nutrient and Cd allocation within legume-grass mixtures. Therefore, we conducted a pot experiment to explore the effects of biochar addition rate (0, 1, 2.5, and 5%) on four monocultures, the legume Trifolium repens (Tr), Lolium perenne (Lp), Dactylis glomerata (Dg) and Festuca arundinacea (Fa), and three mixed cultures, i.e., Tr + Lp, Tr + Lp + Dg, and Tr + Lp + Dg + Fa. Regardless of biochar addition, Tr plants showed the lowest aboveground Cd concentration among the monoculture treatments. Compared with non-biochar addition treatment, the 1% biochar addition significantly promoted aboveground biomass accumulation and P, K, Ca, and Mg uptake in the aboveground parts of the Tr monoculture treatments by 39.32, 39.88, 88.27, 69.68, and 51.96%, respectively. Nevertheless, the aboveground biomass and P, K, Ca, and Mg uptake as well as the proportion of these parameters in Tr plants in all plant species mixture treatments decreased after biochar application. Maximum aboveground P and Mg uptake occurred in the four-species mixture treatments without biochar addition, whereas maximum values of these parameters occurred in the three-species mixture treatments with 5% biochar addition. Shoot Cd uptake was not decreased by biochar addition at all plant species treatments. Based on the results, it was suggested that biochar could not reduce Cd uptake by increasing the proportion of legumes in the legume-grass mixtures. The complementarity effects on nutrient uptake in the plant species mixtures depended on the amount of biochar added.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the biostimulant Kelpak and different nitrogen rates on cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents as well as non-structural carbohydrates in orchard grass and Braun’s festulolium. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. It was set up at the experimental facility of the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, in late April 2009. The following factors were examined: biostimulant with the trade name Kelpak SL applied at 2 dm³ ha⁻¹ and a control—no biostimulant; nitrogen application rates 50 and 150 kg ha⁻¹ and a control (0 kg ha⁻¹); pure stands of grass species grown in monoculture—orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), cv. Amila,—Braun’s festulolium (Festulolium braunii), cv. Felopa. Kelpak significantly increased non-structural carbohydrates, and increasing nitrogen rates reduced the concentration of these components in plants. Increasing nitrogen rates significantly decreased cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and non-structural carbohydrate contents. Compared with orchard grass, Braun’s festulolium proved to be of a higher nutritional value due to lower cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents and more non-structural carbohydrates. The aforementioned contents in the grasses differed significantly depending on the cut. Most cellulose and non-structural carbohydrates were determined in second-cut grass whereas most hemicellulose and lignin in second-cut grass.