REVIEW PAPER
Strategies and Adaptations of Permanent
Grasslands in Different Environments
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1
Applied Research and Innovation Centre, Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology, Malta
2
Department of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica,
Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
3
IUCN Spanish National Committee, Av. Costa Rica 150, 09001 Burgos, Spain
4
Department of Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University
in Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
Submission date: 2024-02-24
Final revision date: 2024-04-15
Acceptance date: 2024-06-21
Online publication date: 2024-09-16
Corresponding author
Judita Tomaškinová
Applied Research and Innovation Centre, MCAST Resource Centre, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology,
Main Campus, Triq Kordin, Paola, PLA 9032. Malta
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ABSTRACT
Grassland biomes have developed a multitude of successful strategies and adaptations to various,
often adverse environmental conditions through evolution. Grasslands have a wide tolerance to
climatic conditions (temperature, precipitation) and can also tolerate temporary drought periods well.
An important parameter for assessing drought tolerance of grass stands is the ratio of root biomass
to above-ground phytomass, the R:S (root: shoot ratio). A higher value indicates the crop’s adaptation
to drought-induced stress. In permanent grasslands in Central Europe, we recorded a significant
proportion of root biomass (6.69-10.31 t ha-1) with an R:S ratio of 5.16. Other positive strategies include
the ability of grasses to reproduce both vegetatively and generatively. Grass species exclusively prefer
wind pollination; thus, they are not dependent on insect pollination. For different climatic zones, they
have a suitable type of photosynthesis (C3 or C4). Grasslands are very well adapted to frequent grazing
of phytomass or defoliation (mowing, fire), subsequently regenerating effectively. They are rich in
high species biodiversity, contributing to their high eco-stability in agricultural landscapes. We also
recorded grassland responses to the presence of heavy metals in the soil. Based on the bioconcentration
factor (BCF < 1), grasslands (in Central Europe) acted as excluders of several heavy metals (Cd, Co,
Cr, Pb, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Ni). These heavy metals are primarily accumulated in the soil and roots,
with the above-ground part of the crop not being contaminated. Permanent grasslands are also
effective in carbon sequestration and, based on several observations, are well adapted to the negative
consequences of climate change.