Project Number: 6206-11220-005-08
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 14, 2010
End Date: Jun 13, 2015

Objective:
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support one MS student in summer research, supervised by Dr. Susan Schwinning. The student will conduct research in conjunction with a Masters degree program to conduct ecological research examining the susceptibility of common forage grasses, bioenergy feedstocks, and low-input mixed species grassland to invasion by Johnsongrass (Sorghum halapense) and other exotic invasive species. Research will meet the following specific research objectives: 1. Examine growth and nitrogen allocation in Johnsongrass and several native C4 grasses to identify periods of maximum nitrogen demand. The student will conduct greenhouse experiments where common forage grasses (Cynodon dactylon, Bermudagrass), a native grass and candidate bioenergy feedstock (Panicum virgatum, switchgrass), tallgrass prairie natives (Andropogon gerardii or Sorghastrum nutans),as well as Johnsongrass are grown either as monocultures or in pairs with Johnsongrass as a competitor. The competitive success of plants growing in pairs will be related to temporal patterns of nitrogen demand growing alone to test the hypothesis that competitive interactions between two species are stronger when they have broadly overlapping periods of nitrogen demand. Based on the results of these experiments, further hypotheses will be developed regarding differences in the susceptibility of grassland systems (native prairie, switchgrass monoculture, coastal Bermuda monoculture) to invasion by Johnsongrass. 2. Quantify establishment success of Johnsongrass in field plots of Bermudagrass, switchgrass, and low input mixed species grassland. The student will conduct a field experiment to determine establishment success of Johnsongrass in the Long-term Biomass experiment. The experiment will compare how the establishment success of Johnsongrass changes as the long-term biomass plots progress from just-established to the mature climax state.

Approach:
Objective 1: Plants will be kept either well watered, or subjected to drought. Grasses growing alone will be harvested periodically to be analyzed for above- and belowground biomass and N concentrations in roots, stems, leaves and reproductive parts. Grasses growing in pairs will be harvested at peak biomass only, and analyzed for above- and below-ground biomass. Objective 2: Plots will be planted with seedlings of Johnsongrass in the spring of 2010, and subsequently censused periodically to determine mortality rates, growth and development indices, and physiological status through measuring rates of leaf gas exchange. This experiment will be repeated annually.