Drygrass plantation in Raumberg-Gumpenstein (DryGrass experiment)
Topic: Effects of drought and heat on the productivity and biogeochemistry of the permanent grassland ecosystem
Climate change increases the risk of drought and heat waves, leading to significant yield fluctuations in grassland. DryGrass investigates the effects of heat and drought on plants, soils, and the entire grassland ecosystem.
Climate change is increasing droughts, heat waves, and other extreme weather events in Austria. The Alpine region is particularly affected, with temperatures rising approximately twice as fast as the global average. The combination of drought, heat, and uneven precipitation significantly increases the risk of crop losses in grassland.
DryGrass investigates the consequences of these changes on permanent grassland. On plots with two, three, and four cuts per year, some of which are equipped with rain shelters and infrared heaters, periods of drought and artificial heat waves are created, thus observing the effects of future climate conditions on the ecosystem and productivity of Austrian grassland.
