Root system architecture in perennial grass species native to semiarid, central rangelands of Argentina.
This project constitutes the Postdoctoral Thesis work of Dr. Yanina A. Torres, who obtained a two-year Postdoctoral fellowship from CONICET. The effect of various soil moisture levels will be studied on root system architecture, and aerial and belowground dry matter production, of cool-season perennial grasses native to central Argentinian rangelands. Project objectives include quantification of irrigated versus rainfed conditions on (1) various parameters of root system architecture (e.g., main root length; length, number and position of lateral roots); (2) dry matter production per plant, and (3) root system production in terms of length and dry weight in two native perennial grasses of different successional stages: Nassella clarazzii (late-succesional species) and Amelichloa ambigua (early-successional species).