Toward optimisation of water use efficiency in dryland pastures using carbon isotope discrimination as a tool to select plant species mixtures.

Pronger, JCampbell, D IClearwater, M JMudge, P LRutledge, SWall, A MSchipper, L A2019-03-222019-03-222019-05-151879-10263078001510.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.014http://hdl.handle.net/10029/622890Pastoral agriculture is important for supplying global demand for animal products but pasture productivity is often water limited. Increased plant diversity has been shown to increase water use efficiency (ω) and productivity under water limitation but the optimal mix of species varies spatially, dependent on climate, soil type, and plant water requirements. Consequently, a cost-effective method to screen for high ω plant species and mixes in situ at farm scale is needed. Using carbon isotope discrimination (∆enAgricultureCarbon isotope discriminationForagePasturePlant diversityWater use efficiencyToward optimisation of water use efficiency in dryland pastures using carbon isotope discrimination as a tool to select plant species mixtures.ArticleSci Total Environ 2019; 665:698-708