Meadow and tall fescue support significant livestock industries, and red fescue is an important turf species in the Northern Hemisphere. All of these grasses associate with fungal endophytes. The aim of this research is to identify grass-endophyte combinations that stimulate soil carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and support other ecosystem services.
The objectives of EndoGas are:
EndoGas quantified fungal endophyte presence effects on soil-to-atmosphere trace gas fluxes in meadow fescue stands in southern Finland, and endophyte presence and strain effects on trace gas fluxes in tall fescue stands in central United States using standard GRACEnet protocol for chamber-based measurements. In Finland, fungal endophyte presence appears to reduce nitrous oxide fluxes in by ~16%, reduce carbon dioxide fluxes by 6%, and reduce methane by 160% in meadow fescue stands. Effects of fungal endophyte presence and strain on GHG fluxes in Kentucky are more subtle.
The project also evaluated endophyte presence effects on meadow, tall, and red fescue soil C pools (0-10cm) at multiple locations: three different sites in Finland, the Faroe Islands, Spain, and the USA. Standard soil C assessment protocols were followed. No significant effects of endophyte presence on soil C sequestration were found at any of the locations.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.