Wild and Sown Grasses

Profiles of a temperate species selection: ecology, biodiversity and use

With the intensification of agriculture during the last century, the number of grass species was reduced, and a small number have come to dominate the grasslands and the seed market. The book contains profiles of 43 grass species sown or naturally present in temperate grasslands, many of which are regaining importance in the context of agricultural intensification. Each profile includes illustrations and a description of the plant, its ecological requirements, agronomic characteristics and uses. The publication also contains chapters on the importance and diversity of grasses and grass communities; diversity of grass use; morphology and physiology of grasses; advantages of wild or secondary grasses and complex multispecies and multivariety mixtures; prospects for wild and little-selected species.