Contents



Preface

We are in an era of changing climate, global warming, disturbed rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods, all of which are major stresses on food production systems. This situation demands devising and implementing novel solutions to boost productivity and farmers' profitability as well as restore and preserve terrestrial ecosystems. *Grasses and Grassland - New Perspectives* discusses grassland management, utilization, and restoration under the changing climate. It also includes vital information on potential uses and future perspectives of many grass species.

This book includes two sections. The first section, "Trends in Grassland

global warming.

Management," presents fundamental concepts, recent knowledge, and advancements in the management, economic utilization, effective restoration, and viable preservation of grasslands. The second section, "Underutilized Grasses Production Potential," discusses grasses that have remained neglected despite their potential to ensure food security for the skyrocketing population under changing climate and

Chapter 1 provides fundamental knowledge pertaining to the concepts of grasslands (prairie, savanna, steppe, pampas, etc.), different types of grasslands (natural, semi-natural or improved, tropical, temperate, tundra, montane, xeric, and flooded grasslands) and elaborates different ecosystem services (processes, conditions, and outputs) provided by grasslands. These services include being a source of feed for ruminants, serving as habitats for ensuring species biodiversity, mitigating drought, flood, and soil erosion, and much more. It elucidates the reasons why grasslands need to be developed to support ecosystem services provided by fragile existing grasslands. Finally, the chapter suggests developing grasslands for generating a green economy via the adoption of integrated approaches encompassing integrated fertilization regimes, over-seeding of leguminous plant species, adjusting herbage allowance, manipulating stocking rate, and monitoring using global

Chapter 2 discusses ecosystem services provided by grasslands in terms of generating livestock-rearing opportunities and thereby increasing the livelihood of stakeholders. It highlights grassland ecosystem services with respect to sustaining the wildlife in Tanzania. It also suggests that new research is needed to restore and

Chapter 3 examines recent developments in climate change and emerging stresses, especially abiotic stresses like drought, and their role in grass diseases. It provides information on common diseases such as *Xanthomonas* spp. and *Pseudomonas* spp. and their interaction with vectors. The chapter also suggests strategies to break the

The second section begins with Chapter 4 on the production of underutilized grasses and their potential in temperate and tropical regions. The chapter elaborates on highly debated aspects pertaining to underutilized grasses and neglected grasses and distinguishes those in an explicit manner. Additionally, it highlights

positioning systems and infrared spectroscopy.

cycle of vector growth, regrowth, and infestation.

preserve Tanzanian grasslands.

*and Smrutishree Sahoo*

**II**

**XII**
