The study looks at ways to manage grass dominance in savannahs
- December 9, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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The study looks at ways to manage grass dominance in savannahs
Subject: Environment
Section: Ecosystem
Context:
- A study from the Eastern Ghats highlights the dominance of native Cymbopogon grass (lemongrass) in a mesic savannah ecosystem and probes the causes and control measures to take it back to the desired or historical state to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Cymbopogon grass (lemongrass):
- Cymbopogon is a C4 grass or a warm-season grass that needs plenty of sunlight and is heat and fire-tolerant.
- It is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family.
- Some species (particularly Cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons (Citrus limon).
- In India, C. citratus is used as a medical herb and in perfumes. It is consumed as a tea for anxiety in Brazilian folk medicine.
- The grass contains oil and the dominance of such inflammable grass can result in more frequent, large fires that do not favour the biodiversity and the ecosystem.
- Savannah ecosystems have existed in India for over a million years.
- Fire is an integral part of the management of savannahs. Dry ecosystems like savannahs depend on fire to recycle biomass.