Hybrid grass 'could reduce flooding impact'
A hybrid farmland grass, developed by a team of UK researchers, could help reduce flooding, a study has shown.
A team of plant and soil scientists said tests showed the new cultivar reduced run-off by 51%, compared with a variety widely used to feed livestock.
They added that rapid growth and well developed root systems meant that more moisture was retained within the soil rather than running into river systems.
The novel grass is a hybrid of perennial ryegrass (Lollium perenne) - which is widely planted by farmers for grazing livestock - and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis), which has environmental stress-resistant characteristics.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22307863
The findings appear in the journal Scientific Reports. http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130425/srep01683/full/srep01683.html
