The Effect of Windspeed on the Growth of Grasses

Abstract
Plants of Festuca arundinacea and Lolium perenne were exposed to constant windspeeds of 1.1, 4.0, 7.4, or 10.0 m/s, in a controlled-environment wind-tunnel, for periods of 14 days. Increasing windspeed reduced the rate of leaf extension, the relative growth rate and the leaf area ratio, but increased the net assimilation rate in both species. There was no effect of windspeed on the rate of appearance of leaves or on the leaf water potential.