ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on moisture stress in forage production systems. Moisture stress is one of the most important factors limiting crop yields worldwide. Plant moisture stress is a complex function of interaction among plant, soil, and atmospheric factors. Forages respond to moisture stress in one of three ways: escape or evasion, avoidance, and tolerance. Plants adjust to moisture stress through osmotic adjustment and compatible solute accumulation. The drought escape strategy involves plants completing their life cycle before soil moisture becomes limiting. Dehydration avoidance involves mechanisms that maintain water uptake and reduce water loss from plant canopies under water-limiting conditions. The increase in nutritive value under moisture stress is mostly achieved through reduction in fiber concentration, increased crude protein, and increased digestibility. Moisture stress in forages can be managed through breeding for drought tolerance, selection of appropriate species and cultivars, and adoption of best management practices.
