ABSTRACT
Forages and grassland agriculture play an important role in the economy of the nation and worldwide. Photosynthesis affects plant growth and productivity, forage quality, and stand persistence. In the presence of water and carbon dioxide (CO2), plants are able to convert solar energy into usable chemical energy through a series of reactions, collectively called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis forms the basis of life on earth. Carbon fixation serves as the primary source of carbon for soil microorganisms and macroorganisms, and higher animals including humans. Not only does photosynthesis provide the needed carbon, but also, the oxygen produced as a result of plant photosynthesis is vital to our survival on this planet. Forage plants, just like other plants, fix the necessary carbon, which serves as food source for both wildlife and livestock. Humans are the ultimate beneficiaries of photosynthesis. Everything from the cloth we wear, the oxygen we breathe, the milk we drink, to the steak we enjoy is a product indirectly obtained from the photosynthesis of plants, including forages. Owing to the critical role played by photosynthesis to our existence on this planet, this subject has received much attention.
