How Plants Respond to Drought—and Why It Matters

By Ben Beckman and Ryan Benjamin et.al

When drought hits, it’s not just soil moisture that changes—plants change too. However, no two plants are the same in how they deal with dry weather. Understanding the different ways forage species respond to drought conditions can help livestock producers make better grazing decisions, protect pasture productivity, and maintain long-term range health. 

Here are a few different ways plants respond to drought conditions: 

1. Growth Shutdown and Dormancy

Some grasses respond to drought by essentially shutting down. Cool-season species like smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass often enter dormancy to conserve energy and moisture.^1,4 While they may look dead, these plants are still alive and capable of regrowth when conditions improve. With the growth stoppage because of drought, there is a reduction in replenishment of carbohydrates (energy) in the grass plants.  This will affect the growth and vigor of the grass plant the following year.  In many cases, the lack of seed production and maturity when early dormancy occurs can result in a higher quality of forage, although quantity is greatly reduced.