Nitrogen status of functionally different forage species explains resistance to severe drought and post-drought overcompensation

The interspecific differences in plant species responses to drought suggest a shift from N limitation under severe drought to water limitation under extreme drought. Because legumes were able to compensate for drought-induced restrictions in yield through symbiotic N2 fixation, and non-legumes overcompensated during post-drought, cropping selected legumes in mixtures with non-legumes could improve resistance and resilience of forage swards against severe drought events.