Perennial ornamental grasses are often recommended for rain gardens, but few data support their use. We conducted two experiments to evaluate the ability of ornamental grass cultivars to grow while subjected to cyclical fl ooding, submergence, and drought typical of rain gardens. Our objectives were to determine the effects of cyclical fl ood and drought (Expt. 1) and submergence depth and duration (Expt. 2) on grass growth and survival. Seven cultivars were evaluated during greenhouse trials, including Pixie Fountain tufted hairgrass [Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.], Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Red October big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Purpurascens Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis Andersson), Blue HeavenVR V R little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], Blonde Ambition blue grama grass [Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths], fi ths], and Karl Foerster feather reed grass [Calamagrostis xacutiflora fl ora (Schrad.) DC]. During Expt. 1, grasses underwent four cycles of fl ooding duration (2 days or 7 days) followed by drought (drying to volumetric soil water contents of 0.14 or 0.07 cm3cm23). 3 cm 2 3 ). During Expt. 2, grasses were cyclically submerged at 15 or 30 cm above the soil surface for 2, 4, or 7 days, followed by fl oodwater removal and drainage for 2 days before being resubmerged. Cyclical submergence continued until the 7-day submergence treatments completed four cycles. Both experiments were replicated in a full factorial randomized complete block design. Controls were included in both experiments. Plants were measured to determine plant height, shoot count, visual damage rating, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Floodwater chemistry and soil reducing conditions were measured during Expt. 2. Chinese silvergrass and switchgrass survived cyclical soil fl ooding/drought and submergence for 7 days at a depth of 30 cm while maintaining acceptable foliar damage. All grasses survived cyclical fl ood and drought when the soil volumetric water content was maintained at 14%, suggesting they can withstand periodic soil fl ooding as long as the water is not too deep. As water depth and duration increased from 4 days to 7 days, little bluestem, blue grama grass, and feather reed grass experienced significant fi cant foliar damage. Tufted hair grass and big bluestem experienced signifi- fi- cant foliar damage when submerged for 2 days. Our results showed that perennial ornamental grasses can tolerate cyclical fl ood and drought and periodic submergence, but that plant conditions and survival vary, which can inform strategic plant placement within rain gardens, bioretention basins, and other stormwater management systems.

Plastics thrown out as trash are an everlasting threat to our biosphere and ecosystem. A sustainable remedy within our reach is the use of agricultural biomass. Herein, the lignocellulosic residue of switchgrass biomass, extracted using alkaline and bleaching treatments and solubilized in ZnCl2 solution followed by crosslinking with calcium ions, is used to develop biodegradable films. The films have been characterized for color, transparency, thickness, moisture, water solubility, water absorption, water vapor permeability, tensile strength, elongation, and soil biodegradation. Mathematical modeling of the water absorption and biodegradation behavior have also been studied. The films are transparent, possess high tensile strength and low water vapor permeability, and biodegrade completely within 40 days at 30% soil moisture. The tensile strength and whiteness of films increase with CaCl2 concentration, but elongation, water absorption, water solubility, water vapor permeability, and biodegradation decrease. Overall, the strong and biodegradable switchgrass residue-based films open up a new window of opportunities to design and develop reusable, recyclable, and compostable films from underutilized, inexpensive, and abundant agricultural biomass contributing to the circular bioeconomy in a friendly and sus-tainable manner.