Editing Annual plant (section)

== Traits of annuals and their implication for agriculture ==
Annual plants commonly exhibit a higher growth rate, allocate more resources to seeds, and allocate fewer resources to roots than perennials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vico |first1=Giulia |last2=Manzoni |first2=Stefano |last3=Nkurunziza |first3=Libère |last4=Murphy |first4=Kevin |last5=Weih |first5=Martin |date=January 2016 |title=Trade-offs between seed output and life span – a quantitative comparison of traits between annual and perennial congeneric species |url=https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.13574 |journal=New Phytologist |language=en |volume=209 |issue=1 |pages=104–114 |doi=10.1111/nph.13574 |pmid=26214792 |bibcode=2016NewPh.209..104V |issn=0028-646X}}</ref> In contrast to perennials, which feature long-lived plants and short-lived seeds, annual plants compensate for their lower longevity by maintaining a higher persistence of [[Soil seed bank|soil seed banks]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=DeMalach |first1=Niv |last2=Kigel |first2=Jaime |last3=Sternberg |first3=Marcelo |date=2023-03-01 |title=Contrasting dynamics of seed banks and standing vegetation of annuals and perennials along a rainfall gradient |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831923000021 |journal=Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics |volume=58 |pages=125718 |doi=10.1016/j.ppees.2023.125718 |arxiv=2301.12696 |bibcode=2023PPEES..5825718D |s2cid=256389403 |issn=1433-8319}}</ref> These differences in life history strategies profoundly affect ecosystem functioning and services. For instance, annuals, by allocating less resources belowground, play a more minor role in reducing erosion, storing organic carbon, and achieving lower nutrient- and water-use efficiencies than perennials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Glover |first1=Jerry D. |last2=Reganold |first2=John P. |last3=Cox |first3=Cindy M. |date=September 2012 |title=Plant perennials to save Africa's soils |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/489359a |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=489 |issue=7416 |pages=359–361 |doi=10.1038/489359a |pmid=22996532 |issn=1476-4687}}</ref>

The distinctions between annual and perennial plants are notably evident in agricultural contexts. Despite constituting a minor part of global biomass, annual species stand out as the primary food source for humankind, likely owing to their greater allocation of resources to seed production, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity. In the Anthropocene epoch, marked by human impact on the environment, there has been a substantial increase in the global cover of annuals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Foley |first1=Jonathan A. |last2=DeFries |first2=Ruth |last3=Asner |first3=Gregory P. |last4=Barford |first4=Carol |last5=Bonan |first5=Gordon |last6=Carpenter |first6=Stephen R. |last7=Chapin |first7=F. Stuart |last8=Coe |first8=Michael T. |last9=Daily |first9=Gretchen C. |last10=Gibbs |first10=Holly K. |last11=Helkowski |first11=Joseph H. |last12=Holloway |first12=Tracey |last13=Howard |first13=Erica A. |last14=Kucharik |first14=Christopher J. |last15=Monfreda |first15=Chad |date=2005-07-22 |title=Global Consequences of Land Use |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1111772 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=309 |issue=5734 |pages=570–574 |doi=10.1126/science.1111772 |pmid=16040698 |bibcode=2005Sci...309..570F |s2cid=5711915 |issn=0036-8075}}</ref> This shift is primarily attributed to the conversion of natural systems, often dominated by perennials, into annual cropland. Currently, annual plants cover approximately 70% of croplands and contribute to around 80% of worldwide food consumption.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pimentel |first1=David |last2=Cerasale |first2=David |last3=Stanley |first3=Rose C. |last4=Perlman |first4=Rachel |last5=Newman |first5=Elise M. |last6=Brent |first6=Lincoln C. |last7=Mullan |first7=Amanda |last8=Chang |first8=Debbie Tai-I |date=2012-10-15 |title=Annual vs. perennial grain production |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880912002058 |journal=Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment |volume=161 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1016/j.agee.2012.05.025 |bibcode=2012AgEE..161....1P |issn=0167-8809}}</ref>