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Soil properties as key predictors of global grassland production: Have we overlooked micronutrients?
Author(s) -
Radujković Dajana,
Verbruggen Erik,
Seabloom Eric W.,
Bahn Michael,
Biederman Lori A.,
Borer Elizabeth T.,
Boughton Elizabeth H.,
Catford Jane A.,
Campioli Matteo,
Donohue Ian,
Ebeling Anne,
Eskelinen Anu,
Fay Philip A.,
Hansart Amandine,
Knops Johannes M. H.,
MacDougall Andrew S.,
Ohlert Timothy,
Olde Venterink Harry,
Raynaud Xavier,
Risch Anita C.,
Roscher Christiane,
Schütz Martin,
Silveira Maria Lucia,
Stevens Carly J.,
Van Sundert Kevin,
Virtanen Risto,
Wardle Glenda M.,
Wragg Peter D.,
Vicca Sara
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13894
Subject(s) - grassland , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , nutrient , agronomy , micronutrient , deposition (geology) , carbon sequestration , ecology , agroforestry , biology , chemistry , carbon dioxide , paleontology , organic chemistry , sediment
Fertilisation experiments have demonstrated that nutrient availability is a key determinant of biomass production and carbon sequestration in grasslands. However, the influence of nutrients in explaining spatial variation in grassland biomass production has rarely been assessed. Using a global dataset comprising 72 sites on six continents, we investigated which of 16 soil factors that shape nutrient availability associate most strongly with variation in grassland aboveground biomass. Climate and N deposition were also considered. Based on theory‐driven structural equation modelling, we found that soil micronutrients (particularly Zn and Fe) were important predictors of biomass and, together with soil physicochemical properties and C:N, they explained more unique variation (32%) than climate and N deposition (24%). However, the association between micronutrients and biomass was absent in grasslands limited by NP. These results highlight soil properties as key predictors of global grassland biomass production and point to serial co‐limitation by NP and micronutrients.