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Fertilized graminoids intensify negative drought effects on grassland productivity
Author(s) -
Van Sundert Kevin,
Arfin Khan Mohammed A. S.,
Bharath Siddharth,
Buckley Yvonne M.,
Caldeira Maria C.,
Donohue Ian,
Dubbert Maren,
Ebeling Anne,
Eisenhauer Nico,
Eskelinen Anu,
Finn Alain,
Gebauer Tobias,
Haider Sylvia,
Hansart Amandine,
Jentsch Anke,
Kübert Angelika,
Nijs Ivan,
Nock Charles A.,
Nogueira Carla,
PorathKrause Anita J.,
Radujković Dajana,
Raynaud Xavier,
Risch Anita C.,
Roscher Christiane,
SchererLorenzen Michael,
Schuchardt Max A.,
Schütz Martin,
Siebert Julia,
Sitters Judith,
Spohn Marie,
Virtanen Risto,
Werner Christiane,
Wilfahrt Peter,
Vicca Sara
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.15583
Subject(s) - forb , graminoid , grassland , productivity , biomass (ecology) , dominance (genetics) , ecosystem , nutrient , plant community , climate change , environmental science , agronomy , biology , ecology , species richness , biochemistry , gene , economics , macroeconomics
Droughts can strongly affect grassland productivity and biodiversity, but responses differ widely. Nutrient availability may be a critical factor explaining this variation, but is often ignored in analyses of drought responses. Here, we used a standardized nutrient addition experiment covering 10 European grasslands to test if full‐factorial nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium addition affected plant community responses to inter‐annual variation in drought stress and to the extreme summer drought of 2018 in Europe. We found that nutrient addition amplified detrimental drought effects on community aboveground biomass production. Drought effects also differed between functional groups, with a negative effect on graminoid but not forb biomass production. Our results imply that eutrophication in grasslands, which promotes dominance of drought‐sensitive graminoids over forbs, amplifies detrimental drought effects. In terms of climate change adaptation, agricultural management would benefit from taking into account differential drought impacts on fertilized versus unfertilized grasslands, which differ in ecosystem services they provide to society.