Individual Versus Combined Effects of Warming, Elevated CO₂ and Drought on Grassland Water Uptake and Fine Root Traits.

ABSTRACT: Increasing warming, atmospheric CO₂ and drought are expected to change the water dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, limited knowledge exists about how the interactive effects of these factors will affect grassland water uptake, and whether adaptations in fine root production and traits will alter water uptake capacity. In a managed C₃ grassland, we tested the individual and combined effects of warming (+3°C), elevated CO₂ (eCO₂; +300 ppm) and drought on root water uptake (RWU) as well as on fine root production, trait adaptation, and fine root-to-shoot production ratios, and their relationships with RWU capacity. High temperatures, amplified by warming, exacerbated RWU reductions under drought, with negligible water-sparing effects from eCO

SUBMITTER: Tissink M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11788968 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature