Pasture availability as a spatial indicator of grassland root turnover time on a global scale
2020
Wan, Ji-Zhong
Root turnover time is jointly predicted by climate factors and soil properties in global grasslands with different vegetation types. Pasture availability is directly related to the belowground dynamics of soil conditions on spatial scales. However, few studies have examined whether pasture availability could be a spatial indicator of grassland root turnover time on a global scale. In the present study, geographically weighted regression (GWR) modelling, coupled with the ordinary least squares (OLS) method, was used to develop an indicator of root turnover time in global grasslands based on pasture availability. The results revealed a significant relationship between pasture availability and root turnover time in global grasslands. Furthermore, this relationship may depend on the type of vegetation and could be affected by animal grazing (including buffaloes, cattle, horses, goats, pigs, and sheep). Based on regression modelling, significantly positive relationships were detected between pasture availability and root turnover time for temperate grassland and meadows (P < 0.001) and tundra (P < 0.001) vegetation. These relationships were stronger for tundra (r² = 0.76; P < 0.001) when compared with the temperate grassland and meadow regions (r² = 0.25; P < 0.001). Taken together, the current study results showed that pasture availability could serve as a spatial indicator of root turnover time in global grasslands. Thus, I suggest the integration of pasture availability and animal grazing into prediction modelling of root turnover on spatial scales, and that there should be a focus on grazing management practices for future ecosystem monitoring.
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