Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition

V. F. Bondaruk; C. Xu; P. Wilfahrt; L. Yahdjian; Q. Yu; E. T. Borer; A. Jentsch; E. W. Seabloom; M. D. Smith; J. Alberti; G. R. Oñatibia; H. Dieguez; M. Carbognani; A. Kübert; S. A. Power; N. Eisenhauer; F. Isbell; H. Auge; M. H. Chandregowda; A. C. Churchill; P. Daleo; T. Forte; A. C. Greenville; S. E. Koerner; T. Ohlert; P. Peri; A. Petraglia; D. Salesa; M. Tedder; A. Valdecantos; E. Verhoeven; G. M. Wardle; C. Werner; G. R. Wheeler; H. An; L. Biancari; H. J. Diao; J. Gutknecht; L. B. Han; Y. G. Ke; J. L. Liu; Y. Maziko; D. S. Tian; D. Tissue; S. Wanke; C. Z. Wei; K. Wilkins; H. H. Wu; A. L. Young; F. W. Zhang; B. Zhang; J. T. Zhu; N. Zong; X. A. Zuo; Y. Hautier

doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8

Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition

V. F. Bondaruk, C. Xu, P. Wilfahrt, L. Yahdjian, Q. Yu, E. T. Borer, A. Jentsch, E. W. Seabloom, M. D. Smith, J. Alberti, G. R. Oñatibia, H. Dieguez, M. Carbognani, A. Kübert, S. A. Power, N. Eisenhauer, F. Isbell, H. Auge, M. H. Chandregowda, A. C. ChurchillP. Daleo, T. Forte, A. C. Greenville, S. E. Koerner, T. Ohlert, P. Peri, A. Petraglia, D. Salesa, M. Tedder, A. Valdecantos, E. Verhoeven, G. M. Wardle, C. Werner, G. R. Wheeler, H. An, L. Biancari, H. J. Diao, J. Gutknecht, L. B. Han, Y. G. Ke, J. L. Liu, Y. Maziko, D. S. Tian, D. Tissue, S. Wanke, C. Z. Wei, K. Wilkins, H. H. Wu, A. L. Young, F. W. Zhang, B. Zhang, J. T. Zhu, N. Zong, X. A. Zuo, Y. Hautier

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Plant biomass tends to increase under nutrient addition and decrease under drought. Biotic and abiotic factors influence responses to both, making the combined impact of nutrient addition and drought difficult to predict. Using a globally distributed network of manipulative field experiments, we assessed grassland aboveground biomass response to both drought and increased nutrient availability at 26 sites across nine countries. Overall, drought reduced biomass by 19% and nutrient addition increased it by 24%, resulting in no net impact under combined drought and nutrient addition. Among the plant functional groups, only graminoids responded positively to nutrients during drought. However, these general responses depended on local conditions, especially aridity. Nutrient effects were stronger in arid grasslands and weaker in humid regions and nitrogen-rich soils, although nutrient addition alleviated drought effects the most in subhumid sites. Biomass responses were weaker with higher precipitation variability. Biomass increased more with increased nutrient availability and declined more with drought at high-diversity sites than at low-diversity sites. Our findings highlight the importance of local abiotic and biotic conditions in predicting grassland responses to anthropogenic nutrient and climate changes.

Original language	English
Article number	e2309881120
Pages (from-to)	937-946
Number of pages	10
Journal	Nature Ecology and Evolution
Volume	9
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025.

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Bondaruk, V. F., Xu, C., Wilfahrt, P., Yahdjian, L., Yu, Q., Borer, E. T., Jentsch, A., Seabloom, E. W., Smith, M. D., Alberti, J., Oñatibia, G. R., Dieguez, H., Carbognani, M., Kübert, A., Power, S. A., Eisenhauer, N., Isbell, F., Auge, H., Chandregowda, M. H., ... Hautier, Y. (2025). Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 9(6), 937-946. Article e2309881120. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8

@article{faa551f64ae8496f8406cb37feeaf3e0,

title = "Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition",

abstract = "Plant biomass tends to increase under nutrient addition and decrease under drought. Biotic and abiotic factors influence responses to both, making the combined impact of nutrient addition and drought difficult to predict. Using a globally distributed network of manipulative field experiments, we assessed grassland aboveground biomass response to both drought and increased nutrient availability at 26 sites across nine countries. Overall, drought reduced biomass by 19% and nutrient addition increased it by 24%, resulting in no net impact under combined drought and nutrient addition. Among the plant functional groups, only graminoids responded positively to nutrients during drought. However, these general responses depended on local conditions, especially aridity. Nutrient effects were stronger in arid grasslands and weaker in humid regions and nitrogen-rich soils, although nutrient addition alleviated drought effects the most in subhumid sites. Biomass responses were weaker with higher precipitation variability. Biomass increased more with increased nutrient availability and declined more with drought at high-diversity sites than at low-diversity sites. Our findings highlight the importance of local abiotic and biotic conditions in predicting grassland responses to anthropogenic nutrient and climate changes.",

author = "Bondaruk, {V. F.} and C. Xu and P. Wilfahrt and L. Yahdjian and Q. Yu and Borer, {E. T.} and A. Jentsch and Seabloom, {E. W.} and Smith, {M. D.} and J. Alberti and O{\~n}atibia, {G. R.} and H. Dieguez and M. Carbognani and A. K{\"u}bert and Power, {S. A.} and N. Eisenhauer and F. Isbell and H. Auge and Chandregowda, {M. H.} and Churchill, {A. C.} and P. Daleo and T. Forte and Greenville, {A. C.} and Koerner, {S. E.} and T. Ohlert and P. Peri and A. Petraglia and D. Salesa and M. Tedder and A. Valdecantos and E. Verhoeven and Wardle, {G. M.} and C. Werner and Wheeler, {G. R.} and H. An and L. Biancari and Diao, {H. J.} and J. Gutknecht and Han, {L. B.} and Ke, {Y. G.} and Liu, {J. L.} and Y. Maziko and Tian, {D. S.} and D. Tissue and S. Wanke and Wei, {C. Z.} and K. Wilkins and Wu, {H. H.} and Young, {A. L.} and Zhang, {F. W.} and B. Zhang and Zhu, {J. T.} and N. Zong and Zuo, {X. A.} and Y. Hautier",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "937--946",

journal = "Nature Ecology and Evolution",

issn = "2397-334X",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "6",

}

Bondaruk, VF, Xu, C, Wilfahrt, P, Yahdjian, L, Yu, Q, Borer, ET, Jentsch, A, Seabloom, EW, Smith, MD, Alberti, J, Oñatibia, GR, Dieguez, H, Carbognani, M, Kübert, A, Power, SA, Eisenhauer, N, Isbell, F, Auge, H, Chandregowda, MH, Churchill, AC, Daleo, P, Forte, T, Greenville, AC, Koerner, SE, Ohlert, T, Peri, P, Petraglia, A, Salesa, D, Tedder, M, Valdecantos, A, Verhoeven, E, Wardle, GM, Werner, C, Wheeler, GR, An, H, Biancari, L, Diao, HJ, Gutknecht, J, Han, LB, Ke, YG, Liu, JL, Maziko, Y, Tian, DS, Tissue, D, Wanke, S, Wei, CZ, Wilkins, K, Wu, HH, Young, AL, Zhang, FW, Zhang, B, Zhu, JT, Zong, N, Zuo, XA & Hautier, Y 2025, 'Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition', Nature Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, no. 6, e2309881120, pp. 937-946. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8

TY - JOUR

T1 - Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition

AU - Bondaruk, V. F.

AU - Xu, C.

AU - Wilfahrt, P.

AU - Yahdjian, L.

AU - Yu, Q.

AU - Borer, E. T.

AU - Jentsch, A.

AU - Seabloom, E. W.

AU - Smith, M. D.

AU - Alberti, J.

AU - Oñatibia, G. R.

AU - Dieguez, H.

AU - Carbognani, M.

AU - Kübert, A.

AU - Power, S. A.

AU - Eisenhauer, N.

AU - Isbell, F.

AU - Auge, H.

AU - Chandregowda, M. H.

AU - Churchill, A. C.

AU - Daleo, P.

AU - Forte, T.

AU - Greenville, A. C.

AU - Koerner, S. E.

AU - Ohlert, T.

AU - Peri, P.

AU - Petraglia, A.

AU - Salesa, D.

AU - Tedder, M.

AU - Valdecantos, A.

AU - Verhoeven, E.

AU - Wardle, G. M.

AU - Werner, C.

AU - Wheeler, G. R.

AU - An, H.

AU - Biancari, L.

AU - Diao, H. J.

AU - Gutknecht, J.

AU - Han, L. B.

AU - Ke, Y. G.

AU - Liu, J. L.

AU - Maziko, Y.

AU - Tian, D. S.

AU - Tissue, D.

AU - Wanke, S.

AU - Wei, C. Z.

AU - Wilkins, K.

AU - Wu, H. H.

AU - Young, A. L.

AU - Zhang, F. W.

AU - Zhang, B.

AU - Zhu, J. T.

AU - Zong, N.

AU - Zuo, X. A.

AU - Hautier, Y.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - Plant biomass tends to increase under nutrient addition and decrease under drought. Biotic and abiotic factors influence responses to both, making the combined impact of nutrient addition and drought difficult to predict. Using a globally distributed network of manipulative field experiments, we assessed grassland aboveground biomass response to both drought and increased nutrient availability at 26 sites across nine countries. Overall, drought reduced biomass by 19% and nutrient addition increased it by 24%, resulting in no net impact under combined drought and nutrient addition. Among the plant functional groups, only graminoids responded positively to nutrients during drought. However, these general responses depended on local conditions, especially aridity. Nutrient effects were stronger in arid grasslands and weaker in humid regions and nitrogen-rich soils, although nutrient addition alleviated drought effects the most in subhumid sites. Biomass responses were weaker with higher precipitation variability. Biomass increased more with increased nutrient availability and declined more with drought at high-diversity sites than at low-diversity sites. Our findings highlight the importance of local abiotic and biotic conditions in predicting grassland responses to anthropogenic nutrient and climate changes.

AB - Plant biomass tends to increase under nutrient addition and decrease under drought. Biotic and abiotic factors influence responses to both, making the combined impact of nutrient addition and drought difficult to predict. Using a globally distributed network of manipulative field experiments, we assessed grassland aboveground biomass response to both drought and increased nutrient availability at 26 sites across nine countries. Overall, drought reduced biomass by 19% and nutrient addition increased it by 24%, resulting in no net impact under combined drought and nutrient addition. Among the plant functional groups, only graminoids responded positively to nutrients during drought. However, these general responses depended on local conditions, especially aridity. Nutrient effects were stronger in arid grasslands and weaker in humid regions and nitrogen-rich soils, although nutrient addition alleviated drought effects the most in subhumid sites. Biomass responses were weaker with higher precipitation variability. Biomass increased more with increased nutrient availability and declined more with drought at high-diversity sites than at low-diversity sites. Our findings highlight the importance of local abiotic and biotic conditions in predicting grassland responses to anthropogenic nutrient and climate changes.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105005545721&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8

DO - 10.1038/s41559-025-02705-8

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105005545721

SN - 2397-334X

VL - 9

SP - 937

EP - 946

JO - Nature Ecology and Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology and Evolution

IS - 6

M1 - e2309881120

ER -

Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition

Abstract

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