Soil properties as key predictors of global grassland production: Have we overlooked micronutrients?

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.

Automated summary

Fertilisation experiments have shown that nutrient availability plays a crucial role in grassland biomass production and carbon sequestration. This study, based on a global dataset, found that soil micronutrients, particularly Zn and Fe, along with other soil factors, were key predictors of biomass variation. However, the association between micronutrients and biomass was absent in grasslands limited by NP, highlighting the significance of co-limitation by NP and micronutrients.