Primary Production of the Central Grassland Region of the United States

Abstract

Aboveground net primary production of grasslands is strongly influenced by the amount and distribution of annual precipitation. Analysis of data collected at 9500 sites throughout the central United States confirmed the overwhelming importance of water availability as a control of production. The regional spatial pattern of production reflected the east—west gradient in annual precipitation. Lowest values of aboveground net primary production were observed in the west and highest values in the east. This spatial pattern was shifted eastward during unfavorable years and westward during favorable years. Variability in production among years was maximum in northern New Mexico and southwestern Kansas and decreased towards the north and south. The regional pattern of production was largely accounted for by annual precipitation. Production at the site level was explained by annual precipitation, soil water—holding capacity, and an interaction term. Our results support the inverse texture hypothesis. When precipitation is <370 mm/yr, sandy soils with low water—holding capacity are more productive than loamy soils with high water—holding capacity, while the opposite pattern occurs when precipitation is >370 mm/yr.