Abstract
Declaring the drought-resistance of plant communities in grassland and the underlying mechanisms is crucial under climatic change scenario. Here we aimed to quantify aboveground & belowground net primary productivity (ANPP & BNPP) and their allocation in response to extreme droughts, and to uncover any underlying factors of drought resistance. We experimentally reduced growing season rainfall by 66% for four years in two grassland sites (Sandy and Loamy site respectively), and measured ANPP and BNPP yearly and evaluated the relatedness of drought-induced changes for them to plant traits (Plant height, δ13C, SLA and LNC) and community composition. Experimental drought decreased species richness, ANPP of forbs and the total at both sites, but decreased ANPP of grasses only at the Sandy site. Experimental drought has non-significant effect on total BNPP at both sites, but increased 10–20 cm BNPP and decreased 0–10 cm BNPP. BNPP ratio was kept unchanged at the Loamy site but increased at the Sandy site. Moreover, the communities at the Loamy site showed lower δ13C, SLA and LNC, but greater height. Our study demonstrates that extreme drought can impact community productivity and structure, and highlights the importance of plant traits, community composition and soil properties in modulating the responses and resistance of steppe communities to extreme drought.
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