Vertical decoupling of soil nutrients and water under climate warming reduces plant cumulative nutrient uptake, water‐use efficiency and productivity

What is it about?

Warming-induced desiccation of topsoil might compromise plants ability to acquire soil nutrients, since these are typically most abundant in the fertile topsoil layer. A drier fertile topsoil led to greater proportional utilization of water from deeper, wetter, but less fertile subsoil/bedrock layers in warmed plants. This was linked to decreased nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, water use efficiency, growth and drought survival.

Featured Image