Decomposition of leaf litter is a key component of biogeochemical cycles but the mechanisms driving it in arid and semiarid ecosystems (drylands) remain unresolved. Here, we review recent findings that demonstrate dual roles of solar radiation (ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation) and soil–litter mixing as drivers of decomposition in drylands. We focus on the known and potential...

The global hydrological cycle is predicted to be intensified under the warming climate, with more extreme precipitation events and longer dry spell in between. Here, we evaluated how (EPEs) antecedent (dry-EPEs) wet (wet-EPEs) water conditions influence carbon exchange along gradient of arid, semi-arid, sub-humid ecosystems based on eddy covariance datasets. After EPEs, ecosystem respiration gr...

This study sought to assess the impact of selected soil conservation and water harvesting technologies as promising options for alleviating moisture crisis, enhancing fertility reducing erosion in drylands Eastern Kenya. An experiment was set up investigate responses aggregate stability, contents microbial biomass carbon nitrogen (SMBC SMBN) Zai technology combined with integrated nutrient amen...

Abstract Crossing certain aridity thresholds in global drylands can lead to abrupt decays of ecosystem attributes such as plant productivity, potentially causing land degradation and desertification. It is largely unknown, however, whether these be altered by other key change drivers known affect the water-use efficiency productivity vegetation, elevated CO2 nitrogen (N) enrichment. Using &...

this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of deficit irrigation and growth stages on yield and yield components of potatoes and water use efficiency. a field experiment was conducted at shahrekord agricultural research station over three years of crop seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. plots were assigned to five levels of deficit irrigation treatmen...

Abstract The response of terrestrial water storages to dryland vegetation growth remains poorly understood. Using multiple proxies from satellite observations and model outputs, we show an overall increase (decrease) in (terrestrial storages) across drylands globally during 1982–2016. Terrestrial greening correlate negatively with growth, particularly for cropland-dominated regions, such is pro...

The two major conservation issues for drylands of Africa are habitat loss or degradation and habitat fragmentation, largely from agriculture, charcoal production, and infrastructural development. A key question for management is how these landscapes can retain their critical ecological functions and services, while simultaneously supporting resilient livelihoods. It is a clear nexus question in...

EDITORIAL article Front. Environ. Sci., 17 March 2023Sec. Environmental Economics and Management Volume 11 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1153671

Experiments suggest that biodiversity enhances the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple functions, such as carbon storage, productivity, and the buildup of nutrient pools (multifunctionality). However, the relationship between biodiversity and multifunctionality has never been assessed globally in natural ecosystems. We report here on a global empirical study relating plant species richne...