Individual Versus Combined Effects of Warming, Elevated CO2 and Drought on Grassland Water Uptake and Fine Root Traits

Increasing warming, atmospheric CO2 and drought are expected to change the water dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, limited knowledge exists about how the interactive effects of these factors will affect grassland water uptake, and whether adaptations in fine root production and traits will alter water uptake capacity. In a managed C3 grassland, we tested the individual and combined effects of warming (+3 degrees C), elevated CO2 (eCO2; +300 ppm) and drought on root water uptake (RWU) as well as on fine root production, trait adaptation, and fine root-to-shoot production ratios, and their relationships with RWU capacity. High temperatures, amplified by warming, exacerbated RWU reductions under drought, with negligible water-sparing effects from eCO2. Drought, both under current and future (warming, eCO2) climatic conditions, shifted RWU towards deeper soil layers. Overall, RWU capacity related positively to fine root production and specific root length (SRL), and negatively to mean root diameters. Warming effects on traits (reduced SRL, increased diameter) and the ratio of fine root-to-shoot production (increased) were offset by eCO2. We conclude that under warmer future conditions, irrespective of shifts in water sourcing, it is particularly hot droughts that will lead to increasingly severe restrictions of grassland water dynamics.