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Interactive effects of UV radiation and water deficit on production characteristics in upland grassland and their estimation by proximity sensing
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  • Petr Holub,
  • Karel Klem,
  • Barbora Veselá,
  • Kateřina Surá,
  • Otmar Urban
Petr Holub
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Karel Klem
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences
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Barbora Veselá
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences
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Kateřina Surá
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences
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Otmar Urban
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Since water deficit (WD) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) trigger similar protective mechanisms in plants, we tested the hypothesis that UV modulates grassland acclimation to WD, mainly through changes in the root/shoot (R/S) ratio, enhances the ability of grassland to acquire water from the soil and hence affects its productivity. We also tested the potential of spectral reflectance and thermal imaging for monitoring the impacts of WD and UV on grassland production parameters. The experimental plots were manipulated by lamellar shelters allowing precipitation to pass through or to exclude it. The lamellas were either transmitting or blocking the UV. The results show that WD resulted in a significant decrease in above-gound biomass (AB). In contrast, below-ground biomass (BB), R/S ratio and total biomass (TB) increased significantly in response to WD, especially in UV exclusion treatment. UV exposure had a significant effect on AB and BB, but only in the last year of the experiment. The differences in the effect of WD between years show that the effect of precipitation removal is largely influenced by the potential evapotranspiration (PET) in a given year and hence mainly by air temperatures, while the resulting effect on production parameters is best correlated with the water balance given by the difference between precipitation and PET. Canopy temperature and selected spectral reflectance indices showed a significant response to WD and also significant relationships with morphological (AB, R/S) and biochemical (C/N ratio) parameters. In particular, the vegetation indices NDVI and RDVI provided the best correlations of biomass changes caused by WD and thus the highest potential to remotely sens drought effects on terrestrial vegetation.
25 Mar 2022Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
28 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
28 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
28 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Jun 20221st Revision Received
29 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
29 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Aug 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Sep 2022Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 12 issue 9. 10.1002/ece3.9330