This interesting literature review took a look at temperate grasslands and the ability of the plants to create a resource island in the soils underneath them. Understanding that the number one limiting factor for plant growth is water availability, the researchers noted that soil texture and mean average temperature contribute to available water. The researchers built a conceptual model of the major limitations to plants across a precipitation gradient in temperate regions of the world and showed that above-ground and below-ground biomass in plants changes with average annual precipitation. Their model shows that the lower the average annual precipitation, there are constraints on root biomass; higher average annual precipitation have constraints are on shoot (aboveground) biomass. Based on this model, the researchers reviewed each category (Belowground constraints, indeterminate constraints, and aboveground constraints) to determine the species of plants found in those regions along with feedbacks between soil and plant. This is a great resource for researchers who are looking at grassland soils, plant effects on soil, and water-nutrient interactions.
Burke, I. C., Laurenroth, W. K., Vinton, M. A., Hook, P. B., Kelly, R. H., Epstein, H. E., et al. (1998). Plant- Soil interactions in temperate grasslands. Biogeochemistry , 42, 121-143.
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