Change and relationship between growing season metrics and net primary productivity in forestland and grassland in China

Abstract

Abstract Background Vegetation phenology can characterize ecosystem functions and plays a key role in the dynamics of plant productivity. Here we investigated the changes in growing season metrics (start of growing season, SOS; end of growing season, EOS; length of growing season, LOS) and their relationships with net primary productivity (NPP) in forestland and grassland in China during 1981–2016. Results SOS advanced, EOS delayed, LOS prolonged and NPP increased significantly in 23.7%, 21.0%, 40.5% and 19.9% of the study areas, with an average rate of 3.9 days decade−1, 3.3 days·decade−1, 6.7 days·decade−1 and 10.7 gC m−2·decade−1, respectively. The changes in growing season metrics were obvious in Northwest China (NWC) and North China (NC), but the least in Northeast China (NEC). NPP was negatively correlated with SOS and positively correlated with EOS and LOS in 22.0%, 16.3% and 22.8% of the study areas, respectively, and the correlation between NPP and growing season metrics was strong in NWC, NC and Southwest China (SWC), but weak in NEC and South China (SC). Conclusion The advanced SOS, delayed EOS and prolonged LOS all contribute to the increased NPP in forestland and grassland in China, especially in NWC, NC and SWC. This study also highlights the need to further study the response of NPP to growing season changes in different regions and under the influence of multiple factors.